Helsinki 2023

EMA's forum brings together representatives of European metropolitan areas and cities to discuss the main challenges of metropolitan governance. The aim is to define the basis for collaboration between European metropolises and their relations with European institutions and national governments.

The eighth annual EMA Forum was held in Helsinki in 2023. On 28-29 September, climate change mitigation with green and digital solutions was discussed. The common goal is to harness the innovation potential of regions, energy and circular economy solutions as well as green and digital methods as a driver for European development.

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Programme

Thursday 28th September

14:00 Visit to URBAN or RURAL project

  • URBAN: Event in the Kalasatama district of Helsinki. An event in the City of Helsinki’s new urban environament house in Kalasatama. At the same event, a presentation on the previous Fiksu (Smart) Kalasatama development complex.
  • RURAL: Ämmässuo HSY’s eco-industry centre. Located in the City of Espoo’s Ämmässuo, HSY’s eco-industry centre is a modern intersection of waste management and circular economy.

17:30 Political meeting

Meeting Room Eliel and Selim, Hotel Scandic Grand Marina, Katajanokanlaituri 7 Helsinki

20:00 Welcome dinner

Restaurant Marine, Scandic Marina Congress Center, Katajanokanlaituri 6 Helsinki

 

Friday 29th September

Conference Scandic Marina Congress Center, Fennia I, Katajanokanlaituri 6

8:30 Registration and coffee

9:00 Welcome and greetings

  • Antonio Balmón, Executive Vice President of AMB and Mayor of Cornellà de Llobregat
  • Reetta Vanhanen, Chairperson City Council of Helsinki

9:30 Keynote I with Q&A

  • Markku Markkula, President of the Board of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, Former President of the European Committee of the Regions

10:00 Signing EMA political declaration

10:15 Coffee Break

10:40 Panel discussion I

Innovations: Accelerating or Mitigating Climate Change?

This panel will focus on circular economy solutions and policies in combatting climate change and the role of metropolises as innovative hubs

  • Moderator: Denise Wall

Speakers:

  • Hein van der Loo, Mayor of Almere, Amsterdam Metropolregion
  • Pekka Timonen, Mayor, City of Vantaa
  • Omar Al-Rawi, Member of the Vienna City Council
  • Pierluigi Sanna, Deputy Mayor, Metropolitan City of Rome
  • Thomas Kiwitt, Chief Managing Officer, Stuttgart Region

11:40 Keynote II with Q&A

  • Kai Mykkänen, Minister of Climate and Environment of Finland

12:20 Lunch, Fennia II

13:30 Panel discussion II

Solving the Skills Shortage in the Green and Digital Transformation

What is the role of metropolitan areas in modernizing labor market policies and services, assessing and anticipating skills needs, while promoting equal opportunities for all?

  • Moderator: Denise Wall

Speakers:

  • Juraj Droba, President of the Bratislava Region
  • Idoia Postigo, General Director of Bilbao Metropoli-30
  • Johanna Juselius, Chief Specialist, Advocacy, Helsinki-Uusimaa Region

14:20 Coffee break

14:45 Panel discussion III

Metropolitan Voices: The EMA’s Demands to the European Institutions and Member States

Metropolitan areas can better deal with specific challenges of the green and digital transition. Therefore, how can they finally get involved with all European policies and programmes?

  • Moderator: Janne Leino, Director Helsinki EU Office in Brussels

Speakers:

  • Antonio Balmón, Executive Vice President of AMB and Mayor of Cornellà de Llobregat
  • Jacopo Suppo, Deputy Mayor, Metropolitan City of Turin
  • Jakub Mazur, First Deputy Mayor of Wroc?aw and President of Metrex
  • Jorge Sequeira, Vice President Porto Metropolitan Area

15:40 UN-HABITAT

  • Rafael Forero, Policy, Governance and Metropolitan Expert

15:45 Concluding remarks

  • Markku Markkula, President of the Board of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, Former President of the European Committee of the Regions
  • Denise Wall, Master of Ceremony
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