Programme

9.00-9.30        Opening speeches

  • Ylva Johnasson, Minister of Employment and Integration of Sweden
  • Jonas Attenius, Deputy Mayor of the City of Gothenburg
  • Lowri Evans, Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, DG GROW, European Commission
  • George Dassis, President of the European Economic and Social Committee
  • Jens Nilsson, Member of the European Parliament

9.30-10.30      Panel 1 - Introductory session: The way social economy contributes to economic growth and social cohesion in the EU 

The world of work is affected by significant economic, demographic, societal and technological changes. In this context, this panel discussion will give a general perspective on how social economy businesses help maintain/create jobs in the EU, ensure fair working conditions and contribute to improving social cohesion.

Moderator: Ariane Rodert, EESC Member

  • Panellists:
    • Lazar Lazarov, Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Policy of Bulgaria
    • Luigi Bobba, State Secretary for Labour and Social Policy of Italy
    • Example of cooperation between a traditional enterprise and a social economy enterprise:
    • Christophe Itier, High Commissioner for Social and Solidarity Economy of France
    • Ann Sofie Gunnarsson, IKEA, Sweden
    • Sarah de Heusch, Smart Belgium

10.30-10.45   Coffee break

10.45-11.45    Panel 2 – Favourable ecosystems for social economy

Under what conditions can social economy businesses develop? Based on two different examples from the Basque and Västra Götaland regions, this session will demonstrate that appropriate frameworks can greatly contribute to foster social economy.

Moderator: Katharina Wegner, Eurodiaconia, Germany

  • Panellists:
    • Maria Jesús San José, Regional Minister for Labour and Justice of Spain and Jon Altuna, Vice Rector at the University of Mondragon, Spain
    • Johnny Magnusson, President of the Regional Executive Committee, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden and Ingrid Westerfors, Social finance expert and business adviser, Coompanion and Mikrofonden Väst, Sweden
    • Tadej Slapnik, State Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister of Slovenia
    • Branislav Ondruš, State Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of Slovak Republic

11.45-12.45    Panel 3 – Social economy as a tool to achieve social resilience, sustainable jobs and fairer working conditions

One of the main objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights is to ensure that EU citizens benefit from fair working conditions. This translates in several principles including secure and adaptable employment, fair wages, and social dialogue and involvement of workers. This panel will discuss, more specifically, how social economy enterprises effectively contribute to ensuring such fair working conditions.

Moderator: Gordon Hahn, Coompanion KFO, Sweden

  • Panellists:
    • José António Vieira da Silva, Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security of Portugal
    • Rania Antonopoulous, Alternate Minister of Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity of Greece
    • Juan Antonio Pedreño, President of Social Economy Europe
    • Ulrika Stuart Hamilton, General Secretary Famna, Sweden
    • Romain Guerry, Director for Institutional Relations, Vyv Group, France
    • Angela Achitei, President of Fundatia Alaturi de Voi, Romania

12.45-13.45   Lunch break

13.45-15.15    Panel 4 – Case study: How do cooperatives serve as a model for tomorrow's work?

Through the presentation of several best practices, this panel will show how cooperatives effectively contribute to promoting financial stability and inclusion, to technological innovation and environmental protection.

Moderator: Patrick Develtere, Principal Adviser on European Social Policy, European Political Strategy Centre, European Commission

  • Introductory speech by Guy Tchami, Cooperative Policy and Research Specialist, ILO
  • Discussion - presentations in PechaKucha style:
    • Harry Robbins, co-founder of Outlandish, UK
    • Elisabet Abrahamsson, Le Mat, Sweden
    • Dirk Vansintjan, President of the European Federation of groups and cooperatives of citizens for renewable energy
    • Lisa Mashini, Cooperatives Europe
    • Claudia Fiaschi, Forum Terzo Settore, Confcooperative, Italy

15.15-16.00    Closing remarks - Social economy actors promote values that are very important for the future of work. The diversity of economic actors in the EU is key to its sustainable economic growth.

Moderator: Slawomir Tokarski, Director of Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing in DG GROW, European Commission

  • Panellists:
    • Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of Regions
    • Michel Servoz, Director General for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, European Commission
    • Luca Jahier, President of Various Interests' Group, European Economic and Social Committee
    • Nicolas Schmit, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social and Solidarity Economy of Luxembourg
    • María Fátima Báñez García, Minister of Employment and Social Security of Spain