European integration has driven a wide range of social policy developments in Ireland and across Europe over the past fifty years – including rules relating to equality of opportunity, inclusion, fair working conditions, and social protections. However, since the 1990s, EU activity in the social realm has slowed. Today, the existence of a coherent ‘European social model’ in the enlarged EU has been called into question. Ahead of the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU, this expert panel will consider the current state of Europe’s social policy agenda and identify the main gaps and opportunities in European social policy. The panel will assess the extent to which the EU’s competitiveness agenda relates to, and may be enhanced by, a stronger European social dimension. The panel may also explore the role of the European social model in influencing public sentiment towards political institutions and European integration.

The panel for this event will include:

• Esther Lynch, General Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation
• Dr Shana Cohen, Executive Director, Think-tank for Action on Social Change (TASC)
• Maria Jepsen, Deputy Director, Eurofound