Municipalize Europe! The agenda of transformative towns and cities for the 2019 European elections
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), Transnational Institute (TNI), Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS) and Barcelona En Comú
16 October 2018, Brussels
The local level has long been a laboratory of social
mobilization and democratic innovation in Europe and around the
world. But now, more than ever before, it is municipalism - action
from town councils and city halls, in alliance with social
movements - that is creating alternatives to a Europe of corporate
interests, privatization and the rollback of human rights.
In Spain, ‘cities of change’ are combating speculation and defending the right to housing; in Italy, local governments are creating new legal mechanisms to protect the urban commons; in Poland, urban movements are fighting environmental degradation and air pollution; and in cities across Europe energy and water delivery is being taking back in public hands after failed privatisation. Progressive municipal governments are using ethical public procurement and other tools to promote vibrant local solidarity economies. Progressive municipalism is transforming Europe from the bottom up.
Municipalize Europe!, co-organized by CEO, TNI, RLS and Barcelona En Comú, seeks to explore the limits and opportunities that the European Union represents for the municipalist movement at local level, in the run up to the 2019 European elections.
Draft program (subject to change)
09:30 - 10:00: Welcome
Ernest Urtasun, MEP
Speakers (to be confirmed - TBC):
Gerardo Pisarello, First Deputy Mayor for Economy and Labour, Barcelona TBC
Eleanora De Maigo, City Councilor, Naples TBC
Rutger Groot Wassink, Alderman of Amsterdam City Council TBC
Anne-Sophie Olmos, Councilor for Public Management and Procurement, Grenoble City Council TBC
Kenneth Haar, Corporate Europe Observatory TBC
Afternoon: ‘next steps’ meetings
-- Olivier Hoedeman Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) Rue d'Edimbourg 26, 1050 Brussels, Belgium http://www.corporateeurope.org Tel. +32 (0)2 893 0930 Mobile: +32 474 486545 skype: olivierhoedeman twitter: olivierhoedeman Sign up to CEO's e-newsletter: http://www.corporateeurope.org/subscribe-our-newsletter