International Women's Day: a message from President Markkula
European Committee of the Regions
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3/8/2017 1:15:00 PM
On 8 March every year, we celebrate Women's Day. This year, we encourage talented women to take higher positions and responsibilities in business and politics at regional and local level. The capital cities Barcelona, Bucharest, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Rome, Sofia, Stockholm are led by female mayors in co-creating sustainable and inclusive Europe. These women mayors are pioneers leading the way and inspiring our future generations. Despite the increase in the number of women in these key decision-making positions, power still lies firmly in the hands of men, whether in the public or private sphere.
My wish is to look forward on you on International Women's Day 2017: let's join forces for a more inclusive, gender equal world by encouraging highly qualified and committed women to put their skills and competencies at the disposal of today's modern societies .
This message builds on a successful conference organised in cooperation with the CoR's Joint Committee for Equal Opportunities (COPEC) on 1 March entitled: "Women on Board: Gender equality in politics, management and boards in Europe."
President
Apostolos Tzitzikostas
Apostolos Tzitzikostas was elected as President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in febbruary 2020 after serving as President of the Greek delegation and Vice president of the Committee since july 2017. He is also Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia.
BIOGRAPHY
Apostolos Tzitzikostas was born on September 2, 1978. He studied Government and International Relations at Georgetown University, in Washington DC. After graduating in 2000, he had his first working experience at the Office of the President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the United States Congress. In 2002 he obtained a Masters Degree on European Public Policy and Economics from the University College of London. Following his studies, he created his own company on the field of production, processing and standardization of dairy products, based on organic standards.
In 2007, he was elected Member of the Greek Parliament with the Nea Demokratia Party (EPP) in the First District of Thessaloniki. In the Regional Elections of November 2010 he was elected Vice-Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia and Head of the Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki. On the Regional Elections of May 2014 he was elected Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia, and on the Regional Elections of May 2019 was re-elected Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia. On November 2019 he was elected President of the Association of Greek Regions.
Since 2015 he is a Member of the European Committee of the Regions. In July 2017, he was elected Head of the Greek Delegation and Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions. He fluently speaks English and French and his articles are regularly being published in Greek and foreign newspapers and magazines.