Second forum on social services of general interest in Europe
Crèche Babilou, Neuilly sur Seine (France)
© Alain François
- from: 28.10.2008
- to: 29.10.2008
- In: Paris, Centre de conférences internationales
Organised by the French Ministry for Labour, Labour Relations, the Family and Solidarity, this forum follows a meeting of the same name organised in Lisbon in 2007. It will be an opportunity to highlight the contribution of social services of general interest to social cohesion in Europe and to ensure that the Community legal framework encourages the development and modernisation of these services.
Social Services of General Interest (SSGIs) are one of the essential characteristics of the European economic and social model. Playing a role in the daily lives of most Europeans, they contribute to social cohesion and the economic vitality of our nations. They form one of the pillars of the active inclusion strategy and satisfy needs that cannot be met by the market alone. They represent real potential in terms of job creation. They have a decisive role to play in fighting poverty and social exclusion, reconciling work with family life and supporting elderly and disabled people. This is why the European Union and its Member States must ensure a favourable environment to ensure the development and quality of these services.
The publication of the first European Commission biannual report on SSGIs on 2 July, as part of the social agenda package, emphasised the issues relating to these services and marked a new phase in work in this direction. The French Presidency would like to extend and enrich this new phase by organising a second SSGI forum on 28 and 29 October in Paris.
With the participation of all the actors involved, including local authorities and representative of both operators and users, the forum's objective is to take a step forward in developing SSGIs as a decisive factor in strengthening the European social model. Resulting from the forum, a roadmap could be drawn up to set intermediate targets to ensure that work continues.
- Updated: 19.12.2008
