European Economic
and Social Committee
Programme
Together for a social, just and sustainable Europe - Priorities of the Belgian Council Presidency in a European perspective
Agenda
1st day – 12 March
14.00 -14.10 Welcome address and introductory remarks
- Lucie STUDNIČNÁ, Workers' Group President (Group II) – EESC
14.10 – 14.20 Opening speech "Priorities for an ambitious new EU strategic agenda"
- Oliver RÖPKE, EESC President
14.20 – 15.45 Panel 1: "Recovery policies in Belgium and in Europe. Experiences and challenges as regards the follow-up in Belgium and Europe"
Moderated by: Marie-Hélène Ska (General Secretary of CSC), Miranda Ulens (General Secretary of FGTB) and Olivier Valentin (National Secretary of CGSLB)
Interventions by:
- Thomas DERMINE, State Secretary for Economic Recovery and Strategic Investments
How has Belgium addressed the recovery policy? How has Belgium tried to address the challenges of
green and social justice, ecological transition and digital transition with the recovery program? How
is gender equality being pursued? What were and are the bottlenecks for Belgium? What lessons can be drawn from this experience with the recovery program in Belgium and what was learnt as regards the follow-up to this recovery program?
- Frank VANDENBROUCKE, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health
What are Belgium's social priorities for the European Presidency? Should the EU investment program
for a socially fair energy and digital transition be continued, and if so how and with what emphases?
What reform is needed of the European economic governance & budget policy for a social policy, which leaves the necessary budgetary room for investments in infrastructure, public services, for the green transition as well as for a European industrial policy while maintaining quality jobs? What guidelines for a fair fiscal policy at EU level and the fight against fiscal dumping at EU level?
Critical discussion & response by the presidents of the three Belgian trade unions:
- Ann VERMORGEN, President of CSC
- Thierry BODSON, President of FGTB
- Gert TRUYENS, President of CGSLB
Q & A and discussion and with the members of the Workers' Group
15.45 – 16.00 Coffee break
16.00 – 17.15 Panel 2: "In index we trust – Wage indexation systems in Belgium and EU for better wages in the EU"
Moderated by: Marie-Hélène Ska, Miranda Ulens and Olivier Valentin
Presentation of the Belgian Index systems by the study departments of FGTB, CSC, CGSLB:
How, with whom, for whom and for what purpose? What are the benefits of this mechanism for workers? What is the role of the social partners? What are the challenges and bottlenecks?
Interventions by:
- Stan DE SPIEGELAERE, UNI Europa Director of Policy and Research
Indexation systems in the EU? Future and potential for index mechanisms to leverage better wages in
the EU
- Tea JARC, Confederal Secretary of ETUC
Q & A and discussion with the members of the Workers' Group
17.15-17.30 Conclusions of the first day by moderators Marie-Hélène Ska, Miranda Ulens and Olivier Valentin
2nd day – 13 March
9.30 -12.15 Panel 3: "Social security and the role of social partners"
Moderated by Anne Léonard, Raf De Weerdt, Katrien Allaert
How to guarantee access to sustainable and financeable or feasible social security for all, including
precarious workers, in Belgium and in the EU? What is the role of the social partners in this?
Interventions by:
- Quentin DETIENNE, Professor of Social Security Law at the University of Liège
Social security in Belgium: challenges for sustainability, financing and universality, with extension to
precarious workers? What is the added value of the social partners' co-management of social security?
And what are the challenges for the social partners?
- Bart VANHERCKE, Director of Research Department, ETUI
Social security in the EU. What role and focus for the EU in ensuring social security for all EU workers,
in implementation of EPSR? What role and challenges for social partners?
Critical discussion & response by the Belgian trade unions:
- Anne LÉONARD, National Secretary of CSC
- Raf DE WEERDT, Federal Secretary of FGTB
- Katrien ALLAERT, National Secretary of CGSLB
Discussion and Q & A with the members of the Workers' Group
Conclusions of the panel by the moderators