International Seminar on
Learning Regions and Cities promoting
Active Citizenship
At the invitation of
The City of Pécs
and
The Committee of the Regions
11 September 2006
BMÖ Assembly Hall
Papnövelde u. 5.
Pécs, Hungary
DRAFT PROGRAMME
CdR 230/2006 EN/vh
-1Introductions
I am delighted to welcome you all to the city of Pécs in Baranya County in Hungary for the seminar
of the Commission for Education, Culture and Research of the Committee of the Regions of the
European Union.
Pécs is the ideal place to host a seminar for the Members of the EDUC Commission as it has been, for
over a millennia, at the heart of education and culture in the region. It is home to the oldest university
in Hungary, established in 1367 and is home to many cultural events and festivals, as well as a future
European Capital of Culture for 2010. Yet Pécs is also a centre of innovation and hosts exceptional
modern day facilities, like the assembly hall of Pécs where the seminar itself will be taking place.
The seminar will discuss the policy issues surrounding education and its connection to active
citizenship. It will also highlight best practice from the region and elsewhere in Europe. I hope that
you will find it interesting and take home information that can be usefully used in your own regions
and cities.
I look forward to seeing you in Pécs.
Balázs Németh
Alternate Member of the Committee of the Regions
Member of Pécs City Council
********************************************************************************
It is my pleasure, as President of the Commission for Culture, Education and Research of the
Committee of the Regions to welcome you to the city of Pécs.
This conference, Learning Regions and Cities Promoting Active Citizenship is an excellent
opportunity for the CoR and the City of Pécs to collaborate on these important policy areas.
The CoR has maintained that access to a knowledge society is a fundamental aspect of a citizens
Europe. This concerns not only the integration of people into the labour market but also into social,
cultural and civic life. Education in active citizenship can help impart basic values of private, social
and civic life such as solidarity; tolerance and understanding of cultural diversity and thereby
contribute towards combating racism and xenophobia. It can also help promote the ability of people to
participate in the democratic decision-making process and participation in civil society. A common
thread running through the CoR's Opinions has been a focus on using education and training actions
as a key to promoting active citizenship. It is at local and regional level that people, in particular
young people, express active citizenship in practice. Young people’s active citizenship, their sense of
European belonging, and their growing sense of solidarity and mutual understanding are essential for
the social cohesion of the Union and for peace.
The seminar aims to address these issues and promote the exchange of best practice of educational
initiatives and strategies for active citizenship at local and regional level. It aims also to promote
cooperation between local and regional authorities to create Learning regions and cities.
CdR 230/2006 EN/vh
.../...
-2I hope this conference will prove to be stimulating and effective in making a real contribution to the
development of future education and active citizenship policies.
Jyrki Myllyvirta
Chairman of the EDUC Commission of the Committee of the Regions
Mayor of Mikkeli, Finland
*
*
CdR 230/2006 EN/vh
*
.../...
-3-
Sunday 10 September 2006
8 p.m.
Reception and official dinner for Members
Pezsgőház Restaurant
Szent István Square, Pécs
Monday 11 September 2006
9.30-10 a.m.
Registration of Delegates and coffee
Press Conference
10 a.m.
Opening address
Dr László Toller (to be confirmed)
Mayor of the City of Pécs
Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary
(to be confirmed)
Dr Ferenc Kékes (to be confirmed)
President of the General Assembly of Baranya County
Dr Imre László Komlósi
Vice-President of the University of Pécs
Mr Jyrki Myllyvirta
Mayor of Mikkeli, Finland
Chairman of the Commission for Education, Culture and Research of the
Committee of the Regions
10.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. Session I: Education as key to promoting active citizenship
Introduction:
Mr Balázs Németh, Member of Pécs City Council
Access to a knowledge society is a fundamental aspect of a citizens Europe. This concerns not only
the integration of people into the labour market but also into social, cultural and civic life. Education
CdR 230/2006 EN/vh
.../...
-4in active citizenship can help impart basic values such as solidarity, tolerance and understanding of
cultural diversity and thereby contribute towards combating racism and xenophobia. It can also help
promote the ability of people to participate in the democratic decision-making process and
participation in civil society.
This session will look at how the European Union can promote active citizenship in particular at local
and regional level.
Chair:
Mr Jyrki Myllyvirta, Chairman of the EDUC Commission
Youth and active citizenship – the involvement of young people
Mr Pierre Mairesse (to be confirmed)
Director
Youth, Sport and relations with the Citizen
DG Education and Culture, European Commission
Title
Member of the European Parliament
(to be confirmed)
Active citizenship from a local and regional perspective
Mr Roberto Pella
Member of Biella Municipal Council
Member of the EDUC Commission and Rapporteur of the CoR’s opinion on
Addressing the concerns of young people in Europe - implementing the European
Youth Pact and promoting active citizenship
The Policy approach of Central Eastern Europe
Mr János Sz. Tóth
President of the Hungarian Folk High School Society
12-12.30 p.m. Questions and Answers
12.30-2 p.m. Lunch
