Conseil Européen des Professions Libérales
European Council of the Liberal Professions
Europäischer Rat der Freien Berufe
INVITATION TO A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY
CEPLIS
(European Council of the Liberal Professions)
IN THE FRAMEWORK OF FUTURISME II –
FUTURE OF SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN SMES
”Social
Dialogue and Liberal Professions
in the new economy”
26 FEBRUARY 2003
BRUSSELS
A project of UEAPME co-financed by the
European Commission – European Social Fund
EUROPEAN UNION
European Social Fund
Article 6 Innovative Measures
F U T U R I S M E II
Future of Social Dialogue in SMEs
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
As you already know, the European Council of the Liberal Professions (CEPLIS), unique interprofessional association of the liberal professions at the European level, is actively trying to
ensure that the legitimate interests of our professions as employers of approximately fourteen
million people within the EU are adequately represented at all Community decision-making
levels.
The strategic Partnership Agreement between CEPLIS and the European Association of Craft and
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (UEAPME), negotiated by the Executive Board under the
Presidencies of Messrs Adrien Bedossa and Bernard Bour and adopted by our General Assembly
of 26 June 2002, has opened a new promising perspective for an effective and fruitful
representation of the values and interests of our socio-economic group at the level of the
European Social Dialogue. Reserved to the representatives of the European Associations of
Employers and Trade Unions, this Dialogue is in fact a process of capital importance for our
professions who often act as employers, but have the specificity of being bound to strict ethical
rules designed to protect their principles, clients and patients.
Today, it is with great pleasure that we are writing to invite you to a joint CEPLIS – UEAPME
information and discussion seminar on “The Liberal Professionals and the European Social
Dialogue”, designed to define and address the specific concerns of our professions in the
framework of the ongoing Social Dialogue Negotiations, the results of which have, as you
certainly know, binding value both at the European and the national levels. The Seminar in
question, organised with the assistance of the European Commission as a whole day event, is
going to take place in Brussels the 26th of February 2003. Participants will be given the
opportunity to acquire a first hand insight information to European Social Dialogue evolution
related to issues such as: training for the employees, wages and pensions policies, working time
flexibility, wages cost, and labour market questions, especially regarding the new technologies.
The informative part of the seminar will be followed by a debate designed to define the main
guidelines our professions are going to promote on these issues, in the framework of their
partnership with UEAPME.
Further technical information on this seminar, along with a detailed programme, will be
communicated to you at the beginning of this coming January. A substantial part of travel and
accommodation fees of the participants is going to be covered by the European Commission
(Futurisme II). In order to facilitate the logistic organisation of the event we would be grateful if
you could confirm by fax (+32 2 511 01 24) or e-mail (CEPLIS@pi.be) your participation to the
Secretariat of CEPLIS at your earliest convenience.
We look forward to seeing you all in Brussels on the 26th of February and wish you and your
beloved ones all the best at the occasion of this end-of-year season.
With best regards
Bernard Bour
President CEPLIS
John Ferguson
Vice-President CEPLIS
Social Dialogue and Liberal Professions
in the new economy
Brussels, 26th and 27th February 2003
Programme
Wednesday, February 26
09.30
Registration of the Participants
10.00
Opening Session - Chairman: John Ferguson (Vice-President CEPLIS)
European Social Dialogue:
New perspectives for Liberal Professions?
Hans-Werner Müller (UEAPME Secretary General)
Adrien Bedossa (CEPLIS Board Member)
Bernard Bour (CEPLIS President)
10.45
Coffee Break
11.00
1st Working Session - Chairman: John Ferguson (Vice-President
CEPLIS)
Future of Social Dialogue for SMEs and Liberal Professions
Gerhard Huemer (UEAPME, Futurisme Coordinator)
Pierrangelo Sardi (CUP, EFPA)
European Negotiation Process
Erik van Laer (UEAPME negotiation team)
13.00
Lunch
14.30
2nd Working Session - Chairman: Gerhard Huemer (UEAPME)
New subject for the European Social Dialogue
and their relevance for Liberal Professions
Liliane Volozinskis (UEAPME, Director Social Affairs)
Gérald Goupil (UNAPL)
Otmar Schuster (President Geometer Europas)
15.45
Coffee Break
16.00
Possible issues of co-operation on European Social Dialogue within
the framework agreement between UEAPME and CEPLIS
17.00
End of work
Thursday, February 27
09.30
Arrival of the Participants
10.00
Chairman: Paul Reckinger (UEAPME President)
Political Conclusions form the first seminar day:
Hans-Werner Müller (UEAPME Secretary General)
Adrien Bedossa (CEPLIS Board Member)
11.30
Coffee Break
12.00
Chairman: Adrien Bedossa (CEPLIS Board Member)
Future common activities between CEPLIS and UEAPME regarding
Social Dialogue
Bernard Bour (CEPLIS President)
Paul Reckinger (UEAPME President)
Signature of a co-operation agreement between UEAPME and
CEPLIS
13.00
Lunch
Practical information
Travel costs, accommodation etc
The participants in the seminar will be reimbursed by 70% for the cost of travel (economy
class flight) and accommodation on presentation of necessary documents: boarding cards,
bills, receipts of payment etc.
Conference Venue
Hotel Bedford
Rue du Midi 135
B-1000 Brussels
Conference languages
English, French
Contact
Theodoros Koutroubas
Director
CEPLIS
Tel: +32 2 511 44 39
Fax: +32 2 511 01 24
Email: CEPLIS@pi.be
Registration form
Social Dialogue and Liberal Professions in the new economy
Futurisme Seminar
Brussels, 26 and 27 February 2003
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Return to Theodoros Koutroubas
Fax: +32 2 511 01 24
Email: CEPLIS@pi.be
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