Seminar at the European Parliament will present the importance of metropolitan areas

Thanks to the MECOG-CE project, we are organizing a seminar at the European Parliament entitled “The Metropolitan Imperative: Pathways for Enhancing EU Competitiveness.” The event will take place on 19 November from 2 to 4 p.m. and will focus on the strategic role of metropolitan areas in Europe.

Metropolitan areas are important drivers of growth, innovation, and competitiveness in the European Union. At a time when the EU is facing global challenges and seeking to strengthen its position in an increasingly interconnected world, metropolitan areas are playing an increasingly important role, not only as economic centers but also as key locations where policies, solutions, and partnerships are formed.

Seminář začne keynote prezentací Ivána Tosicse z Metropolitního výzkumného institutu, která ukáže zásadní význam metropolitních oblastí. Po ní bude následovat panelová diskuse za účasti odborníků a zástupců metropolitních oblastí či evropských sdružení. Debata se bude zabývat tím, jak může nadcházející Víceletý finanční rámec a politika soudržnosti poskytnout nástroje a zdroje potřebné k plnému využití potenciálu metropolitních oblastí pro budoucnost Evropy. 

Akce se koná pod záštitou europoslance Ondřeje Krutílka je určena všem, kteří se zajímají o strategickou roli metropolitních oblastí v souvislosti s konkurenceschopností a soudržností EU. Registrovat se můžete zde. 

Seminar agenda:

14:00 – Opening remarks Ondřej Krutílek, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, members of the European Parliament

14:20 – Keynote presentation: From Local Engines to European Impact: Why Metropolitan Areas Matter Iván Tosics, Metropolitan Research Institute

14:40 – Panel discussion: Metropolitan areas as drivers of Europe’s future

A moderated discussion providing policy-oriented insights into how metropolitan areas can strengthen the European Union’s overall competitiveness, contribute to achieving key policy objectives, and how the forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework and cohesion policy can better reflect and support their strategic role.

Pietro Reviglio (Eurocities), Łukasz Medeksza (METREX – The Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas), Martin Příborský (representative of Brno Metropolitan Area, deputy member of European Committee of the Regions), Thomas Kiwitt (representative of Verband Region Stuttgart), Maciej Fijałkowski (representative of Warsaw Metropolis Association), Iván Tosics (Metropolitan Research Institute)

15:20 – Interactive Q&A with the audience

15:40 – Strengthening Metropolitan Cooperation and Governance in Central Europe

František Kubeš (City of Brno), an overview of the MECOG-CE project activities highlighting how the project contributes to better governance and cooperation across Central Europe’s metropolitan areas.

15:50 – Closing remarks

Moderated by: Peter Austin, Oslo Metropolitan Area, Chair of WG Metropolitan Areas (Eurocities)