2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Session II: Best practices to promote active citizenship through
education and training at local and regional level
This session will look at how cities and regions cooperate in promoting active citizenship in their
education and training programmes. The session will also look at how regions can use opportunities
to set up networks in this area.
CdR 230/2006 EN/vh
.../...
-5Chair:
Dr Imre László Komlósi, Vice-President of the University of Pécs
Re-examining Education and Training for Governance and
Active Citizenship in Europe
Mrs Teréz Kleisz
Faculty of Adult Education and Human Resources Development
University of Pécs
Active citizenship - bringing young people closer to Europe. Best practices in
Germany
Mrs Kerstin Kiessler
Member of the EDUC Commission of the Committee of the Regions
Best practice example on active citizenship from Ireland
Mr Seamus Murray
Member of the EDUC Commission of the Committee of the Regions
The promotion of active citizenship in adult learning
Representative of the European Association for Education of Adults (EAEA)
Active citizenship best practice
Mr. Svein Kr. Waale
Head of Youth Subcommittee of the Association of European Regions (AER)
3.30-4 p.m.
4 p.m.
Questions and Answers
Closing Remarks
Jyrki Myllyvirta
Chairman of the EDUC Commission of the Committee of the Regions
INTERPRETATION: FR/DE/EN/IT/HU
*
*
CdR 230/2006 EN/vh
*
.../...
-6EUROPEAN UNION
Committee of the Regions
ATTENDANCE FORM
Meeting of the Commission for Culture, Education and Research
I, the undersigned .....................................................................................................................................
being a member of the Committee of the Regions
will attend the EDUC seminar 
will not attend the EDUC seminar 
on 11 September 2006.
My alternate:
Mr/Ms: ....................................................................................................................................................
will stand in for me at the meeting.
Names of experts who will attend as observers:
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................................
Date: .....................................................................................
Signature: .............................................................................
Please note that this form should only be submitted to the EDUC secretariat once you have
received confirmation of your participation (see attached letter) (+ 32-2-282 2071).
CdR 230/2006 EN/vh
.../...
-7Hotel reservation form
Please book directly with the hotel. Addresses can also be found at
http://www.pecs.hu/CoR/index.php
Surname:
Forename:
Address:
Email address:
Telephone (+ country code):
Fax (+ country code):
HOTELS PROPOSED BY THE CO-ORGANISER
Please tick the boxes corresponding to your choice of hotel and hotel room:
Hotel Palatinus***
7621 Pécs, Király utca 5.
Tel: +36 72 889 400
www.danubiushotels.com/palatinus
palatinus.reservations@danubiusgroup.com
standard single room €58
standard double room €64
superior single room €68
superior double room €74
superior plus single room €74
superior plus double room €80
book by 15 August
Hotel Central***
7621
Pécs,
Bajcsy
Zsilinszky u. 7.
Tel.: +36 72 525 602
Fax: +36 72 525 603
www.centralpanzio.hu
Quote “CoR conference”
€40 single room
€55 double room
book by 1 September
Please tick the boxes corresponding to your choice of night in the chosen hotel
 Sunday 10 September 2006
 Monday 11 September 2006
Total number of nights: …………………………
DATE...........................................................
SIGNATURE.............................................................
-8EUROPEAN UNION
Committee of the Regions
Seminar of the Commission for Culture, Education and Research
Pécs, 11 September 2006
REGISTRATION FORM FOR EVENTS IN CONNECTION WITH MEETING
Please register also on the website of the conference http://www.pecs.hu/CoR/index.php
Please complete in type
Surname:
 Member of the Committee of the Regions
Forename:
 Other (assistant, observer, expert, interpreter,
etc.)
Organisation
Address:
Post code:
Town/city:
Country:
Email:
Telephone (including country code):
Fax (including country code):
Will be accompanied by:
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF PARTICIPANTS
Important:
Two coach transfers will be provided for Members at peak times from Pécs Airport to the
hotels for participants arriving on 10 September.
There will be a coach transfer to Budapest for participants leaving from Budapest Ferihegy
Airport on 11 September and another one for participants leaving from Pécs Airport on 12
September.
If you require transfers, please fill in your arrival/departure dates and times below.
-9Arrival date
Flight arrival time
Airline and flight number
Departure date
Flight departure time
Airline and flight number
REGISTRATION FOR DINNER AND LUNCH (please tick as applicable)

I will attend the official dinner on Sunday 10 September 2006

I will attend the lunch on Monday 11 September 2006

I will be accompanied by ……………………………. (name of
spouse/partner/etc)
REGISTRATION FOR THE CULTURAL PROGRAMME ON 10 and 11
SEPTEMBER

I will participate in the cultural programme on Sunday 10 September:
Visiting the sites of world cultural heritage of Pécs (afternoon)

I will participate in the cultural programme on Monday 11 September:
Visiting the University of Pécs and its library from 5 p.m.)

I will be accompanied by ……………………………. (name of
spouse/partner/etc)
VENUES
Sunday 10 September 2006:
Monday 11 September 2006:
Reception and official dinner for members
at 8 p.m.:
Pezsgőház restaurant

Pécs, Szent István square
Seminar of the EDUC Commission from
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
BMÖ Assembly Hall
Pécs, Papnövelde u. 5.
Lunch at 12.30 p.m.
Bagolyvár restaurant
Visit of the University of Pécs and its
library at 5 p.m.
- 10 -
_____________