Events

Date: February 13 Time: 12.00-14.00  Place: European Parliament, Members Salon

hosted by Heinz Becker MEP, rapporteur on the Social Business Initiative

Social Platform welcomes the increased attention to social innovation throughout the EU agenda, as social innovation is expected to bring added social value and improve people’s well-being. However, there is no clear common definition in the different EU instruments and initiatives. Without clear criteria to define it, you run the risk of limiting public financing to practices which are “innovative” but which are not meaningful or do not necessarily take a comprehensive or long-term approach to social policies and services.

In December 2013, Social Platform adopted a position paper on social innovation: it lays down 9 principles to define meaningful social innovation and provides decision-makers with policy recommendations. They will be discussed with decision makers at this conference.

Please fill-in this online form to register for this event, no later than February 11

This is a lunch debate. Registration is compusory even for participants who have a badge to enter the EP.

DRAFT PROGRAMME

11:30    Access and Registration

12:00    Heinz K. BECKER, MEP, Rapporteur on the Social Business Initiative 2012

Welcome and Introduction

12:10    Heather ROY, President of Social Platform

Social Platform's 9 principles to identify meaningful social innovation – Policy recommendations

12:20    Presentation of examples of meaningful social innovation by Social Platform members

Housing First services for homeless people, Ruth OWEN, Senior Policy Officer, FEANTSA
User driven housing for older people, Alice SINIGAGLIA, Campaign and Project Officer, AGE Platform Europe

12:40    Florian POMPER, Caritas Austria

Innovation management as a key to support Social Innovation – the case of Caritas Vienna

12:45-13:30 ROUND TABLE "What makes a social innovation meaningful? How can the EU institutions support frameworks for the development of meaningful and sustainable social innovations?"

Chair: Heather ROY, President of Social Platform

Jutta STEINRUCK MEP, Rapporteur on the EU Program for Employment and Social Innovation

Raymond MAES, Member of Commissioner Andor's  Cabinet

Axel DE MARTENE, Member of Commissioner Barnier's Cabinet

Peter DROELL, Director acting Innovation Union and European Research Area – DG Research (tbc)

Ariane RODERT, Vice-President of Group III, European Economic and Social Committee

13:30    Discussions

Lunch will be served at 13:30

13:55    Concluding remarks by Heinz K. BECKER, MEP