European Economic and Social Model

Das Progressive Zentrum is organizing a series of workshops about the future of the European Social and Economic Model. As part of this endeavour, we have undertaken a one-year study – commissioned by the German Foreign Office – on the evolving economic and social models in Central and Eastern Europe “The Future of the European Social and Economic Model - a study of the socio-economic developments in the new member states of the EU”. Attached you will find an English-language executive summary.

Building on this study, we have since 2009 been organising a discussion platform for experts and political analysts from both new and old EU member states which have participated in a series of four topical workshops. These workshops are designed as an exchange of ideas on how to re-design the various national systems and as an opportunity to formulate recommendations for policy reforms for EU member states affected by the global financial and economic crisis. Our project is backed by the German Foreign Ministry and supported by the German Marshall Fund.

Participants include journalists, academics, think-tankers and political advisers from a range of Eastern and Western European countries. What all have in common is a proven interest and track record in bridging the gap between theoretical ideas and their translation into and implementation in politics.

14 December 2010_ Berlin

"Partnership for European Progress - Which Growth for Europe?"

The international conference in cooperation with the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, Policy Network and the Commerzbank completes the series of events on the “Future of the European Economic and Social Model”, which the Think Tank Progressive Zentrum started in 2009. more

7 September 2010_ Bucharest

“Europe’s way towards a knowledge-based society – the national implementation of the European strategy “Europe 2020”

The workshop is the fourth one in the series of events on “The European Social Model after the Crisis – New Paths to Growth and Social Cohesion”. It is made possible by the support of the of the Representation of the European Commission in Romania and thanks to our cooperation partner, the Romanian Centre for European Policies.

The workshop centres on the debates on national reform programmes in the New Member States following the "Europe 2020"-strategy as adopted by the European Council in June 2010. A special focus will be put on possible obstacles member states might face on their way towards a so-called knowledge-based society, as envisioned by the EU-strategy. More

28 April 2010 _ Brussels

“The energy dilemma: How to secure the energy supply in Europe and combat global warming?”

As a part of the series of events on “The European Social Model after the Crisis”, das Progressive Zentrum held its third workshop in Brussels. We discussed the “energy dilemma” and the questions on “How to secure the energy supply in Europe and combat global warming?” The workshop was made possible by the support of the German Foreign Office and took place on the premises of the Committee of the Regions in Brussels. More

17 December 2009 _ Warsaw

"Challenges and New Dynamics in European Labour Markets"

This workshop was the second in the series of events “The European Social Model after the Crisis – New Paths to Growth and Social Cohesion”. It built on the process of exchange between representatives from Eastern and Western European member states, initiated in our first workshop in Berlin in October 2009. This series is aimed at stimulating debate about today’s socio-economic challenges in all of Europe. The Warsaw workshop was hosted by The Institute of Public Affairs, Warsaw and made possible by the cooperation and support of the German Foreign Office. More

29 October 2009 _ Berlin

“The European Social Model after the Crisis – New Paths to Growth and Social Cohesion”

The one day workshop opened up the series of workshops on the future of the European Social and Economic Model. The workshops are organised as a platform for dynamic debates of opinion leaders and influential economic and academic representatives from the “new” and “old” European member states. This forum serves the exchange of innovative ideas and encourages the formulation of reform projects with a national or European scope. It is our aim to stimulate and actively shape the public debates in a “post-crisis” Europe. More