Brussels, 06/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - In preparation for the extraordinary summit in Lisbon, the European Parliament's Socialist group PES organised, this Tuesday in Brussels, a public seminar on "Social quality in Europe." Discussions will centre on the following subjects: 1) The economic benefits of the European Social Model compared to the US model; 2) the future of the Employment Policy: such as giving new impetus to the annual guidelines? The importance of qualitative and quantitative objectives at a European level; 3) the future of social protection in Europe: role of the European institutions and Member States: reasons for a convergence in national systems of social protection; how to carry these out; 4) objectives for a social cohesion of Europe at a European level: new EU legislation.
Stephen Huges, co-ordinator for "Employment and Social Affairs" of the PES, will introduce and close the discussions in which, among others, will participate Baron Crespo, President of the PES, Maria Joao Rodrigues, special advisor to the Portuguese prime Minister, Gerassimos Zorbas, secretary General of the European Confederation of Unions as well as the MEPs Ioannis Koukiadis, Barbara Weiler, Anna Van Lancker Proinsas DeRossa and Michel Rocard, President of the Committee for Employment and Social Affairs.