NEWS
A last accomplishment by the Belgian presidency
17/01/2011 - The European Union reaches an agreement on the ratification of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities On 24 December 2010, at the impetus of the Belgian EU presidency (with Jean-Marc Delizée, Secretary of State for Social Affairs, in charge of disabled persons) the 27 member states reached an agreement on the ratification of the UN Convention by the European Union. This ratification will be a milestone for the EU, as it will be the first time that the European Union will be party to an international human rights convention. The agreement on the ratification was reached after the approval of the "Code of Conduct" on 2 December 2010, under the leadership of the Belgian presidency. This "Code of conduct" will organise the relations and the distribution of competences between the member states, the European Commission and the Council.
Female entrepreneurship in Europe
17/01/2011 - A European colloquium focussing on the challenges and perspectives of female entrepreneurship took place on 8 December 2010. Mrs Sabine Laruelle, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Self-employed, Agriculture and Science Policy participated in this colloquium, of which the objective was to stress the importance of women's networks and to discuss the existing or new best practices in the field of the conciliation of work and private life. Reports were also given on the reality lived by female managers.
Report on EPSCO Council of 6 December 2010
14/12/2010 - On the afternoon of 6 December, the EPSCO Council of Ministers (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs) was dedicated to social issues. This second formal Council under the Belgian Presidency was the occasion for bringing to a head the work on several themes that have been implemented during the last six months.
Conference: "The Europe of the self-employed"
07/12/2010 - On 19 November 2010, the Directorate General (DG) Self-employed of the Federal Public Service (FPS) Social Security participated in the conference "The Europe of the self-employed", that took place in the Royal Library of Belgium.
Report on the 9th European Round Table on Poverty and Social Exclusion
06/12/2010 - The 9th European Round Table on Poverty and Social Exclusion took place on 18 and 19 October in Brussels in the presence of King Albert II and Queen Paola. It ended with the informal meeting of the EU Ministers in charge of the fight against poverty.
EPSCO Council
03/12/2010 - The Council of EU Ministers responsible for Employment and Social Affairs (EPSCO) will meet on 6 December 2010 in Brussels. During this second formal Council under Belgian Presidency, the work that has been done with regard to various themes will be rounded off.
The inclusive Europe can no longer wait!
02/12/2010 - In the context of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU and in collaboration with the European Commission, a Work forum on the implementation of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities took place in Brussels on 18 and 19 November. This Convention obliges the Member States to take account of the rights and needs of persons with disabilities in their policies.
Minister Onkelinx invited to present the results and recommendations of the Forum on SSGI to the European Parliament
30/11/2010 - After the debates of the 3rd Forum on social services of general interest (SSGI), Minister Laurette Onkelinx was invited on 10 November to participate in a conference co-organised by the Public Services intergroup and the Social Economy intergroup of the European Parliament, to present and discuss the political options that emerged from the 3rd Forum on SSGI.
Report on EPSCO Council of 21 October 2010
09/11/2010 - The Council of Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs (EPSCO) was held on 21 October 2010 in Luxembourg.
Meeting of the MISSOC network correspondents
09/11/2010 - The MISSOC (Mutual Information System on Social Protection) meeting under the Belgian Presidency was held in Wépion (Hotel Leonardo) near Namur on 21 and 22 October 2010. It was focused on the 20th anniversary of the MISSOC, as the network came into being in 1990 in Leuven in Belgium.
Which future for the Social Services of General Interest in Europe?
03/11/2010 - The 3rd Forum on Social Services of General Interest (SSGI) took place on 26 and 27 October. The European Union’s policy forces the SSGI to face a series of challenges which undermine the existence of these services.
The European Parliament looks into the social aspects of the Lisbon Treaty
13/10/2010 - On Wednesday 6 of October, Mr Philippe COURARD represented the Belgian Presidency at the European Parliament during the plenary session dedicated to the social aspects of the Lisbon Treaty. Mr László ANDOR was also present.
3rd Forum on Social Services of General Interest (SSGI)
06/10/2010 - The 3rd Forum on Social Services of General Interest (SSGI) will take place on 26 and 27 October in Brussels. SSGI play a vital role by helping to implement basic EU objectives such as social, economic and territorial cohesion. This meeting was first introduced under the 2008 French Presidency. The Forum brings together all major players who work on the issue of the European legal and political environment of social services.
Meeting of the European Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs (EPSCO)
05/10/2010 - The Council of EU Ministers responsible for Employment and Social Affairs (EPSCO) will take place on 21 October 2010 in Luxembourg. During this first formal Council under Belgian Presidency, the main theme addressed will be that of the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
Exchange of information on social protection systems in Europe
05/10/2010 - The meeting of the correspondents of the MISSOC network (Mutual Information System on Social Protection) will take place on 21 and 22 October. The MISSOC is a system of the UE designed to allow information exchange. It provides detailed, comparable and regularly updated information about national social protection systems.
Upcoming events in the field of the fight against poverty, social integration and social economy
01/10/2010 -
The Ninth Round Table on poverty and social exclusion, an event organised by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, will be held on 18 and 19 October 2010. It is a platform within which the Member States, EU institutions and field organisations exchange and discuss about the tools for combating poverty and social exclusion. The Ninth Round Table will focus on the European Commission’s Active Inclusion Recommendation and the Europe 2020 Strategy. It should also be pointed out that people experiencing poverty will participate actively in this Round Table.
