Action. From reaction to. Conference for active regions. in delivering the Lisbon Strategy. - Managing regional challenges Today & Tomorrow

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1 From reaction to Action - Managing regional challenges Today & Tomorrow 7-9 June 2007 Conference for active regions in delivering the Lisbon Strategy

2 Welcome to join us! "Europe needs a clearer focus on contributing to growth and jobs. Greater ownership for this objective on the part of the EU Regions means a better performance of the EU economy as a whole. In this respect, Lisbon needs the Regions as much as the Regions need Lisbon." and Sörmland Regional Council have the pleasure to invite you to the Conference From Reaction to Action to be held in Stockholm and in Sörmland County 7-9 June 2007, in connection with the Lisbon Regions Networks General Assembly. The title of the Conference wants to stress the importance of having active regions, which are not just reacting at the challenges today, but also acting as those important facilitators for better development, growth, employment and competitiveness, as regions are. To ensure the effective implementation of the Lisbon Strategy it is important that the regional and local dimension is involved, but up until now, the Lisbon Strategy suffers from a lack of delivery at a grass roots level. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission The main objective with the Conference is therefore to discuss common challenges for regions in implementing the Lisbon Strategy, with the aim to go further and put good intentions into practice. By initiating a concrete platform of mutual understanding among key actors in delivering the Lisbon Agenda, and by benchmarking, regions will be able to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and to focus on key political issues related to the Lisbon Strategy. The outcomes of the Conference will be of high value for the Lisbon Regions Network General Assembly which will take place on Friday evening with the election of the new Chairmanship and Secretariat of the Lisbon Regions Network. Action 2007

3 Lisbon Regions Network The Lisbon Regions Network is a network of 8 ambitious high performing regions with a shared interest in the delivery of the Lisbon Strategy at regional and local level. Participating Regions are: Brussels Capital Region, Helsinki Region, Regio Randstad, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Riga City and Region,, Valencian Region and West Midlands. Launched in March 2004, the network aims to underline the regional and local dimension of the Lisbon Strategy and contribute to its future development at European, national, regional and local level, stimulating jobs and growth in its regions. The network provides a platform for regions to: exchange experience of implementing the Lisbon Strategy in their own areas, the tools used and the challenges faced; analyse the impact of local and regional polices on the different pillars of the Strategy; feed into the wider policy debate at national and European level and work together in joint EU-funded projects that help them meet the Lisbon goals and stimulate jobs and growth. is a significant actor in generating higher levels of growth and creating more and better jobs, and has been an active partner in the Lisbon Regions Network since the beginning. Through this network the region has the possibility to improve the delivery of the Lisbon Agenda and share its good practices with other European regions. is based on a voluntary cooperation agreement between the City of Stockholm, the Stockholm County Council and the Association of Local Authorities in Stockholm County. The agreement aims to facilitate the stakeholders work within European Affairs. Later the Council of Mälardalen joined as associated member, and the County Administrative Board of Stockholm, the Counties of Sörmland, Västmanland and Uppsala have signed service agreement with the. The Sörmland way - A good example of working with the Lisbon Strategy In September 2004, Benita Vikström, Mayor, Oxelösund Municipality and Lotta Finstorp, Chief Commissioner, Sörmland County Council, were appointed as Lisbon Strategy political rapporteurs to the Sörmland Regional Council. The rapporteurs have special responsibility for integrating and communicating the Lisbon Strategy at local and regional level. They help to increase the understanding of EU s work, disseminate it and make it visible in the municipalities and regions and link it to the regional development process. In short term, the ambition is that this work will lead to all municipalities sorting their issues according to the bottom-up model, and having developed goals and indicators that can be linked to the national reform programme. By 2010, there should be increased collaboration and dialogue about Sweden s development also at national level. 2007

4 CONTACT INFORMATION For information and registration visit or contact Elisabeth Langgren Lundov Sörmland Regional Council T: +46 (0) , M: +46 (0) Fernando Alonso Deputy Director T: +32 (0) , M: +32 (0) Madelen Charysczak European Desk Officer T: +32 (0) For information about the Lisbon Regions Network visit

