Crisis times tend to generate many communication plans in Europe. But crises also mean opportunities and there was never a better time to address the European communication deficit.  Can Europe build further and effectively? Can Europe deliver on jobs and growth? Looking at the European project, potential and realisations...  

Chairman:
Pierre Simon, President EUROCHAMBRES

Welcome Addresses:
Vassilios Papageorgopoulos, Mayor of Thessaloniki
Georgios Kassimatis, President, UHCCI & Deputy President, EUROCHAMBRES
Dimitrios  Bakatselos, President , TCCI

Keynote Speakers:
Pervenche Berès, Chairwoman, Committee on economic and monetary affairs of European Parliament

A compact and thought-provoking analysis of recent polls and surveys of European mood(s) and hopes, with focus on business issues and the requirements of a competitive economy including recommendations how to re-brand the Lisbon agenda and relaunch the process.  What can be done?

Chairman:
Pierre Simon, President EUROCHAMBRES

Guest Speakers:
Dimitris Sioufas, Minister of Development, Greece

Speakers:
Piero Bassetti, President, Globus & Locus
Antonis Papacostas, Head of Unit "Public Opinion and Media Monitoring", DG Press & Communication, European Commission
Maive Rute, Director, Directorate E / Promotion of SMEs' competitiveness, DG for Enterprise and Industry, European Commission
Petra Masinova, Director of the Department of Information on European Affairs, Czech Republic
Nikiforos Diamandouros, European Ombudsman, European Union
Panos Cavoulacos , Member of Board, Federation of Greek Industries

Despite doom and gloom in Europe, European business can thrive abroad. But is everything on our side? What is Europe’s trademark? Can we generate more opportunities for our enterprises? This session will review Europe’s competitiveness beyond European borders and discuss European interests, benchmarks and the role of Chambers.
Can Europeans address globalisation effectively?

Chairman:
Christoph Leitl, Chairman, EUROCHAMBRES Global Chamber Platform & President Federal Austrian Chamber

Speakers:
Georgy Petrov, Vice President , Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation
Juan Calvo, President, Association of Industrial Federations of Latin America (AILA)
Kristal Alley, Director for Europe and Eurasia, The United States Chamber of Commerce
Mahesh K Saharia, Chairperson Finance Committee, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Chamber (SAARC CCI)

Guest speaker on globalisation & International imbalances:
Panayotis Thomopoulos, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Greece

Chambers take up the European challenge of competitiveness and invite EU representatives to debate, inspire and support!

4 debating workshops building on core Chamber business & workings to communicate the real needs of business including presentations of:

• Key facts & best practices from the network
• Cross border projects and links to EU actions & programmes
• Recommendations for the future  

Select one of the following parallel sessions:

(1)
BUSINESS CREATION &TRANSFER - Birth & rebirth of the SME
From seed finance to succession planning – accompanying business effectively is at the core of Chambers’ missions. This workshop will debate CCI good practices at crucial times in SME’s life cycles, notably in the anticipation of business transfer. 

Speakers:
Luca Mantellassi, Vice President, EUROCHAMBRES & President, Chamber of Commerce of Florence
David Frost, Director General, British Chamber of Commerce and Industry
George Milonas, President, Federation of Industries of Northern Greece
Michel Beyet, Director in charge of European Affairs, Rhône Alpes Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Maive Rute, Director, Directorate E / Promotion of SMEs' competitiveness, DG for Enterprise and Industry, European Commission

Moderator:
Paul Skehan, Deputy Secretary General, EUROCHAMBRES

(2)
TRAINING & APPRENTICESHIP 
A core mission for Chambers and a crucial challenge for our governments where new impetus is required!
Including a special debate on
EU & the young - how to (re-) connect?
And a roundtable on CCI achievements in training for / instilling entrepreneurial spirit.

Speakers:
Jean-Paul Vermès, Vice-Chairman in charge of Education and Training, Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Yiannis Lagos,Executive Vice President, JCI (Junior Chamber International)
Aviana Bulgareli, Director, CEDEFOP (Centre Européen pour le Développement de la Formation Professionnelle)
George Tsiotras, Professor & Secretary General, Region of Central Macedonia

Moderator:
Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary General, EUROCHAMBRES

Congress participants can present and debate their own initiatives. 4 discussion tables will be organised around the following topics:

• Chambers in public private partnerships
• Recognition for CCIs
• Regional Development
• Project partner search (EU & Balkans)

No interpreters are foreseen to limit mediation and encourage networking. Group discussions will be in English.

For more information, please contact Marie-Elisabeth Rusling (+32 2 282 0874).