Informele bijeenkomst Raad Werkgelegenheid, Sociaal Beleid, Volksgezondheid en Consumentenzaken: hernieuwing van de sociale agenda (en)
First meeting of the French Presidency in the social domain: renewing the social agenda.
The informal meeting taking place in Chantilly on 10 and 11 July will focus on three main subject for debate:
"Globalisation and climate change": These are two challenges to which Europe must adapt and both anticipate and accommodate future developments. In the employment market, flexicurity is one of the tools that will enable Europe to guarantee the flexibility and security that are essential both for businesses to be able to develop in ever more competitive markets and for employees to be more mobile. Mobility and security also require a more integrated job market to respond to workers' emerging needs and new aspirations. In all these areas, this first subject for debate will be an opportunity to discuss strengthening coordination within the European Union, so that the EU can become a more effective player in the employment market in its own right, both within and beyond its borders.
"The new demographic challenges and the development of activity throughout people's lives." Demographic evolution and the ageing of the European population are now a reality. It is thus essential that we look beyond national borders to examine the question of solidarity between the generations and what specific responses can be taken at European level. Family cohesion and reconciling family and professional life will thus be major issues within this debate. The discussion will be an opportunity to exchange best practices, compare experiences and advance in defining joint commitments in these areas.
"Social cohesion and non-discrimination" In protecting its most vulnerable citizens, Europe must not neglect those who are finding it difficult to return to the labour market. From this viewpoint, active inclusion is of major importance in determining future social cohesion in Europe. This subject will deal with the EU's commitments in the coming decade in the fight against poverty, and the resources it intends to devote to achieving them. Social cohesion also means giving the same chances to everyone, without distinction. This is where the issue of non-discrimination arises. The various aspects of this question, together with its place in renewing the social agenda, will be discussed during the debate. This renewal will clearly be the guiding focus of all the day's work, with one aim: to identify common guidelines for working together to build a Europe that is more tangible, closer to its citizens, more protective and endowed with a real social project.
Consult the report submitted by Bernard Brunhes to the French Minister for Labour, Labour Relations, the Family and Solidarity on the future of social Europe after 2010: A social agenda for a competitive and interdependent Europe (PDF).
Download the zip file of photos from the event.
© Valérie Couteron
Photos may be reproduced free of charge except for commercial uses
Practical information for the press:
Train and shuttle times - Informal EPSCO Press programme - Informal EPSSCO