Social Inequalities in Europe

In the frame of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Directorate General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission together with the General Secretariat for Research and Technology/Greece are co-organizing an event on «Social inequalities in Europe» to be held on Friday, 20 June 2014 in the Auditorium of the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

Social inequalities have increased through the current economic crisis and they pose a considerable threat to social cohesion. Rising unemployment, particularly affecting the young generation, unequal access to education and health care, increasing poverty are some of the elements, among others, that will have far-reaching consequences on society wellbeing. The phenomenon of inequalities also raises tough questions on how our political systems at national and European level are able to reduce inequalities and improve social cohesion according to a European Social Model. Several research projects, funded under the Social Sciences and Humanities theme of the 7th Framework Programme have deepened this analysis highlighting the need for further debate and policies tackling the roots of inequalities.

The conference "Social Inequalities in Europe" presenting and building on evidence, findings and conclusions provided by these projects, will also debate on the social and political implications of rising inequalities opening the path towards new research and policy scenarios.

In particular, presentations will elaborate on inequalities in the following sectors (see also programme):

• Employment, income, wealth
• Health care
• Education
• Life satisfaction
• Gender
• Children’s rights

Representatives from the political leadership of the country, the European Commission and members of the European academic community will address the social inequalities issue. All sessions are open for interested parties coming from the Greek academic and research community, political organizations and NGO’s that are facing the challenges of social inequalities on a daily basis.

Keynote speakers in order of appearance are:

• Prof. Jutta Allmendinger –President of WZB Berlin Social Science Center;
• Prof Colin Crouch, University of Warwick, UK
• Dr. Virginia Maestri- Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission, former researcher at the University of Amsterdam/GINI Project
• Dr Joanna Tsiganou, Director of Research, Institute of Social Research, The National Center for Social Research (EKKE)
• Prof. J. Yfantopoulos , University of Athens
• