EPP Group Conference - A Social Market Economy that Cares - EPP Vision for a Social Market Economy in Europe

Dear Colleagues,
Dear Friends,
Dear Stakeholders,

As Christian Democrats, very much attached to our Social Market Economy, it is our priority to offer solutions to the cost of living crisis and the challenges of the modern work modalities.

In this context, we are pleased to invite you to an EPP Group Conference on a Social Market Economy that Cares. This will take place on 21 February 2024 on the European Parliament premises in Brussels. 

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Best regards,

Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament
Dennis Radtke MEP, Coordinator of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee in the European Parliament

PROGRAMME

15:00 - 15:10 hrs   

Welcome speech
Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament

PANEL I: COST OF LIVING CRISIS: QUALITY JOBS IN A FUTURE-ORIENTED ECONOMY

15:10 - 15:20 hrs

Opening remarks:

• Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission, Commissioner for Promoting our European Way of Life
• Dennis Radtke MEP, Coordinator of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee in the European Parliament
• Ursula von der Leyen (Video message), President of the European Commission
• Cindy Franssen MEP, Member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

15:20 - 16:20 hrs            

Panel discussion & Q&A:

Moderator: Jack Parrock

• Peter Wouters, President, Flemish Christian Labour Movement
• Arjen Siegmann, Professor of valuable work and Christian social thought, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; staff member for economic affairs, CDA Research Institute (CDA-WI); Executive board member, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies
• Marina Stefou, Secretary General for Demography and Housing in Greece, Ministry for Social Cohesion and Family
• Oliver Rӧpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
   

16:20 - 16:30 hrs            

Technical break

PANEL II: MODERN WORLD OF WORK

16:30 - 16:35 hrs

Opening remarks:

• Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President of the European Commission, Commissioner for Democracy and Demography
• Leo Varadkar (Video message), Prime Minister of Ireland

16:35 - 17:30 hrs 

Panel discussion & Q&A:

Moderator: Jack Parrock

• Esther Lynch, General Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
• Barbara Gerstenberger, Head of Working Life Unit, Eurofound
• Andriana Sukova, (Acting) Director-General, DG EMPL, European Commission
• Fr. Dr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, General Secretary COMECE – Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU
• Moritz Engels, Deputy Chairman of the Works Council (Dortmund site); thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG

Closing remarks:

Dennis Radtke MEP, Coordinator of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee in the European Parliament

17:30 - 19:00 hrs

Reception, Grand Café Spinelli, ASP 00 G
 

Please register by Friday, 16 February 2024.