DRAFT PROGRAMME

Europe and the GCC in the Global Marketplace

13-14 October 2008, Brussels

Monday, 13 October

Venue: European Parliament (Member¡¯s Salon) 

18.00 pm

Welcome addresses:

• On. Lilli Gruber, MEP (S-I), Chairperson of the EP¡¯s Delegation for the GCC (confirmed)
• The Rt. Hon. Michael Ancram, MP (Cons, Devices), Chairman Gulf Policy Forum and Global Strategy Forum, London (confirmed)

Keynote addresses:

• The Rt Hon Lord Howell of Guildford, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, House of Lords and former Secretary of State for Energy (confirmed)
• HE Abdulrahman Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Secretary General of the GCC (confirmed)
• HH Sheikha Mouza Al-Misnad of Qatar, Chairperson, Qatar Forum for Democracy and Free Trade (TBC)

Introduction of speakers and chairs for subsequent discussion:

• HE Gyorgy Habsburg, Special Envoy for European Affairs, Prime Minister of Hungary’s  Office, Budapest (confirmed)
• HE Sheikh Michal Al-Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the EU (confirmed)

 19.00-22.00

Reception and Dinner

Tuesday, 14 October

Venue:  TBC

09.00-10.30 Panel 1: EU-GCC Financial and Trade relations

 Chair discussion: Mr. Thomas Parker, Managing Director, Interel Cabinet Stewart, Brussels (confirmed)

• Tomas Dupla del Moral, Director, Middle East, South Mediterranean, European Commission, DG Relex (TBC)
• Mrs. Sofia Munoz, Deputy Head of Unit, EU-GCC FTA negotiations, European Commission, DG Trade (confirmed)
• HE Mr. Abdallah Al Mouallimi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia to the EU (TBC)
• Mr. Nasser Al Shaali, CEO Dubai International Financial Centre, DIFC (confirmed)

10.30-11.00 coffee break

11.00-12.30 Panel 2:

Creating synergies between European private businesses and Gulf sovereign funds

Chair discussion: Mr. Daniel Morler, Executive Director, Arab Financial Forum, London (confirmed) 

• Mr. Talal Al-Zain, CEO, BMHC, Bahrain (TBC) (confirmed)
• Sir Graham Boyce, Chairman Middle East Advisory Board, Lehman Brothers, London (confirmed)
• Sir Gavyn Arthur, a Judge of the High Court of England and Wales and 675th Lord Mayor of the City of London (confirmed)
• Mrs. Natalia Federighi Rinc¨®n, Executive Director of the European Parliament Business Scheme (confirmed)

12.30-14.00 Lunch

14.00-15.30 Panel 3:

Joining European and Gulf resources to create sustainably competitive economies

Chair discussion: Mr. Ian Walker, Executive Director, Windsor Energy Group, London (confirmed) 

• Dr Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, CEO of Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy City (TBC)
• Dr Eulian Roberts, CEO, Qatar Science & Technology Park (confirmed)
• Mr. Christian Siebert, Head of Unit for International, DG ENTR, European Commission (confirmed)
• Mr. Tim Clarke, President, Emirates (TBC)

15.30-16.00 coffee break

16.00-17.30 Panel 4:

Reconnecting European with Gulf Arab art and culture

Chair discussion:  Mr. Ghayth Armanazi, Executive Director, Arab International Media Forum (TBC)

• Sheikha Dr Al-Misnad, Rector of Qatar University (TBC)
• HE Dr Zaki Nusseibeh, Adviser to the President of the UAE, Deputy Chairman, Culture & Heritage Department, Abu Dhabi (confirmed)
• HE General Omar Al-Bitar, Vice President Sorbonne-Abu Dhabi Universities, Paris  (confirmed)  
• Director-General Professor Daniel Balland, Sorbonne-Abu Dhabi Universities (confirmed)