3rd Forum on Social Services of General Interest (SSGI)
The Social Services of General Interest (SSGI) plays a vital role by helping to implement basic EU objectives such as social, economic and territorial cohesion.First introduced under the 2008 French Presidency, the Forum brings together all of the major players implicated in the matter of the European legal and political environment in terms of social services.
It aims to come up with answers to the following questions: "How do we ensure that the special nature of social services is recognised at a European level?". What quality criteria can be established on a European scale?
The 3rd Forum will take stock of current European discussions. There will be two themes in particular:firstly, the European legal environment; and secondly, the quality approach.
The place of social services underpinning the EU legal structure will be discussed through state aid for evaluating the Monti-Kroes Package, questions of free establishment and the freedom to provide services, and public procurement regulations.Highlighting legal difficulties and their application, and seeking solutions which take into account the impact of the new Lisbon treaty are the challenges facing the 3rd Forum.
As a separate issue, how do we deal with the quality issue of social services at a European level?How do we produce a quality framework, what will it contain, and what shape will it take?
The Commission will also publish its biennial report on social services.
The work of the Social Protection Committee, besides that of the European Parliament (such as its own-initiative report) as well as how stakeholders reflect on the matter will have a bearing on the debate.
Here you can find more information about this conference
You cannot register for this event unless you have received an invitation from the Presidency.