Is social protection in Europe ready for the future?

Since November 2014 and for a period of 6 months, Belgium is holding the presidency of the Council of Europe. The Council is a European Institution that plays a key role in the defense of human rights on European Union territory. Social rights, too, are human rights. In this context, the Federal Public Service (FPS) Social Security, in close collaboration with the Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue, organises a two-day conference on the future of social rights  in Europe. This conference takes place in Brussels on 12 and 13 February.

The conference brings together more than 300 people: academic experts, social partners, social organizations and representatives of national and international institutions. Together they examine a number of issues, such as: what does the future of social rights in Europe look like? Are the social rights “future proof”? How do the European Union and the Council of Europe relate to each other?

Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, opened the two-day Brussels conference together with Marianne Thijssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility and Maggie De Block, Minister for Social Affairs and Health Care. On Friday 13 February, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment, the Economy and Consumers Kris Peeters will close the conference.

• Press release