Europe needs all of us to build its future.

Co-organised by 3 major partners, Confrontations Europe, Bertelsmann Stiftung and Astrid Foundation, this year European Economic Debates(Entretiens Economiques Européens or EEE) will take place on 23 and 24 November in Paris. The ground for the EEE will be prepared by a series of lunch debates held in Brussels in addition to several conferences and Confrontations Europe working group meetings.

The economic crisis has highlighted the wideness of the competitiveness gaps between EU economies, threatening to break apart the European Union, as well as the social vulnerabilities and inequalities. The European Union policies should work simultaneously on both issues, so as to resolve the challenge of competitiveness and solidarity. Confrontations Europe and its partners engage in promoting the social dialogue on these two aspects to encourage appropriation by the civil society.

Major European initiatives are at the heart of this debate. A European Financial Stability is a tool of solidarity for Member States in difficulties, under strict conditions on public finance. The Euro + Pact, agreed not only by the euro-area governments but also by 6 other Member States (Nordic and Central Europe countries), testifies of a strong political will to foster economic coordination for competitiveness and convergence. Costs and investments competitiveness as well as labour participation are key notions identified in this process. The Single Market initiative has clearly identified the need to build the market for citizens as well as to foster growth. Major fields of actions such as the services of general interest, fiscal coordination, the digital economy or the investments in European infrastructures are put forward.

However, social acceptance involving social participation and unity across Europe remains a key question. Both key priorities and governance should be discussed with social partners and the civil society. This is the purpose of our lunch-debates cycle.

13 April 2011: Which priorities for the European social market economy ?
19 May 2011: What does competitiveness mean? Macroeconomic indicators in debate.
15 June 2011 : European Energy policy and the infrastructure package – How to finance energy networks.
21 June 2011: Long Term Financing: time to think about building a new growth in Europe
6 September 2011: A Multi-annual Financial Framework for Competitiveness and Solidarity?
22 September 2011: Promoting and using of digital technology: For a transboundary Market
20 October 2011: Education-Training focused on the production: a long-term investment neglected?
  November 2011: SMEs and SSGIs for Territorial cohesion 

More information on the November 2011 European Economic Debates (Entretiens Economiques Européens or EEE
More information on the LUNCH DEBATE CYCLE: Sustainable agriculture and green growth: What CAP (pact) for the future?