I should like to welcome you to Ioannina, the hospitable capital of Epirus with a long-standing history and incomparable natural beauty. This city has been chosen by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to host one of the most important events in the context of the Hellenic Presidency of the European Union -The International Conference on the Modernisation of the European Social Model, which takes place only a few weeks after the signature of the Athens Treaty of Accession to welcome ten new countries into the EU.
I hope that this Conference will give us the chance to share our experiences and ideas concerning the reform of the different national social protection systems that are giving shape and content to the European Social Model.
In Our Europe, a community of values, set up on the basis of the common democratic and welfare state tradition in all EU countries, it is necessary, now more than ever, to place the main interests and problems of its citizens in the centre. In a rapidly changing external environment and in view of its radical institutional evolution, the European Union is called upon to achieve the vision of a "Social Europe". We all need to contribute to this venture taking into account the common challenges connected with the development of social protection systems, which will be more efficient and viable in the long run.
Our objective in Ioannina is to contribute constructively to the dialogue regarding the future prospects of the European Social Model and the potential of the relevant policies and initiatives, which we design in the context of the European Union. The debate will focus on our policies on pensions and social inclusion, as well as on the role of the social rights of the European citizens and regulatory activity in the social field. All these are based on the fundamental importance of social protection policies for securing social cohesion and economic growth in Europe.
Hoping that the dialogue on the modernisation of the European Social Model will be fruitful for all, I thank you warmly for your interest on this initiative of the Hellenic Presidency and wish you a pleasant stay in Ioannina.
Message from the Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Security
Mr. Rovertos Spyropoulos
The picturesque town of Ioannina with its unique traditions hosts a significant event for both the Hellenic Presidency and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. We hope that this event will pave the way for new developments in the debate regarding the future of the European Social Model.
The 25 E.U. Member States, representatives of which have been invited to participate in this Conference, doubtless have different historic and institutional references concerning their systems of social protection. However, in our course towards European integration we have managed to consolidate and broaden our cooperation in the field of social policy. The Lisbon Strategy is a landmark for the advancement of social protection in the E.U. agenda, and has raised high expectations amongst citizens for the reinforcement of a socially just Europe.
Within the context of this Conference entitled "The Modernisation of the European Social Model - Policies and Instruments of the European Union", we will attempt to identify the challenges faced today by the systems of social protection and moreover to discuss the means and policies through which, with the European social patrimony as the starting point, we can promote a society of economic development and solidarity.
Nowadays, the social dimension of the European Union is not only a widely acknowledged feature of its strategy, but also the focus of our efforts on both European and national level. Through the E.U. processes, comparison of our national social policies became feasible, by establishing procedures for mutual information, common targeting and monitoring of the relevant policies. The E.U. procedures, which will be discussed during the Ioannina Conference, contributed to the understanding of the fact that we all share common values, whatever our national approach towards social protection may be. These values spring from the tradition of the European Social Model, and constitute the foundation of our attempt to modernise and adapt the Welfare State to today's conditions.
I wish and hope that the dialogue to be developed within the two days of the conference will constitute an important precedent for the future of social protection in Our Europe. Lets built it together.
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