12/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Portuguese presidency of the EU and the European Commission are to hold a conference on the challenges of flexicurity in Lisbon on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 September. The conference will give close consideration to the Commission communication “Towards common principles of flexicurity” (see EUROPE 9455). It is hoped the discussion will allow real progress towards the definition of these common principles, expected to be approved by the December European Council, a joint press release says. Taking part in the conference will be Social Policy Commissioner Vladimir Spidla, Portuguese Labour and Social Solidarity Minister José António Fonseca Vieira da Silva, and representatives of the European institutions, national governments, the social partners and academia. For further information: http://www.eu2007.pt (gb)