Brussels claims to be the capital of Europe. Yet the disjuncture between the Belgian city and the EU institutions is still distressingly wide. European Voice; a newspaper that is published and printed in Brussels and devotes itself to coverage of the European Union; intends to host a discussion about the EU’s relationship with the city. / Our aim is to bridge the divide; to connect people and to help them better understand each other. We will not solve all the problems of Brussels nor all the problems of the EU; but we might reduce the level of ignorance on both sides. / The event is conceived as a multidisciplinary event. It is not a specialist event about architecture; or spatial planning; or urban transport; though all will feature. It must take account of the politics of the European Union; as well as of Belgium. It will not ignore the realities of the economic context. / European Voice is well-placed to cross these disciplinary boundaries and to help bring together contrasting and contradictory views. / This event is aimed at opinion-formers and decision–makers who are determining the future of the EU in Brussels. But we also aim to include a more general audience of those who live and/or work in Brussels with an interest in the presence of the EU in the city. / Programme / Thursday; 31 March 2011 / ING auditorium; Avenue Marnix 24; 1000 Brussels / 4-4.30pm / Registration of participants / Visit of stands featuring conference partners / 4.30-5.30pm / Session One – Brussels; capital of Europe? / What would it mean for Brussels to become the capital of Europe? What do we expect of a European capital? How is Brussels currently failing to fulfil this role? How might it be improved? This session will flag up the aspirations for transport; architecture; urban design and assess the quality of the current infrastructure and what needs improving. / – Eric Corijn; professor of social and cultural geography; Vrije Universiteit Brussel; author of the book “Brussels!” / – Karel Lowette; architect; former adviser to Charles Picqué; member of the executive board of Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry; member of the committee of the Brussels chapter of the Flemish chamber of commerce and industry; co-president; Brussels Metropolitan / – Joachim Declerck; director; Architectural Workroom; Brussels / Panel moderated by Tim King; editor; European Voice / Question and answer session / 5.30-5.45pmNetworking break / Visit of stands featuring conference partners / 5.45-6.45pmSession Two – More EU in Brussels? / How might the EU shape the future face of Brussels? Where to site further European activity? / Representatives of communes being considered to host EU institutions: / – Didier Gosuin; Mayor of Auderghem / – Bernard Clerfayt; Mayor of Schaerbeek / Comment and reflection from the EU side: / – Gabor Zupko; director of the Office for infrastructure and logistics in Brussels (OIB); European Commission / – Marie-Laure Roggemans; delegate of the Brussels capital region for the development of the European district / Panel moderated by Tim King; editor; European Voice / Question and answer session / 6.45-7.00pmNetworking break / Visit of stands featuring conference partners / 7-8.00pmSession Three – Governing Brussels: who decides? / This session will provide a description of the interaction between different authorities: intra-Belgian; intra-EU; Belgian-EU. What is the interaction with the citizenry and how is this interaction expressed democratically? With the current structures; is it possible to discuss the issues of financing and taxation; voting rights; planning and design? / – Presentation by European Voice on the institutional landscape; / – Daniel Jacob; deputy director-general for personnel and administration; European Commission / – Isabelle Durant; vice-president in charge of relations with the Brussels authorities; European Parliament (video message) / – François Tulkens; partner; NautaDutilh law firm / – Delphine Bourgeois; deputy mayor in charge of European affairs; Commune of Ixelles / Panel moderated by Tim King; editor; European Voice / Question and answer session / 7.50-8pmAlain Deneef; president; European Quarter Fund; secretary-general; Aula Magna – some models for future co-operation / Concluding remarks / 8-10pmNetworking cocktail in the exhibition area / Visit of stands featuring conference partners
