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Social Platform's Conference on the Social Dimension of the Greek EU Presidency

 
Date: December 11 (Wednesday) Venue: HUB Athens (Karaiskaki 28)
 
Interpretation from/into English and Greek will be provided both days.
 

AGENDA

09.00-09.30 Arrival and Registration
 

09.30-10.00 Key-speech by Mr Yiannis Vroutsis, the Greek Minister of Labour, Social Security and Welfare

 

10.00-10.30 Ms Heather Roy, President of Social Platform presenting Social Platform's key messages 

 

10.30-11.30 Presentation of civil society organisations social priorities

Many of the discussions will be based on the outcomes of the Networking meeting taking place on December 10, where the Greek and European civil society organisations discussed their concerns  in order to provide recommendations relevant to the Greek EU presidency priorities and to help improve the situation in Greece and other member states.
 

Combating poverty and social exclusion

Rapporteur: Maciej Kucharczyk (AGE Platform Europe) together with a representative from the Greek NGOs

How can the Greek EU Presidency take the recommendations to promote Active Inclusion Strategies (combining adequate minimum income schemes, inclusive labour markets and access to high-quality social services) further? How can the Greek EU Presidency ensure the social dimension of the EMU in order to achieve the poverty target of the Europe 2020 strategy?

 

Accessing Social and Health Services

Rapporteur: Leonardo Palumbo (EPHA) together with a representative from the Greek NGOs

How can the Greek EU Presidency support the full implementation of the Social Investment Package to ensure the promotion of long-term investment particularly in social and health services?

DISCUSSION
 
Coffee Break
 

Migration – an opportunity for the EU

Rapporteur: Lilana Keith (PICUM) together with a representative from the Greek NGOs

How can the Greek EU Presidency ensure that migrants are also taken into account when tackling the issues of unemployment, poverty and social exclusion? Considering the Greek EU presidency priorities in relation to migration how can the Greek EU Presidency ensure that the actions taken in the area of migration do not undermine the social priorities or exacerbate trends of increasing xenophobia and racism in Europe?

 

Promoting Intergenerational Solidarity

Rapporteurs: Jaap van der Spek (EURAG) and Antoine Mertzeisen (YFJ) together with a representative from the Greek NGOs

The Greek EU Presidency has highlighted the challenge of youth unemployment in relation to its priorities on employment. How can the Greek EU Presidency take the youth employment package further? Older people are often in greater need of accessing social, health and care services and relying on social protection systems (incl. pensions). How can the Greek EU Presidency support the needs of older people and younger people in times of crisis?

DISCUSSION

 

12.20-13.20 Panel 

  • Mr. Christos Ioannou, Deputy Ombudsman for Social Welfare, the Greek Ombudsman
  • Mr. Ioannis Poupkos, Youth Secretary, The Greek General Confederation of Labour
  • Mr. Nikolaos Demertzis, President of the National Centre for Social Research

DISCUSSION

 

13.10-13.30 Concluding Remarks by Ms Heather Roy, President of Social Platform

 

13.30-14.30 Lunch

 
 

Contact persons: Annica Ryngbeck (Policy Officer)