Participants in the conference in Barcelona
On Friday 19 April, Catalan ALDE Party member Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya (CDC) hosted a workshop under the broad topic "A new economic model for a more competitive and efficient Europe" to exchange views and best practices on economic policies and governance. ALDE Vice Pesidents Ramona Manescu and Marc Guerrero attended the event.
The opening speeches were conducted by CDC Secretary of International Relations, Víctor Terradellas, and the Foreign Affairs Secretary of the Government of Catalonia, Roger Albinyana.
CDC convened a panel of experts on the economy at the roundtable "Why Small has Become Beautiful” and evidenced how small states - under 10 million inhabitants - are much more efficient and more competitive than bigger ones. It was stated that small states have a higher GDP per capita than the EU's average and a growth rate of over 2.33%.
At the second roundtable on “Ensuring Women’s Rights and Gender Equality”, Anna Jungner-Nordgren, ALDE Gender Equality Network vice president presented Finland’s case study. Regardless of key milestones on gender equity, much progress is still required to meet a balanced representation on the boards of companies, equitable distribution of tasks and shared responsibilities among men and women. Núria Balada of the Catalan Women Institute Director presented Catalonia's draft law on gender equity, and Francina Vila, Councillor for Women and Civil Rights at Barcelona's City Hall explained local awareness and education campaigns in this regard.
The last roundtable on “Political and fiscal decentralization: a key factor in promoting development” pointed out how better governance in terms of decentralization is needed in order to overcome inefficiency and inadequate growth. ALDE vice president, Ramona Mănescu claimed for decentralization at EU level which implies that European institutions should undertake a coordination role rather than an executive one. Torsten Herbst, Secretary-General FDP Saxony, highlighted the need to balance territorial economic benefits and tax reductions with an eye on not being dependant on neither EU nor national funds. ALDE MEP Ramon Tremosa,was in favour of a Monetary Union but not a Fiscal Union where member states members should compete with each other to become more efficient.
The closing remarks were addressed by spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Committee at the Catalan Parliament, Mireia Canals, the ALDE Party vice president, Marc Guerrero and the Organization Secretary of Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya, Josep Rull.
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