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In 2015 the Vision Europe consortium of European think tanks has commonly worked on “the future of the welfare state”, developing innovative policy recommendations on how to ensure the long-term sustainability of national welfare systems.
The first annual Vision Europe Summit will take place in Berlin 17 and 18 November, 2015. On 18 November, follow the conference on our live stream here.
Vision Europe is a consortium of think tanks and foundations collaborating to address some of the most pressing public policy challenges facing Europe. Through research, publications and an annual summit, Vision Europe aims to be a forum for debate and a source of recommendations to improve evidence-based policy-making at both a national and EU level and to foster as appropriate European integration.
Vision Europe Summit 2015: Welfare state – problem or solution?
(All times EET)
10:00 Introduction
Aart De Geus
Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh, Germany
10:15 Setting the scene: Financial, economic and societal challenges for welfare states in Europe
Robin Niblett
Director, Chatham House, London, UK
10:45 Discussion of survey results
Welfare state reforms – mapping citizens’ opinion
Chair: Piero Gastaldo
Secretary General, Compagnia di San Paolo, Turin, Italy
Panelists:
Miapetra Kumpula-Natri
Member of the European Parliament, Brussels
Rainer Münz
Social Affairs Advisor, European Political Strategy Centre, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium
Maria João Rodrigues
Member of the European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
11:30 Short statements on main recommendations of the policy briefs
Frank Vandenbroucke
Advisor for Social Affairs, Jacques Delors Institute, Paris, France
Guntram Wolff
Director, Bruegel, Brussels, Belgium
Eeva Hellström Senior Lead Strategy
the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Helsinki, Finland
11:45 – 15.00 Break
15:00 Panel discussion
The political economy of welfare state reforms – ways towards the implementation of round table suggestions
Chair: Eric Thode
Director, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh, Germany
Panelists:
Mari Kiviniemi
Deputy Secretary-General, OECD, Paris, France
Thomas Fatome
Director, Sécurité Sociale, Paris, France
Maria Jepsen
Director of Research Department, European Trade Union Association, Brussels, Belgium
16:30 Break
17:00 Presentation of the summit declaration
Aart De Geus
Chairman and CEO, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh, Germany
17:15 Responses to the summit declaration
The EU’s and member states’ role in the provision of sustainable well-being
Nicolas Schmit
Minister for Labour, Employment, Social Economy and Economic Solidarity, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Agnes Jongerius
Member of the European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium
Stefaan Hermans
Head of Cabinet, Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium
18:00 Closing remarks
Artur Santos Silva
President, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
18:15 End of the Summit
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