Successful Conference on Child Poverty
01/10/2010 -
Nearly 350 persons from 27 countries participated in the Conference “Who Cares”, that was aiming at placing the fight against child poverty at the top of the European agenda. This Conference was a real success.
Conference on European Coordination of social policies in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy
17/09/10 - A meeting was held on September 14th and 15th on the topic of the coordination of social policies at the European level in the context of the new Europe 2020 strategy. The delegations of the Member States and international experts had an opportunity to examine different approaches to improvement based on past successes in the field. Political leaders, social partners and civil society had an opportunity to be heard.
Colloquium "Rethink Public Services in Europe in the agenda 2020"
16/09/2010 - Mrs. the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Social Affairs Laurette ONKELINX, representing the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, has concluded the Colloquium co-organised by the European Parliament and the Belgian Presidency: "Rethink Public Services in Europe in the agenda 2020".
In brief: Conference on adequate pensions and social benefits for all European citizens
15/09/2010 - On 6, 7 and 8 September policy experts and European ministers gathered in Liege to discuss the future of pensions systems and social protection systems in Europe. The central question of the conference was: how can we guarantee adequate pensions and social protection for all European citizens on the long term.
Debate on the future of social protection and pensions in Europe
26/08/2010 -
What’s the future of social protection and pensions in Europe ? How to guarantee an efficient social protection and at the same time make sure that economy remains viable ? European ministers and actors will gather during a three-day conference, in order to discuss this present issue.
EU coordination in the social field in the context of Europe 2020
26/08/2010 -
How should the co-ordination of social policies be reinforced in a Europe of 27 member states? While the Union is launching a strategy for the next 10 years – EU 2020 – what are the processes already in place and what will their future be ? To answer these questions, experts and national delegations will present during a two-day conference (14 and 15 September) avenues of improvement based on the successes of the past. In order to ensure the commitment of the political actors, of the social partners and of civil society.
Child poverty conference
26/08/2010 -
The Federal Public Service for Social Integration organizes on the 2nd and 3rd of September a conference on the struggle against child poverty: “Who Cares? Roadmap for a Recommendation to fight child poverty”
A new treaty, a new Union
14/07/2010 -
On 1 December 2009, the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty brought about long-awaited changes in the European Union. On the occasion of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the UE, we asked Frederic Van Peteghem (FPS Social Security, Directorate-General Strategy & Research/Multilateral Relations), who worked on this subject, to answer a few questions.
Social Impact Assessment : interest for the social impact of the new strategic measures
13/07/2010 -
During the Presidency, Belgium will draw several times the attention upon Social Impact Assessment (SIA). This method takes into account the social consequences of the new strategic measures in advance. Thanks to these assessments, policy makers are better informed when they have to compare various strategic options.
Report on the informal EPSCO Council meeting of 9 July 2010
12/07/2010 - This second day of the informal meeting of EPSCO Council was dedicated to social policies. It was chaired by Minister for Social Affairs Laurette Onkelinx, in the presence of Michel Daerden, Minister for Pensions, Jean-Marc Delizée, Secretary of State in charge of disabled persons, and Philippe Courard, Secretary of State for Social Integration.
Report on the informal EPSCO Council meeting of 8 July 2010
12/07/2010 - The Informal Council of European Employment and Social Affairs Ministers, which took place on 8 July in Brussels, focused primarily of the place of employment in the new Europe 2020 Strategy for employment and growth. The subject was discussed with the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy during a working lunch.
Informal EPSCO meeting with social partners and Social Platform
09/07/2010 - On the eve of the informal meeting of the European ministers for Employment and Social Affairs, the ministers of the Troika (Belgium, Hungary, Poland), together with the European Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor, have met the European social partners and Social Platform.
Informal meeting of the Ministers of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO)
07/07/2010 - The informal meeting of the EPSCO Council will take place from 7 to 9 July. This is an informal exchange of viewpoints between the Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs with a view to preparing the work of the Belgian Presidency of the EPSCO Council. This meeting of the Ministers will be preceded by a meeting between the European Social Partners and the European Social Platform.
Welcome to our new website on the Belgian Presidency
01/07/2010 - Welcome to the new website of the FPS (Federal Public Service) Social Security dedicated to the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Through this site we will keep you informed about Belgium’s initiatives in the field of social security and other social issues.
Trio Connection: collaboration with the Spanish and Hungarian presidencies
01/07/2010 - In preparation for the Belgian EU Presidency the FPS Social Security embarked upon a “Trio Connection”: a collaboration with the Spanish and Hungarian presidencies for the exchange of information concerning practical matters as well as content and for the monitoring and smooth transfer of policy programmes.
Presentation of the Presidency programme to the social attachés - Working in a relaxed atmosphere
01/07/2010 - At the beginning of each Presidency, the host country traditionally presents the programme for the next six months to the Working Party on Social Questions (WPSQ). On 1 July, the delegation of the Belgian permanent representation will present the programme to the social attachés, the secretariat of the Council and the members of the European Commission.
Work Forum for the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - More photos © EU Belgian Presidency