Programme

Conference on "The social dimension in the National Recovery and Resilience Plans"

Remotely via Interactio video-conference system and in EESC, VMA23, Wednesday, 8 November 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

08.45 a.m. - 09.00 a.m. | Welcome coffee / Log on to platform / Interactio testing

09.00 a.m. - 09.15 a.m. | OPENING

• Introduction by Carlos Trindade, President of the Labour Market Observatory (LMO), EESC

09.15 a.m. - 11.00 a.m. | SESSION 1 – ADVANCING THE SOCIAL OBJECTIVES OF THE NATIONAL RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLANS THROUGH THE EUROPEAN SEMESTER

This session will explore the connections between the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) and the European Semester, with a focus on advancing social goals within the EU. The panel will examine the integration of social policy objectives in the RRF and NRRPs, the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms embedded in the European Semester, and the potential for policy coherence and synergies in achieving both economic recovery and social progress. Additionally, the panel will explore ways of strengthening the frameworks in order to ensure more robust and inclusive implementation of social policies within the NRRPs.

• Moderation and introduction: Luca Jahier, President of the European Semester Group, EESC – Presentation of the Information report entitled "Mid-term evaluation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility", adopted in September 2023

Presentations by:

• Maria Teresa Fabregas Fernandez, Director, Recovery and Resilience Task Force, European Commission (SG)
• Leonie Westhoff, Associate Researcher in the Jobs and Skills Unit at CEPS and Representative of CEPS Recovery and Resilience Reflection Project
• National example from Italy: Ivana Veronese, Confederal Secretary, Italian Union of Labour (Unione Italiana del Lavoro) - The social dimension in the Italian recovery and resilience plan
• National example from Bulgaria: Mariya Mincheva, Vice-President of the Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC), EESC and Vice-President of Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) - The social dimension in the Bulgarian recovery and resilience plan and the involvement of social partners
• Marco Cilento, Senior adviser, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
• Anna Kwiatkiewicz, Senior Adviser, BusinessEurope

General debate

11.00 a.m. - 11.45 a.m. | SESSION 2  - THE GENDER DIMENSION IN NATIONAL RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLANS

This session will focus on ensuring an adequate gender dimension in NRRP implementation and monitoring. Participants may also exchange views on aligning existing gender-related policy instruments with the NRRPs, as well as the impact of the digital and green transitions on gender equality. Interventions may likewise address emerging or well-established practices in relation to gender mainstreaming.

Moderation and introduction: Ferre Wyckmans, Member of the EESC

Presentations by:

• Irene Rioboo, Researcher and project manager of the study “Evidence to Action: Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in the COVID-19 recovery", the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
• Justyna Ochędzan, EESC Member - EESC opinion on Gender lens investing as a way to improve gender equality in the European Union (SOC/723)
• National example from Belgium: Laurène Thil, Senior researcher, HIVA - Research Institute for Work and Society of KU Leuven (Catholic University of Leuven) - Research carried out on the impact of the pandemic on the Belgian women workers in 6 sectors and on the analysis of these 6 sectors from a gender perspective in the national resilience and recovery plans

General debate

11.45 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. | SESSION 3  - THE YOUTH DIMENSION IN NATIONAL RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLANS – A FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT MEASURES

This session will consider the impact and relevance of the NRRPs for young people and youth organisations. NRRPs, through their non-age-specific measures, address many of the concerns expressed by young people, such as employment, enhanced educational and training opportunities, digital up-skilling, and improved and more accessible social and health services.

In addition, Pillar 6 of the RRF – Policies for the next generation – includes measures to improve the resilience of Member States’ education systems and to support youth employment, with a planned expenditure of EUR 49 billion, i.e. 11% of the total RRF budget.

Moderation and introduction: Jana Hartman Radová, Member of the Study group on the EESC opinion on The Equal Treatment of Young People in the Labour Market (SOC/721)

Keynote speech: Dragoş Pîslaru, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)

Presentations by:

• María Rodriguez Alcázar, President, European Youth Forum
• Ivailo Kalfin, Executive Director, Eurofound
• Nicoletta Merlo, Rapporteur for the EESC opinion on How to guarantee decent work for young people and ensure the inclusion of NEETs through the proper elaboration of National Recovery Plans (SOC/689)
• Jean-Michel Pottier, member of the EESC – The French recovery and resilience plan and the integration of young people in the labour market
• National example from Spain: Spain: Juan Antonio Báez, Vice-President of the National Youth Council  responsible for Socio-Economics and Communication –The impact on young people of the employment contracts reform in Spain

General debate

1.00 p.m. - 2.30 p.m. | Networking lunch in Atrium 5 (JDE building 5^th floor)

2.30 p.m. - 3.50 p.m. | Keynote session – Promoting social cohesion through the national recovery and resilience plans

Moderation and introduction: Cinzia Del Rio, President of the Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC), EESC

Panelists:

• Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
• Evelyn Regner, Vice-President, European Parliament
• Nicolas Schmit, EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights
• Aurelio Fernández López, Advisor, Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU
• Spiros Protopsaltis, First Vice-chairof the European Network of Public Employment Services (PES Network) and Head of the Greek PES

General debate

3.50 p.m. - 4.00 p.m. | Conclusions of the conference

• Carlos Trindade, President of the EESC's Labour Market Observatory (LMO), EESC

Practical information:

Hybrid event

• In person participation: European Economic and Social Committee (EESC): Rue Belliard 99, 1040 Bruxelles, room JDE 52
• To connect remotely: a link will be sent to participants after registration

Language arrangements:  

• In the morning: Interpreting available from and into English, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese
• In the afternoon: Interpreting available from and into English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese