REGIONS AND CITIES AS CATALYSTS FOR EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY AND UNITY
The 14th edition of the European Public Communication Conference (EuroPCom) – Europe's largest annual gathering of experts in the field of public communication – has come to an end. It took place on 26 and 27 June 2023 in the buildings of the European Parliament and of the European Committee of the Regions.
Under the slogan Communicating Democracy – Communicating Europe, communication experts from the local, regional, national and European level gathered to discuss, among other things, how to conduct effective communication campaigns, how engage voters ahead of the 2024 European elections, how to tackle disinformation, and how open data solutions can empower citizens.
The 2-day JUNE SUMMIT will cover as main topics the recent events in Russia and the situation war in Ukraine, migration files as the numbers crossing the Mediterranean sea continue to rise, security and defense issues and a strategic discussion on China.
According to FT, it is expected to have some bold pledges which will reiterate the EU’s support for Ukraine’s independence, according to draft conclusions seen by the FT. But the issue of exactly how far this backing for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy goes will remain unresolved.
Alongside that will be promises to provide “predictable and sustainable financial support” for Ukraine — following the European Commission’s proposal for a four-year, €50bn financing package for Kyiv. The member states have yet to land the details of the plan, which is linked to a contentious review of the EU’s long-term budget.
You'll find below:
The European Union and NATO have promised a path to membership for the country. But real partnership will hold risks and benefits!
Forming a steady European Parliament majority after the 2024 elections will be a tough equation, and the EU liberals are expected to play a determined role, but it still will not be enough to combat rising right-wing popularity, according to a new poll published by EURACTIV’s partner Europe Elects.
The required majority in the next EU House is 353 seats. According to Europe Elects' poll, the EPP, S&D and Renew would continue to hold 390 seats in total and would be able to achieve majority.
Nanterre, France, 29 June 2023 - Courtesy of Le Monde & Le Soir
Click on the image for more
EU SUMMIT
On Thursday 29 and Friday 30 June 2023, a European Summit will be held in Brussels in the buildings of the Council of the European Union, at the Rue de la Loi. A safety zone will be set up and only authorised persons can enter this zone on foot.
Below you can find a detailed circulation plan.
→ Click here for further information!
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
As the EU Green Deal continues to gain momentum, there has been a growing 'regulatory fatigue' fightback against it, with critics arguing that extensive regulations and stringent targets may hinder economic growth and burden industries and calling for a balance between sustainability goals and business competitiveness.
EU-CHINA RELATIONS
With Russia teetering on the brink, European leaders are now set to soften their approach to China. For Europe’s politicians, the question of how to handle Beijing is an awkward one: on the one hand, they are under pressure from Washington to protect their economies from exposure to the whims of the Chinese Communist Party and to take seriously the security risks of Xi Jinping’s continuing alliance with Putin; on the other hand, EU's exports to China are worth €230 billion a year.
DIGITAL
On Wednesday, 28 June, the European Commission released a legislative proposal that could potentially pave the way to a digital version of the euro that would support both online purchases and offline transactions at locations such as retail stores. If the draft is adopted, the task of deciding if and when to create a digital euro would be relegated to the European Central Bank. Yet, the proposal did not come without criticism, as many commentators raised concerns related to data protection.
WOMEN'S RIGHTS
Yesterday, EU lawmakers in the committees on civil liberties and for women's rights adopted their version of a first-ever EU law to protect women from abuse. The vote will now have to be confirmed in a Parliament plenary session in July.
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
In the lack of an agreement among EU Member States and EP political groups, no electoral reforms are expected to be implemented prior to the 2024 European elections, dashing hopes for the inclusion of transnational lists and the Spitzenkandidat process by that time.
3 LESSONS ABOUT AI
Today's readings provide us with 3 crucial lessons about AI:
1) The revolutionizing potential of AI is undeniable, with its full impact yet to be unleashed upon our world;
2) It is important to remember that while discussing AI in human terms may be natural, it is fundamentally inaccurate, as AI operates through algorithms and statistical analysis rather than conscious understanding;
3) To continue its advancement, AI must strive for optimization, doing more with fewer resources, pushing the boundaries of efficiency to achieve better performance and scalability.
ExchangeEU, the EU’s programme for cooperation between coal, lignite, peat, and oil shale regions in transition (known as coal+ regions), has come to a successful conclusion today. Spanning two rounds of exchanges which took place between November 2021 and June 2023, the programme helped set up 17 exchanges among a total of 24 transitioning coal+ regions across the EU.
As part of the EU’s initiative for coal regions in transition, ExchangeEU has supported the coal regions to share their knowledge and expertise with each other in order to help ensure a socially just clean energy transition for the regions, many of which are still highly dependent on the mining and/or burning of coal, lignite, peat and oil shale. Using the knowledge and network gained from the programme will allow participating regions to contribute towards achieving the EU’s ambition of reaching climate neutrality by 2050, under the Green Deal and FitFor55 Package.
THE SCALE-UP CITY: HOW EINDHOVEN RACES TO KEEP UP WITH ITS TECH GIANTS
In 1910, Dutch lightbulb manufacturer Philips broke ground on “Philipstown,” near Eindhoven, to provide housing and recreational facilities to its growing workforce.
Philips has now removed its headquarters to Amsterdam, but its presence is still felt all over town, as, more than a century later, Eindhoven is still growing to accommodate a burgeoning tech-talent community.
→ Click here to read more about how the Dutch tech hub strives to lure talented tech workers to its region — and keep them happy once they arrive.
EMBRACING THE OFFICE: THE GRADUAL REVERSAL OF THE WORKING FROM HOME TREND
Despite the convenience and flexibility of working from home, the gradual reversal of this trend highlights the essential role of offices, which foster collaboration, creativity, and a sense of belonging among employees that is hard to replicate remotely. Offices provide a dedicated space for face-to-face interactions, spontaneous brainstorming sessions, and a shared work culture that can significantly enhance productivity and innovation.
SAVE THE DATE! – Empowering Youth, Shaping Our Future Together
In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the potential of youth as catalysts for change and recall the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills and opportunities for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.
Since then, World Youth Skills Day events have provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers’ and workers’ organizations, policy makers and development partners.
The theme for World Youth Skills Day 2023 is Skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future. It highlights the essential role that teachers, trainers and other educators play in providing skills for youth to transition to the labour market and to actively engage in their communities and societies.
Together, we can shape a brighter future where no young person is left behind!
ETIQUETTE AND ECCENTRICITY: UNVEILING EUROPE'S QUIRKIEST FINISHING SCHOOL!
The business dinner is here to stay and it is a prospect that fills some executives with horror. For those who find the multiple rows of cutlery and wine glasses baffling, or who keep forgetting which side-plate is theirs, help is on hand to decode the hidden rules of etiquette.
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“You are ready to communicate meaningfully when you realise that differences in opinion are natural. Education and good manners are about finding consensus”
- Madame Faillettaz, Founder of the Institut Villa Pierrefeu.
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