Smart, Green and Resilient Cities and Communities - Dialogue between EU Mayors and the Commission - 2 December 2021

02 Dec 2021

Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton will engage in a dialogue with EU Mayors from the Living-in.EU movement and the Intelligent Cities Challenge on the green and digital transformation and socio-economic resilience of cities and communities on 2 December.   

The dialogue will be organised around two panels of Mayors. The first interactive panel will focus on planning and implementing the green and digital transformation of the local economy and society, the role of innovation and technology, local green deals and the issue of up and reskilling of the local workforce. The second interactive panel will focus on the power of technology, data governance in cities, and use of local digital twins for cities and communities to enable their digital transformation.  

The event will take place in hybrid format, both in person, in the Square, Brussels, and online.

Due to COVID limitations only Mayors, elected regional leaders and Living-in.eu and ICC organisers will be allowed to be physically present at the event and should register their attendance here. Please note that physical participants will be required to present their EU Digital Covid Certificate (Covid Safe Pass) and follow public health measures.

EU Mayors and regional leaders who are not able to be present on site are invited to participate via zoom and should register their attendance here.

All other participants can follow the event via webstream and don't need to register- click to connect in English and in French.

Programme (all times in CET)

13:30 Participants begin to arrive, technical preparations etc.

The Square, Mont des Arts, 1000 Brussels, Tea & Coffee served

14:30 Dialogue between Commissioner Breton and EU Mayors  

Online via Zoom (for participants) and Webstreamed

Welcome, housekeeping, introductions, by Ms Meabh McMahon, Euronews (moderator) 

Opening address by Commissioner Thierry Breton 

Address by Slovenian Presidency, Mr Boštjan Koritnik, Minister of Public Administration, Slovenia

Video on the Intelligent Cities Challenge initiative 

First interactive panel on green and digital transformation of local economies 

How can European cities pave the way to the green and digital transition of the EU economy? This panel will explore cities’ vision for 2030, as well as the challenges and experiences in implementing Local Green Deals, and sustainable, competitive circular local value chains. The discussion will focus on sustainable investments, skills gaps and future labor force needs, support needed for local business and citizens, and measures to ensure effective collaborative governance at EU level.

Panelists

Ms Laia Bonet, Deputy Mayor of Barcelona, online

Mr Jacob Bundsgaard, Mayor of Aarhus, online
Mr François Baroin, Mayor of Troyes, online
Mr Grigoris Konstantellos, Mayor of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni (Greece), in person
Mr. Peter Kurz, Mayor of Mannheim, online
Mr Gencho Kerezov, Deputy Mayor of Sofia, in person

Video message from Ms Päivi Laajala, Mayor of Oulu, founding member of Living-in.EU

Second interactive panel on local digital transformation 

European cities and communities require further investment in the digital transformation based on sustainable data infrastructure, real time and static data sharing across-domains, cities and borders, handling open and big data and strong data governance embracing public and private stakeholders. Such investments, notably in infrastructure and local digital twins, would enable cities and communities to reap the benefits of digital for improving mobility, energy efficiency, waste management, urban planning, air pollution monitoring, etc.

Panelists