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Employment and Social
Developments in Europe

Social convergence and
the role of social investment

21 November 2024 | Brussels

Register now

Livestream session

What will be discussed

Once a year, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion publishes its flagship report on employment and social affairs – the Employment and Social Developments in Europe Review. The 2024 edition of the review focuses on a topic high on the new political agenda: social convergence in the EU and the role of social investment.

The findings of the report show that social investments – such as reforms and financial support for early childhood education and care, skills development, vocational training, job creation schemes, or wage subsidies – boost employment, social inclusion and economic growth. EU countries with weaker economic and social performance have caught up with stronger ones, partly thanks to these investments, even though disparities persist both within and between countries.

Join us on 21 November to further explore the report’s findings, discuss its implications, and to participate in a conversation about the role of social investment in the EU.

Programme

13:45 – 14:25 – Registration & welcome coffee

14:25 – 14:40 – Opening remarks

Opening by Politico moderator, Carlo Martuscelli
Opening remarks, Mario Nava, Director-General, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

14:40 – 15:30 – POLITICO Live’s Spotlight | Social policy: A driver for Europe’s competitiveness?

Competitiveness and investments are at the heart of Commission President von der Leyen’s second term. What about social progress? Workers are the backbone of Europe’s economy, and the EU cannot regain its lost dynamism without the European social model – as highlighted in the Draghi’s report. Social investments also play a crucial role in the EU’s future economic framework as they are meant to upskill citizens and bring regions to an equal footprint.

POLITICO Live Spotlight will bring together financial and local actors as well as social partners to discuss the role of “social Europe” in driving more prosperity.

Opening by Politico moderator, Carlo Martuscelli

Panel discussion with:

  • Tanguy Desrousseaux, Director for Housing, Cities and Regions, European Invesment Bank
  • Judith Kirton-Darling, Secretary General, IndustriAll
  • Elizabeth Kuiper, Associate Director, European Policy Center
  • Lúcio Vinhas de Souza, Director of the Economics Department and Chief Economist, BusinessEurope

15:30 – 15:50 – Coffee break

15:50 – 17:15 – Panel discussion | Social investment as a catalyst for upward social convergence

High-level session which will present the key features of the 2024 edition of the Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) review, highlighting the main trends and the challenges ahead. The panelists will discuss the broad policy implications of the main ESDE findings.

Opening by moderator: Mario Nava, Director-General, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

ESDE 2024: key insights by Barbara Kauffmann, Director of Employment and Analysis, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Panel discussion with:

  • Maxime Cerutti, Director of Social Affairs Department, Business Europe
  • Marco Cilento, Head of Institutional Policy, European Trade Union Confederation
  • Enrico Giovannini, Full Professor of Economic Statistics, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”
  • Maria Joao Rodrigues, President, Foundation for European Progressive Studies
  • Irene Tinagli, MEP, Member of the ECON Committee, European Parliament

17:15 – 17:55 – Panel discussion | Zooming in onto social investment: how can it sustain growth and jobs?

This session will provide evidence of the impacts of selected social investment policies, including upskilling and reskilling, active labour market policies and early childhood education and care on growth, employment, productivity as well as better social outcomes.

Opening by moderator: Florence Ranson, Master of Ceremony

ESDE insights on selected social investments, by Argyrios Pisiotis, Socio-economic Analyst, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Panel discussion:

  • Glenda Quintini, Head of Skills and Future Readiness Division, OECD
  • Ilze Plavgo, Associate Professor of Economic Sociology & Public Policy at ESPOL, European University Institute

17:55 – 18:00 – Closing remarks

Andriana Sukova, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

18:00 – 19:00 – Networking reception

Venue

Event Lounge
Bd Général Wahis 16/F, 1030 Schaerbeek

How to get there?

  • Bus: 64 – 65 Josaphat Station 10 min (650m) / 66 Evere 5 min (450m)
  • Tram: 7 Chazal station 7 min (550 m)
  • Train: Evere station 5 min (450m)
  • Cycle: Parking onsite
  • Car: Parking onsite

Speakers

POLITICO Live’s Spotlight | Social policy: A driver for Europe’s competitiveness?

Tanguy DESROUSSEAUX

Director for Housing, Cities and Regions

European Invesment Bank

Judith KIRTON-DARLING

Secretary General

IndustriAll

Elizabeth KUIPER

Associate Director

European Policy Center

Lúcio VINHAS DE SOUZA

Director of the Economics Department and Chief Economist

BusinessEurope

Moderated by

Carlo MARTUSCELLI

Reporter

POLITICO

Panel discussion | Social investment as a catalyst for upward social convergence

Maxime CERUTTI

Director of Social Affairs Department

Business Europe

Marco CILENTO

Head of Institutional Policy

European Trade Union Confederation

Enrico GIOVANNINI

Full Professor of Economic Statistics

University of Rome “Tor Vergata”

Barbara KAUFFMANN

Director of Employment and Analysis, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

European Commission

Maria Joao RODRIGUES

President

Foundation for European Progressive Studies

Irene TINAGLI

MEP, Member of the ECON Committee

European Parliament

Moderated by

Mario NAVA

Director-General, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

European Commission

Panel discussion | Zooming in onto social investment: how can it sustain growth and jobs?

Glenda QUINTINI

Head of Skills and Future Readiness Division

OECD

Argyrios PISIOTIS

Socio-economic Analyst

Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Ilze PLAVGO

Associate Professor of Economic Sociology & Public Policy at ESPOL

European University Institute

Moderated by

Florence RANSON

Master of Ceremony

Closing remarks

Andriana SUKOVA

Deputy Director-General

Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

In partnership with

The European Employment and Social Rights Forum is the flagship event of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. The third edition taking place on 5-6 March 2025 in Brussels and online will provide a platform to discuss how EU social and employment policies contribute to building a more competitive and fair Europe.

Learn more: https://www.eusocialforum.eu/2025

Follow us on socials:

LinkedIn: @EU Employment & Skills

X: @EU_Social

Register

Please note that registration for this event is now closed. Should you require any further information, please contact [email protected].

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