News

In view of the upcoming Lithuanian EU Presidency, Social Platform held a Networking Visit and conference in Vilnius on May 22-24 2013, which gathered representatives from the Lithuanian government, research institutes, and European-level and Lithuanian social NGOs.

The objective of the visit was to discuss the social priorities for the Lithuanian presidency – from July to December 2013, and to build alliances between European and Lithuanian CSOs in order to join forces towards the upcoming Presidency.

Here you can check the photos from the conference and networking visit.

Below you can read the transcripts from the interventions and discussions at the conference:

Lithuanian Presidency EU social priorities:

• Key-note speech by Mrs Algimanta Pabedinskienė, Minister of Social Security and Labour

Social Platform and civil society organisations priorities – European and Lithuanian perspectives:

Social protection and investment:

• Janina Arsenjeva, Policy Director, Eurochild

Active inclusion:

• Vaidotas Ilgius, Board member, European Anti-Poverty Network Lithuania

Youth Guarantee:

• Loreta Senkutė, President, LiJOT – Lithuanian Youth Council

Maternity leave Directive:

• Zoltan Vadkerti, Advocacy Officer, COFACE – Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union
• Jurate Seduikiene, Director, Lithuanian Women’s Lobby

Jobs in the white sector and role of social services:

• Catherine Mallet, Policy and Membership Development Officer, Eurodiaconia
• Zita Juskiene, Social administrator of welfare, Lithuanian Red Cross

Anti-Discrimination Directive:

• Juliana Wahlgren, Networking Officer, ENAR – European Network Against Racism
• Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, Project Assistant, LGL – Lithuanian Gay League

How can we ensure that EU social priorities are developed and implemented during the Lithuanian Presidency?

• Virginija Langbakk, Director EIGE – European Institute for Gender Equality
• Janina Matuizienė, General Secretary, LPSK – Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation
• Boguslavas Gruževskis, Director, Institute of Labour and Social Research
• Dainius Pūras, Chair of the Board, HRMI – Human Rights Monitoring Institute

Networking World Café session:

• Table Nr 1: “How to use the economic crisis as an opportunity to reform social welfare/healthcare systems in order to reduce existing inequalities?", “Universal access to healthcare / social service”
• Table Nr 2: "In your experience, what works well to allow being involved in decision making on the local and national level"
• Table Nr 3: “How can we promote access to sustainable employment for people from vulnerable groups?”, “How can organisations support reasonable diversity and equality measures in the field of employment for ethnic minorities?”
• Table Nr 4: “Do you think that social services shall be provided by CSOs and public sector, or shall the private sector also participate?
• Table Nr 5: “How can we ensure the inclusion of marginalized groups in policies targeting the general population?”

 Articles on the networking visit:

European level:

• By Pierre Baussand, Social Platform Director
• By Zoltán Massay-Kosubek, Policy Coordinator, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA)
• By Catherine Mallet, Eurodiaconia

Lithuanian press:

• By Minister of Social Security and Labour
• By Lithuanian EU Presidency – www.eu2013.lt
• By KAUNODIENA.lt : "Lithuania calls Europe to raise poverty and social exclusion"
• By JPSS – Jonavos Trade Unions
• By LPJ – Lithuanian Trade Union Youth Association – LPSK Youth
• By PROFSAJUNGA.INFO
• By PDPS – Prekybos darbuotojų profesinė sąjunga (Commercial workers' union)