EPP Deputy Secretary General, Christian Kremer, opened the day’s proceedings and outlined the EPP’s top priorities on the subject, “We believe in a workable, transparent and efficient Europe, in which the citizens live in freedom, peace and prosperity, and in which they feel fully represented. For this it is essential to count on cooperation between EPP representatives at both local and regional levels to give our citizens first hand-information about what is going on in Europe.”

Luc Van den Brande, First Vice-President of the CoR (EPP) explained the relevance of bringing representatives from the capitals and major cities together ; “Large cities have particular difficulties and challenges to face, but there is common ground for exchanging views and sharing experiences.” He stressed that the way to move Europe forward is to continue cooperation with partners at all levels and to enhance communication with the citizens. Joseph Daul further endorsed this by saying “if we can make every local representative fond of Europe, then we can make every citizen love Europe.”

Jan Olbrycht, MEP (EPP-ED), made the link between the European cohesion policy and the Lisbon strategy by emphasising that “cities are the centres for innovation... they provide the possibilities for Europe.” Other keynote speakers, including Françoise de Panafier, Paris MP and Mayor of the 17th district, and Mikael Söderlund, Deputy Mayor of Stockholm, discussed topics ranging from the EU projects which could make capitals more competitive, how to defend the interests of cities in Brussels and how to present Europe in cities.

In the closing session, led by Jos Chabert, First Vice-President of the Brussels regional parliament and member of the CoR, it was decided that due to the success of the day’s event these meetings between local councillors from capital and major cities should become a regular and permanent fixture on the EPP calendar with the help of the CoR.