Draft Programme

09:30 Welcoming and opening of the PES Growth Conference 2015

– Sergei Stanishev, President of the Party of European Socialists

– Nicolas Schmit, Minister for Labour, Employment, Social and Solidarity Economy, Luxembourg

– Laurette Onkelinx, Vice-president, Leader of the Group in the Chamber of Representatives, PS, Belgium

10:00 Interactive keynote: Is Europe entering a deflationary spiral?

What lessons can Europe learn from Japan and the US?

– MEP Maria Joao Rodrigues, Vice-President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, introduction

– Damon Silvers, Director of Policy and Special Counsel American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

– Machiko Nissanke, Professor at the University of SOAS, London

11:00 Panel 1: Fostering Growth in Europe: what are appropriate tools?

What are the financial, fiscal and monetary instruments to fund and promote investments?

Moderator:

– Ernst Stetter, Secretary-General of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies

Speakers:

– Sandro Gozi, State Secretary for European Affairs, Italy

– Vazil Hudak, State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Slovakia

– Veronica Nilsson, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)

– MEP Kathleen Van Brempt, Vice-President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, conclusions from the panel

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Debate: Social justice and consolidating budgets – striking a new balance

– Bernadette Ségol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation

– Pierre Moscovici, EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs

14:00 Panel 2: Smart, inclusive and sustainable – how to harness the full potential of investments?

What are the sectors where investment could have maximum impact, and what role do social policies play in making growth sustainable?

Moderator:

– Yonnec Polet, Deputy Secretary-General of the Party of European Socialists

Speakers:

– Xavier Timbeau, Director of the French Economic Observatory (OFCE)

– László Andor, Mercator Senior Fellow at Hertie School of Governance, former EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

– Manuel de la Rocha, Economy secretary, PSOE, Spain

– MEP Agnes Jongerius, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, conclusions from the panel

15:00 Closing remarks: The way forward – a progressive agenda for jobs and growth

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