Challenges for the European Social Model - Foundation Forum - European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the Dublin-based EU agency, has created an annual forum where high-level politicians and social partners, researchers and other experts in the socio-economic policy field can discuss the development of European Social policy.

The Foundation Forum 2002, entitled "Europe makes a difference - Challenges for the European Social Model", will be held at the Dublin Castle on 29-30 August. Some 200 high-level policy makers and politicians, among them the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou and a number of ministers from EU Member States and candidate countries, will be
present.

The Forum will also provide the vision of today's young people about Europe in a number of ways. There will be a parallel debate with Irish students in the Dublin Castle, and 30 European students participating in the event.

'The Foundation Forum is a platform for open and frank debate on the future of the European Social model,' says the Foundation Director Raymond-Pierre Bodin. 'Also, in the spirit of the discussions on the future of the European Union, the voice of the young will be heard in parallel discussions with students about tomorrow's Europe.'

Also, to open the debate to everybody, a bulletin board on the Foundation's website is currently open which allows a wider audience to pose questions to be discussed at the Forum (www.eurofound.eu.int/about/forumbb.htm).

The European Foundations is a tripartite EU body, whose role is to provide key actors in social policy making with findings, knowledge and advice drawn from comparative research. The Foundation was established by Council Regulation EEC No 1365/75 of 26 May 1975.