Eurocities 2009

Mayors’ Debate

The Mayors’ Debate is an opportunity for Mayors to engage in peer-to-peer, informal discussions related to the theme of the conference.

The session will take place in the Clarion Sign Hotel on Thursday afternoon, simultaneously with the speednetworking session. It is scheduled to last 90 minutes.

The theme of the Mayors' Debate will be 'Tackling poverty and social exclusion through sustainable urban development'.

Poverty and social exclusion are persistent and complex challenges for European Cities, irrespective of their overall economic and social development. The economic crisis brings additional stress and burdens – the massive loss of employment opportunities and crumbling tax bases are only the most noticeable impacts. In this situation, the Mayors Debate will address the question how a range of local policies, including health and environment, employment, technology and IT, urban planning and housing, culture and education, can be utilized to promote social cohesion.

The discussions will draw on the ongoing work of all EUROCITIES Forums. The Forum Chairs will host and lead the debate at one of six thematic tables. The discussions at each table will address how that particular policy area contributes to cities’ tackling poverty and social exclusion.

The Forum Chairs will be assisted by the EUROCITIES Policy Officers (POs), who will be taking notes and who will provide Paul Bevan with three main conclusions to sum up the discussions at the end of the session. The results of the Mayors Debate will feed into EUROCITIES activities in the framework of the European Year on Combating Poverty and Exclusion.

Time schedule
 

Note:
Participants are free to choose any table on the spot, depending on space at the table