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EUROPEAN COMMISSION  

The role of civil society in the promotion of sustainable transport
P2P Study Tour 45639
Brussels,
26 - 29 June 2012

Meeting venues:
please see following pages

For more information on the People 2 People Programme, please go to: http://taiex.ec.europa.eu/P2P-Programme/P2PLeaflet_EN.pdf

To download presentations of this event, please go to:
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/taiex 
click on "Library" and select this study tour.

AIM OF THE EVENT:

Transport is most essential for our economies and lifestyles. However traffic still causes too many accidents, too much congestion, too much noise and too much environmental damage. In the future the use of transport is still likely to increase which will enhance the current problems. Since the society is ready to bear the incidental costs, there is first of all little incentive for transport users to change their behaviour. The European Commission and several civil society organisations within the EU want to enhance and promote new forms of mobility that are more sustainable, energy-efficient and respectful to the environment.

The P2P Programme intends to offer to civil society organisations from the beneficiaries the possibility to visit EU institutions, as well as relevant EU platform organisations, or whenever relevant for the topic of the study tours, also other European, international or national organisations, in order to familiarise themselves with EU structures, policy making process, programmes, policies and best practices.

The aim of this study tour is to give participants the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the EU policies and programmes related to sustainable means of transport, as well as to offer them exchange and networking opportunities among themselves and with other European-level civil society organisations active in this field. National and, if possible, local examples of actions in this field could also be presented to the participants. The working language of the study tour will be English.

The study tour is open for the participation of several representatives (up to five per beneficiary) from each of the candidate countries and potential candidates to EU accession. Participants will represent civil society organisations which are active in the field of sustainable transport and environment.

Day 1: Tuesday 26 June 2012

Chair: to be confirmed
Venue: to be confirmed

9:00 | Arrival and registration of participants.

9:30

Welcome address
A representative of the People 2 People Programme, Unit D2 – Institution Building, Directorate-General for Enlargement, European Commission

9:45 | Ice breaking session
11:15 | Coffee break

11:45

General presentation of the Enlargement Process of the EU
A representative of the Directorate-General for Enlargement, European Commission (tbc)

12:00 | Questions and answers
12:30 | Lunch break

14:00

European Commission support to civil society in candidate countries      and potential candidates: the Civil Society Facility (CSF)
A representative of the Directorate-General for Enlargement, European Commission (tbc)

14:30 | Questions and answers
15:15 | Departure to the Charlemagne building

Venue: Charlemagne Building, Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 170

16:00 | Meeting of each national delegation with the relevant Desk Officer within the Directorate-General for Enlargement of the European Commission
17:00 | End of the first day

Day 2: Wednesday 27 June 2012

Chair: tbc
Venue: tbc

9:00 | Arrival of the participants

9:15

EU legislation and policies towards a more sustainable and energy-efficient mobility
A representative of the Directorare-General (DG) for Mobility & Transport, European Commission (tbc)
A representative of the DG for Environment, European Commission (tbc)
A representative of the DG for Research & Innovation, European Commission (tbc)

10:15 | Questions and answers
11:00 | Coffee break

11:30

Achievements and challenges of European Commission's action plans: the state of play
A representative of the DG for Mobility & Transport (tbc)
A representative of the DG for Environment (tbc)
A representative of the DG for Research & Innovation (tbc)

12:00 | Questions and answers
12:30 | Lunch break

Venue: European Economic and Social Committee,
rue Belliard / Belliardstraat 99

13:45 | Arrival and registration of participants

14:00

•	An introduction to the European Economic and Social Committee
•	The work of the EESC related to sustainable transport
  A representative of the External Relations Unit, Secretariat of the EESC (tbc)
A Member of the EESC (tbc)

15:15 | Departure to the European Parliament

Venue: European Parliament, Paul Henri Spaak Building,
rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60

15:30

•	An introduction to the European Parliament
•	The work of the EP related to sustainable transport
A representative of the Visits and Seminars Unit, European Parliament (tbc)
A Member of the European Parliament (tbc)

17:00 | End of the second day

Day 3: Thursday 28 June 2012

Chair: tbc
Venue: tbc

9:15 | Arrival of the participants

9:30

The role of European associations in the field of sustainable transport concerning lobbying, awareness-raising and exchange of best practice
A representative of "Transport & Environment", an EU environmental organisation campaigning on sustainable transport (tbc)
A representative of the "European Platform on Mobility Management", a network of governments in European countries that are engaged in Mobility Management (tbc)

10:00 | Questions and answers
10:45 | Coffee break

11:15

The role of associations representing alternative means of transportation in contrast to the car industry
A representative of "International Association of Public Transport", a network for public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry
A representative of "European Cyclists’ Federation", a non-profit organisation promoting cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transportation and recreation

11:45 | Questions and answers
12:30 | Lunch break

14:15

Panel discussion/ interactive workshop on thematic concerns of sustainable transport associations
More details to follow
Coffee break in between the panel

16:30 | End of the third day

Day 4: Friday 29 June 2012

Chair: tbc
Venue: tbc

09:15 | Arrival of the participants

09:30

Parallel workshops – participants split into two groups
1) Discussions on different concepts of "car sharing"
A representative of "Cambio", a Belgian car sharing company (tbc)
A representative of "Match Rider", a German platform of carpooling (tbc)

2) Discussions on ways of promoting healthier mobility
A representative of "Sustrans", a UK charity promoting smarter travel choices for healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys  (tbc) 
A representative of "Villo!", a Belgian public service for hiring city bicycles  (tbc)

11:00 | Coffee break
11:15 | Parallel workshops continue
12:45 | Lunch break
14:00 | Feedback and evaluation session
15:30 | End of the study tour

This meeting is being organised by 
the People 2 People Programme (P2P), Civil Society Facility, DG Enlargement, 
in the organisational framework of the

Technical Assistance Information Exchange Instrument - TAIEX
of the European Commission

CHAR 03/149, B - 1049 Brussels 
Telephone: +32-2-298 11 59, Fax: +32-2-296 76 94

Web sites: http://taiex.ec.europa.eu/
http://taiex.ec.europa.eu/services/services.htm 
  Leaflet: http://taiex.ec.europa.eu/P2P-Programme/P2PLeaflet_EN.pdf

P2P 45639 | /