Transforming the society from the City of the Commons (Vitoria-Gasteiz)

Context: European cities as the key element of transnational governance

More and more cities across Europe and worldwide are organising themselves through initiatives such as Eurocities, Fearless Cities, Fabcities and many more, to work together in areas such as climate policy, renewable energy or urban economy.

Especially cities with progressive governments are spearheading this development and are becoming the key factor of transnational governance.  Oftentimes the respective initiatives start from the bottom up and there must then be a fertile ground provided by local administrations so they can flourish. Those new types of relationships between the public sphere and the commons can become the key drivers within a transformative city model that will ultimately help us achieve more just and ecological societies.

About the event

This conference aims to serve as a collective reflection on the urban governance of cities and the limits and functions of the cooperation between administration and an active citizenry across Europe. Experts from Italy, Belgium and Spain will share their experiences and best practices that are implemented in other cities. It will be organised in conjunction with a conference of the New Economic and Social Innovation Forum (NESI), that will be held the following day, on 9 May, at the same venue.

Draft Programme

17:30 – 17:40 OPENING Óscar Fernández, Member of EQUO and Councillor of Vitoria-Gasteiz

17:40 – 18:30 KEYNOTE “OSTROM IN THE CITY: PRINCIPLES AND DESIGN PRACTICES FOR URBAN COMMONS” Christian Iaione, Associate professor of public law at Guglielmo Marconi University of Rome, visiting professor of governance of the commons at LUISS Guido Carli where he directs LabGov.

18:30 – 20:45 ROUNDTABLES: THE NEW EUROPEAN CITIES OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMON SPHERE

1. Citizens’ initiatives

• Culture and political thought in Madrid, Iñaki Alonso, vice-president of the Teatro del Barrio cooperative
• Urban gardens in Zabalortu, Susana Cantero, activist and member of Zabalortu Association
• Energy cooperatives, Erika Martínez, Communication Manager of GoiEner

Moderated by: Borja Izaola, architect, anthropologist and consultant

19:30 – 19:45 BREAK

2. Initiatives of local administrations

• The experience of Ghent, Dirk Holemans, councillor of Ghent and member of the board of the
  Green European Foundation
• B-MINCOME project (Barcelona), Lluis Torrens, Director of Planning and Innovation of the Social Rights
  Area of the Barcelona City Council
• Manage waste creating citizen value (Madrid), Reyes Montiel, Director of the Environment and Mobility Department of the Barcelona City Council

Moderated by: Maritxu Díez, journalist

20:45 – 21:00 CLOSING AND CONCLUSIONS Xabi Marrero, spokesperson of EQUO Araba

This conference will be simultaneous interpretation Spanish-English throughout the conference.

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