(AGENPARL) – Wed 12 November 2025 Image Image
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Ref. CG080(2025)
PRESS RELEASE
International Seminar
“Stronger Democracy through Multilevel Governance”
19 November 2025
World Trade Center, Barcelona, Spain 
The seminar will open with high-level remarks from:
· Filip REINHAG, President of CPMR; Regional Councillor, Region Gotland, Sweden
· Jaume DUCH, Regional Minister for EU and Foreign Action in the Generalitat de Catalunya
· Konstantinos KOUKAS, Vice-President of the Congress, Congress Rapporteur on New Democratic Pact for Europe
Across three interactive sessions, participants will discuss insights from regional leaders, will have an open exchange on strengthening participation and institutions as well as on tackling disinformation and technology’s role in democratic life.
Opening Statements
· Filip REINHAG, President of the CPMR; Regional Councillor, Region Gotland, Sweden
· Jaume DUCH, Regional Minister for EU and Foreign Action, Generalitat de Catalunya
· Konstantinos KOUKAS, Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Congress Rapporteur on the New Democratic Pact for Europe, Council of Europe
Keynote speech
· Agusti FERNANDEZ DE LOSADA PASSOLS, Secretary for European and Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation, Generalitat de Catalunya
SESSION I: The State of Democracy and Multilevel Governance in Europe and the world – Challenges & Opportunities towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe
· Marie-Antoinette MAUPERTUIS, President of the Corsican Assembly, France, President of the CPMR Islands Commission
· Siv Henrietta JACOBSEN, Councillor; Østfold County, Norway, Vice-President of the CPMR North Sea Commission
· Sari NURRO, Member of the Regional Board, Oulou Region, Finland
· Hélène DRAINVILLE, Delegate General of the Québec Government in Brussels, Canada
· Francesc ALMENDROS, Co-President of the Mediterranean Youth Council, associate professor of economy at UAB
DISCUSSION
SESSION II: Interactive Survey & Debate on Building Resilience, Democratic Security and Innovation for Stronger Democracy
DISCUSSION 
SESSION III: Interactive Session on Digital Information & Artificial Intelligence
· Paulius KOLOSOVAS, Youth Delegate, Lithuania, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
· Nereida CARRILLO, President Learn to Check and Professor of Journalism at the Autonomous University of Barcelona
CONCLUSIONS and NEXT STEPS
Summary of Main Recommendations
Closing remarks
· Claudia LUCIANI, Director of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
· Agusti FERNANDEZ DE LOSADA PASSOLS, Secretary for European and Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation, Generalitat de Catalunya
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Council of Europe/Conseil de l’Europe, Avenue de l’Europe, Strasbourg, . 67000 France