5 From reaction to Action - Managing regional challenges Today & Tomorrow Draft Conference Programme 7-9 June 2007

6 Thursday 7 June Stockholm Check in at Hotel Boat trip Stockholm, beauty on water Guided tour by: Mr Olle Zetterberg, CEO of Stockholm Business Region Location: Start at Räntmästartrappan, at Slussen and arrival at the City Hall Reception hosted by the City of Stockholm Location: City Hall of Stockholm Welcome Addresses: -Mr Bo Bladholm, Lord Mayor of Stockholm, President of the Stockholm City Council. -Words of appreciation, by Friday 8 June 2007 Sörmland County Bus leaves from Hotel Scandic Malmen via Hotel Hilton Slussen to Hedenlunda Castle in Sörmland Registration & Coffee Plenary Session Location: Hedenlunda Castle Welcome Addresses: -Mr Daniel Portnoff, Vice Chairman of Sörmland Regional Council -Mr Bo Könberg, County Governor of Sörmland

7 From Reaction to Action Moderator: Councillor Ken Taylor, member of the West Midlands Regional Assembly's European & International Affairs Partnership. Presentations: More people into work; today s challenges for European economies. Presentation by: Mr Anders Borg, Swedish Minister of Finance The Lisbon Strategy, what has been done, what is still left to do and how? Presentation by: Ms Anna Ekström, Head of SACO, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations Bridging the Lisbon strategy, cohesion and competitiveness: regions and beyond. Presentation by: Dr Flavio Delbono, Vice President of Emilia-Romagna Merge the Lisbon and Sustainable Development Stratgies. Presentation by: Mr Anders Wijkman, MEP, European Parliament Development of metropolitan areas in the light of Lisbon Strategy. Presentation by: Ms Irene Svenonius, City Director of Stockholm City Special Intervention Prof. Maria Joao Rodrigues, Special Adviser on the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and jobs, European Union Lunch at Hedenlunda Castle Interactive Dialogue Moderator: Mr Nico Wegter, European Commission in the Netherlands Growth and jobs require dynamic and innovative regions Presentation by: Mr Heikki Salmi, Adviser to Director General, DG Enterprise& Industry, European Commission How can different levels of governance interact in the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy? Presentation by Ms Cecilia Malmström, Swedish Minister for European Affairs

8 Municipal Index, how to base policies on statistical data? Presentation by Mr???, Pays Vasco Group discussions with the aim to analyze: Public Sector: analyse how the Lisbon Agendas goals are integrated in their structures. Which targets should be of relevance in order to interact with the civil society and the economic sector? Private Sector: to identify the concerns of what is expected from the public sector to improve in order to increase the companies benefits. Academia: What is the role of academic world? How can they contribute to produce concrete strategic plans or forecast to both the public sector and the private? Panellists: What is the role of the Academia in the development of the Regions? Intervention by Mr Anders Flodström, President of the Royal Institute of Technology How enterprises perceive the Lisbon Strategy and regional leadership Intervention by Mr Magnus Larsson, Managing Director, Nordic Expander Wireless Nordic AB The municipality of growth 2007 results of a strategic political leadership. Intervention by Mr Hans Ekström, Mayor, Eskilstuna Municipality Conference Conclusions and over handing of Action ideas to the Lisbon Regions Network General Assembly Bus leaves from Hedenlunda Castle to Yxtaholm Castle Lisbon Regions Network General Assembly Lisbon Regions Network members Location: Yxtaholms Castle Parallel session: Growth Cities Initiative Check in at Yxtaholm Castle Informal dinner at Yxtaholms Castle Lisbon Regions Network members and other guests

9 Saturday 9 June Bus leaves from Yxtaholm Castle to Solna City via Stockholm City Centre Study visit in Solna City City Hall of Solna -Official welcome: Mr Lars-Erik Salminen, Mayor of Solna City -Introduction to Solna: Mr Sune Reinhold, City Director of Solna Growth Cities Initiative: Mr Johan T. Sterndal, Head of Local Industry and Commerce/Head of Skills Office and Ms Monika Rosenqvist, international coordinator Virtual tour through the City of future Cities of the future an international development project - Mr Jan Sturesson, PricewaterhouseCoopers Lunch hosted by Solna City - Words of appreciation: NN End of Program