In the light of the continuing war in Ukraine and resulting impacts on the energy and labour market, the EPP-CoR Group will be convening local and regional leaders in Brno, Czech to discuss how innovation can be the key to bounce back and respond to challenges being faced on the ground. As the war rages on, cities and regions are facing the continuing pressures arising from the arrival of people, in particular women and children, in need of international protection. Furthermore, as winter approaches, cities and regions which are responsible to generate and provide energy for local communities, are committed to address the rising energy prices and ensure supply.
The event is being hosted by Jan Grolich, President of South Moravian Region and Roman Línek, Vice-President of Pardubice Region and will be moderated by Emma Blain, Councillor, Dun Laoghaire, Rathdown County Council, Ireland and member of the EPP-CoR Group. Olgierd Geblewicz, President of the EPP-CoR Group, President of West Pomerania Region will open the event.
The opening session will also be joined by the President of the EPP, Manfred Weber.
Marian Jurecka, Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and Minister of Labour and Social Affairs will also join the event to discuss the priorities of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, in particular, managing the refugee crisis and Ukraine’s post-war recovery, energy security and resilience of the European economy.
The EPP-CoR group remains committed to support the reconstruction process of Ukraine from the bottom up, via the European Alliance of Cities and Regions and by revitalising twinnings. In this regard the EPP-CoR group invited Vadym Boychenko, Mayor of Mariupol and Vitaliy Kim, Governor of Mykolaiv Oblast who will share the latest situation on the ground and to discuss further the role of cities and regions in this regard.
EPP Local and Regional leaders are also expected to adopt the Brno Declaration at the end of the event. In this context, EPP Local and Regional leaders strongly commit to support Ukraine in its quest for freedom, integrity, independence and sovereignty; encourage a swift energy transition in line with the RePowerEU Plan; express solidarity with refugees as well as with EU regions and cities hosting them.
Journalists are invited to follow the opening speeches from the venue: Knight's Hall - New Town Hall, Dominikánské náměstí, 196/1, 602 00 Brno-město – Czechia. They are also invited to ask questions to guests at the end of the event.
Further information
The full agenda can be found here
The event can also be followed live via Facebook: Local economy and jobs in times of crisis (facebook.com)
The EPP CoR Group: Since its creation in 1994, the European People's Party Group is a leading force in the European Committee of the Regions; the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives.