Seminar: What is Social Europe? A UK perspective, 12 May 2008
What should a modern, progressive social Europe look like in the 21st century?
The Delivering Global Europe seminar series is intended to encourage a British and European conversation about how we can ensure the EU delivers real value for UK and EU citizens.
Video by British Satellite News
What is Social Europe? A UK perspective
Date: 12 May 2008
Venue: Lancaster House, London
Speakers:
- Jim Murphy MP, Minister for Europe
- Roger Liddle, Vice-Chair, Policy Network
- John Monks, Sectretary-General, European Trade Union Confederation
Participants included representatives from Unions, the voluntary sector, universities and industry.
Discussions in the seminar
- Participants felt that there is a real need to identify a modern social agenda in Europe, and important to recognise that there are people that feel marginalised and left behind in the economic progress of the EU, for example workers who have lost out and people in deprived areas.
- Some participants expressed concern at the Government's track record on social, and particularly employee, issues in Europe.
- It was proposed that social policy should be accounted for in the European budget, and funds allocated to social issues.
- Issues raised by participants in open debate included:
- how to persuade people that progress does not mean dismantling existing policy
- how we can work across the EU on issues like discrimination and protecting public services
- what the definition of a social Europe could be beyond narrower conceptions
Related documents
Speech by Jim Murphy MP: "What is Social Europe? A UK perspective"
Press Release: Changing the debate on social policy in Europe
Have your say
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