EU and economic crisis: quo vadis? - Conference invitation
Dear Madam, Dear Sir,
Said El Khadraoui (MEP, S&D) and the Institute of European Legal Studies (IEJE) of the University of Liege will hold on 7 October 2010 a half-day conference entitled “Europe and the Economic Crisis: Quo Vadis?”. The purpose of this conference is to offer a platform for debate on the EU’s economic and social strategies in the context of the current crisis. It intends in particular to give a fresh look at recent EU initiatives in the field of social policy as well as at the EU2020 strategy.
This conference will be hosted by the European Parliament in Brussels and organized under the auspices of the Belgian EU Presidency.
The conference programme and registration are attached to this email. Please note that registration for the conference is free but mandatory in order to access the EU Parliament premises.
Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Alexandre Defossez (adefossez@ulg.ac.be) or Mr. Rodolphe Munoz (Rodolphe.Munoz@ulg.ac.be).
Prof. Nicolas Petit, Co-Director of the IEJE
It just took a few months, and an unanticipated financial crisis, to wipe out most of the growth and employment benefits generated by the recent “EU2020” strategy. Ill-suited to the current economic environment, the EU2020 strategy must now be complemented by a new “exit” strategy, to lead the Europe Union (“EU”) out of the crisis. Upgrading the current policy instruments will undoubtedly be a daunting challenge. 2010 is expected to be the annus horribilis for employment figures in the EU, and the real impact of the crisis is still to be felt. Months after months, plants are being shut down and firms restructure. Everywhere throughout the EU, unemployment rates surge (compared with March 2009, unemployment went up by 2.546 million in the EU27 in March 2010, according to Eurostat). European citizens and companies expect strong reactions from the EU institutions, not only in favour of growth, but also to protect and create jobs. The EU is thus faced with a major opportunity to take the leadership, and demonstrate to citizens and companies that it is up to the challenge. More generally, the crisis is also a critical test for the EU: Is it able to reconcile its traditional economic purpose with the serious social concerns arising from the crisis?
In this context, many questions arise:
· Will the EU endorse a proactive role in relation to employment policy? Will the Lisbon Treaty have an impact on employment and macro-economic policies?
· Are national subsidisation measures compatible with the EU rules? In particular, can the goal of promoting employment place a limit on the application of European state aids rules?
· What can be the role of the EU in relation to firms’ restructuring schemes? Is the Opel case a good benchmark to assess the EU policy in this regard?
· What about the consultation and the participation of social partners in restructuring processes? Has EU law something to say about the dialogue between both sides of the industry?
· Is the European Globalisation Fund (“EGF”) effective? Can it help achieve the aims of the EU 2020 strategy?
In conclusion, the EU2020 Strategy, and in particular the issue of the EU’s economic and social policies, will be a major concern of the Belgian Presidency.
PROGRAMME
13h-13h15 Introductory Remarks
EUROPEAN UNION AND EMPLOYMENT POLICIES: ECONOMIC AND LEGAL ISSUES
13h15-13h35 Employment Policy and the European Parliament: Status Quaestionis
S. El Khadraoui (Member of the European Parliament)
13h35-15h55 The EU 2020 Strategy: Jobs, Challenges, Competition Policy in the EU
M. Barnier (European Commissioner, Internal Market and Services)
15h55-14h10 What’s Wrong with EU 2020?
P. Pochet (TBC) (General Director, ETUI)
14h10-14h25 Maintaining Welfare State in a Time of Crisis: a European Challenge
P. de Grauwe (Professor, KUL)
14h25-14h50 Roundtable Discussion and Q&A Session
Moderation: TBA
14h50- 15h10 Coffee Break
FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL POLICIES
15h10-15h30 The European Commission’s Perspective on the Funding of European
Social Policies (EGF and other instruments)
L. Andor (European Commissioner, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)
15h30-15h45 The Trade Unions’ Perspective on the Funding of European Social Policies
J. Niemiec (Confederal Secretary, ETUC)
15h45-16h00 The Private Sector’s Perspective on the Funding of European Social Policies
TBA (Car Industry Representative)
16h00-16h15 Internal Market and Social Policies: Friends or Foes?
A. Defossez and R. Muñoz (TBC) (PhD candidates, IEJE)
16h15-16h30 A Critical Assessment of European Social Tools: ESF, EGF…
M. De Vos (Professor U. Gent, Itinera Institute)
16h30- 16h50 Roundtable Discussion + Q&A Session
Moderation: TBA
CONCLUDING REMARKS
16H50-17h00 TBA |
