Sunday, November 8, 10:00-12:00

Civic participation and co-responsibility in the regions are a motor for democracy in Europe. Main Subjects of the workshop are best practices, criteria for good participation and opportunities for digitization. How can digitization help to support such efforts on a translocal level? We will take a closer look at some practical examples and discuss the development of criteria for good participation at the municipal level. Furthermore, we will discuss opportunities and risks of digitization for democratic processes and will take a closer look at the development of content and structures for a common digital democracy.

Moderation: Dr. Volker Hassemer

Input: Emil Boc (mayor of Cluj-Napoca), Jörg Sommer (Coordinator of the Allianz Vielfältige Demokratie/Alliance Diverse Democracy in Germany), Anett Szabo (Stiftung Zukunft Berlin), Felice v. Maltzahn (Stiftung Zukunft Berlin)

Sunday, November 8, 12:30-14:00

Cites for Europe – the Responsibility of Cities for Europe

In the opening plenary session representatives* of local governments and citizens from all over Europe share their views on the role of cities and regions in a Europe Bottom Up process.

Opening Speech by Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin, Discussion with European Mayors and City Representatives: Luca Bergamo, Rome, Italy; Emil Boc, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Jacek Jaskowiak, Pozen, Poland; Katrine Nödtvedt, Bergen, Norway; Mohamed Ridouani Leuven, Belgium; Krzysztof Soska, Szczecin, Poland; Maximilian Wonke, Panketal, Germany with Rosa Balas Torres, Director-General for External Relations of the Regional Government of Extremadura; Martin Guillermo, General Secretary of European Border Regions and Lena Düpont, Member of the European Parliament

Moderation: Volker Hassemer, Stiftung Zukunft Berlin

Sunday, November 8, 14:30-15:30

A “Cities for Europe” platform: Presentation of the concept of a digital cooperation platform for local initiatives and cities in Europe, by Felice von Maltzahn, Stiftung Zukunft Berlin

Question & Answers, Discussion, Agreements

Sunday, November 8, 16:00-18:00

Presentation of the results of the working groups and discussion of the citizens Initiatives on the draft of a common Action Agenda for a Europe bottom-up.

Monday, November 9, 9:30-11:00

A new culture of shared responsibility for Europe is emerging in civil society, not least because of the belief in personal civic responsibility. In this panel we want to discuss concrete conditions for a Europe bottom-up with representatives from cultural and economic sector.

Speakers are Klaus Maria Brandauer, Actor; Marcel Fratzscher, President of the German Institute for Economic Research, DIW Berlin; Nele Hertling, Member of the Academy of Arts Berlin; Barrie Kosky, Director of the Komischen Oper Berlin; Dieter Kosslick, Director ret. of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale); Mohamed Ridouani, Mayor of Leuven; Istvan Szabo, Director; Serhij Zhadan, Writer; Steve Austen, Director MBA-Program Culture, Heritage & Citizenship der Netherlands Business Academy

Monday, November 9, 11:30-14:00

The initiatives Cities for Europe, A Soul for Europe and We are Europe are working on an Action Agenda, with demands also for European politicians. This draft is the starting point for concrete agreements and cooperation after the conference.

Presentation of the draft Action Agenda by Kathrin Deventer, European Festival Association and Volker Hassemer, together with Robert Piaskowski, City of Krakow; Rarita Zbranca, Centrul Cultural Clujean; Nicolas Betrand, A Soul for Europe

Discussion with the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel and active Members of the European Parliament Gabriele Bischoff, Domènec Ruiz Devesa, Hannes Heide and former Members of the European Parliament Elmar Brok, Jo Leinen, Doris Pack, Hans-Gert Pöttering, Hannes Swoboda