Social Values and Democracy: Renewing the guiding principles of the European Union

"Concept
The European social model represents a common vision of society shared by all EU Member States, enshrined in the existing EU Treaties and reaffirmed in the Constitutional Treaty. While each EU country has its own model of social and economic policy mix, serving to help implement this common vision, all 25 countries have affirmed their commitment to the same key values and objectives based on fundamental rights and social justice.                                                                                                    

The Social Platform will organise a two-day conference in December 2006 to address the European social model and will address 2 key questions:

• Social values in EU politics: Are we moving forwards or backwards?
• Would the EU be more social if it were more democratic?

The conference will enable a diverse group of participants to explore these questions in its entirety."