Few days before the Spring Summit 2011 will be launched in Cologne, Global Cities Dialogue presents the main aspects of the conference that will be discussed during two main sessions. The Summit will be opened by Chairman Paul Helminger introducing the keynote video message of Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission and followed by a discussion with Mr Constantijn van Oranje-Nassau, Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Kroes in charge of the Digital Agenda. His introduction will open the two following round tables:

The first round table on "how mayors are deploying their own digital agenda at the local level" moderated by Mr Detlev Goetz, the city of Luxembourg, is composed of city and EU-representatives:

 

 

and supported by Mr. Ralf Seufert, a Cisco expert for "smart&connected cities" introducing the concept "Dialogue Cafe" as a possible instrument for user empowerment within a global digital agenda.

Part of the "GCD eBFC" initiative "going ecolocal" started during the Brussels Spring Summit 2010, the second round table is emphasising on German issues at the city and state level and moderated by Ms Elisabeth Slapio of Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The panelists are:

 - Vice Mayor Klaus-Peter Murawski (Stuttgart), introductory speech
 - Mayor Klaus Stallmeister (Hallbergmoos)
 - Vice Mayor Harald Schindel (Saarbrücken)
 - Vice Mayor Angela Spizig (Cologne)
 - CIO Christof Neumann (Augsburg)
 - Prof. Dr. Manfred Mayer (Free State of Bavaria)

 

A good practice will be shared by Mr Hans Tijl, DRO, city of Amsterdam, called "Smart Work Centre" showing that cities are at the core of the green growth agenda.