Flexicurity
a role model for integrating economic progress, lifelong learning and social values?
Härnösand, Sweden, January 30-31, 2008
Place: Vårsta Diakonigård, Södra Vägen 28, Härnösand
see http://www.varsta.se/
Flexicurity is a term used to describe a combination of high levels of social protection, active
labour market policies and flexible employment regulations; which has proved to be a recipe
for success in the Nordic countries, which are characterized by high economic growth, low
unemployment and high social protection. The model has been celebrated as a role-model for
Europe in the past few years. But how does such a model translate into different national
settings? In June 2007 the EU Commission published its communication on Flexicurity and
suggested possible pathways to Flexicurity and in December 2007 the Commission will
publish common principles on Flexicurity in the European Union.
Focus has so far been on the responsibility of governments and the social partners. The role
of civil society has not been given much place in the debate.
The Eurodiaconia seminar aims at informing about the current EU debate and, more
importantly, debate how to put focus on the role and responsibility of civil society in the
flexicurity debate and particularly the role of diaconia.
TUESDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2007
12.30 h
Registration
13.00 h
Lunch
14.00 h
Opening and Welcome,
Heidi Martinussen, Eurodiaconia
14.15 h
Welcome to Vårsta - working in the Nordic welfare model
Ninni Smedberg, Vårsta Diakonigård
14.30 h
Flexicurity in Europe: integrating economic progress, social
values and life-long learning – the role of the EU and its
instruments
Representative from the European Commission DG employment,
Social Affairs and Equal opportunities or Swedish member of the
Social Protection Committee (tbc)
This seminar receives funding from the European Commission.
The seminar planners take alone the full responsibility of the contents of the seminar; the Commission
is under no circumstances responsible for the use of the information from the seminar.
Debate
15.30 h
Coffee break
16.00 h
Eurodiaconia’s response to the Flexicurity debate
Heidi Martinussen, Eurodiaconia
Flexicurity and diaconia – roles, risks and responsibilities of
the social economy in the flexicurity model
17.00 h
Reflection in groups: How do the principles of flexicurity translate
into other national settings? What are the roles, risks and
responsibilities of diaconia in this debate?
19.00 h
Dinner and cultural evening programme
WEDNESDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2007
9.00 h
Devotion
9.30 h
Plenum following Thursday’s reflection in groups
10.30 h
Work shops on flexicurity themes
Workshop I
Economic progress and social values: How do we strike a
balance? How do national specificities promote or prevent pathways
to flexicurity? Is flexicurity at all desirable and/or possible in the
different national setting?
Workshop II
Life-long learning: Life Long Learning as an element of growth
and an investment in social inclusion. How can we as diaconia
contribute?
12.00 h
Lunch
13.00 h
Workshops continue
14.00 h
Plenum debate. Development on Eurodiaconia response to
the EU Commission’s principles on Flexicurity and the
further debate
16.00 h
Closing of seminar
This seminar receives funding from the European Commission.
The seminar planners take alone the full responsibility of the contents of the seminar; the Commission
is under no circumstances responsible for the use of the information from the seminar.