GEF workshop on the social consequences of the crisis

The economic crisis is still without a doubt the main political subject discussed at all levels of decision making. But at the same time social concerns are taking a back seat to budgetary and financial aspects. With this workshop, we aim to map the social impact of the crisis throughout Europe, discuss where the EU leverage is in dealing with the consequences of austerity and recession and bring to the forefront Green proposals to address the cuts in social services and growing unemployment throughout the EU.

The European Greens have been working in recent years on a number of policy papers drawing attention to the need to mainstream social concerns into EU economic policy (e.g. EGP resolutions "The social dimension of the Green New Deal"). This work is the starting point for this workshop. The workshop will assist participants in broadening their understanding of the different social impacts of the crisis across the continent and in grasping the main Green proposals to tackle this economic and social crisis and the existing links between the needed social, economic and environmental transformation.

The workshop takes place over 2 full working days (22 - 23 February 2013) in Brussels, Belgium. GEF will cover the travel, accommmodation and food costs of all participants, in exchange of a participation fee of €90. All selected participants will be asked to do a preparatory excercise ahead of the seminar.

Main topics addressed
The workshop will be structured along five building blocks:
1. General overview: Europe in crisis - the social consequences General understanding of the different social realities of the crisis between centre and periphery countries; mapping the impact of the crisis in social and labour law across the continent
2. The role of the EU in social policy Overview of EU competences in social policy; EU funds available in the field; key social policy dossiers at EU level; actors in social policy at EU level, and European Green approach of mainstreaming social concerns in economic policy

3. Key issues at stake, Green approaches:
- Minimum income in the EU
- New jobs, green jobs: Green job creation in the EU
4. 2013 social policy highlights for the Greens Workshops discussing in detail concrete policy measures (at different policy making levels) which will feature in the political debate in 2013. Possibility to choose according to interest and national prerogatives from the fields of: youth unemployment/the youth guarantee; access to health care and pensions. 

5. Building the case for a Green Social Europe Summarise and make easily understandable the main Green policy lines in EU social policy (e.g. why minimal standards are needed at EU level etc). Build argumentation for a Green Social Europe.

Below, you can download a draft agenda of the workshop. We will update the agenda in the upcoming weeks, including also the names of invited speakers.

Who can apply to participate?
We are looking for about 35 participants from across Europe who:
    •    have a general understanding of how the European Union functions (main institutions, decision making capacities etc).
    •    have an interest and basic understanding of economic concepts and of the current economic, financial and environmental crisis. The level of the training is an intermediate one. Some notions of socio-economic policy and basic notions of European affairs are expected from the participants.
    •    are active in Green politics (understood in the broader, not strictly party political sense)
    •    are interested in social policy issues and in what the EU can do in this area (how are European Greens influencing the agenda, but also how to use EU policies as a leverage in national discussions).
    •    can use English as a working language
Green party staff and board members, assistants to national members of parliament, Green politicians and candidates for the 2014 European Parliament elections are particularly encouraged to apply.

How to apply?
To apply, please fill in the online application form. The deadline for applications is January 10th 2013.