Said El Khadraoui (MEP) Institute for European Legal Studies (IEJE)
University of Liege (ULg)
EUROPE AND THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
QUO VADIS?
Brussels, 7 October 2010
European Parliament
Wiertzstraat 60, 1047 Brussels
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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.
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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)
13h35-13h55 The EU 2020 Strategy: Jobs, Challenges, Competition Policy in the EU
M. Barnier (European Commissioner, Internal Market and Services)
13h55-14h10 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
Geoff Meade (Europe Editor, The Press Association)
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
Björn Sällström (Senior vice president for HR affairs, Volvo)
16h00-16h15 Internal Market and Social Policies: Friends or Foes?
A. Defossez and R. Muñoz (PhD candidates, IEJE)
16h15-16h30 A Critical Assessment of European Social Tools: ESF, EGF…
M. De Vos (Professor, U. Gent, Itinera Institute)
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16h30- 16h50 Roundtable Discussion + Q&A Session
Geoff Meade (Europe Editor, The Press Association)
CONCLUDING REMARKS
16H50-17h00 TBA
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REGISTRATION FORM
Registration is free but mandatory in order to have access to the European Parliament
premises. Please send this registration form to the following email address:
ieje@ulg.ac.be or by fax: +32 4 366.31.55 by 25th September 2010 at the latest.
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Will attend to the Conference on Europe and the social crisis on October the 7th 2010
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USEFUL INFORMATION
VENUE
European Parliament
Wiertzstraat 60
1047 Brussels
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