News
Social Platform annual conference on Civil Dialogue - How can we shape the Europe we want? - Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 December in Brussels
[14/11/2008]

Objectives: The conference aims to assess the current structures and processes of civil dialogue at European level and agree concrete recommendations on how to improve these structures and processes.

Based on the conference and further discussions with its members, Social Platform will issue a common position with concrete recommendations on how to move civil dialogue forward, and will start a campaign on this in 2009. By attending the conference, you can contribute directly to the Social Platform position and its campaign.

Workshops: The conference will focus on four workshops, covering the main aspects of civil dialogue
  1. What is the future for the Open Method of Coordination on social inclusion? - report
  2. Funding for public concerns: where should the money come from? - report
  3. What is the role of European NGO networks in bridging the gap between European and national levels? - report
  4. New faces in Europe: how can we connect with the ‘hard to reach’ communities across the EU? - report
Among others, it will seek to answer the some of the following questions through a series of four participatory workshops:
  • Why do NGOs and decision makers engage in ‘civil dialogue’? Who should take part?
  • What civil dialogue structures are necessary for a more ‘social’ Europe that is based on fundamental rights?
  • What role should be played by European networks: drivers of European integration, watchdogs or merely facilitators of European propaganda?
  • How can the ‘hard to reach communities bring their voices to too often inaccessible European decision-making processes?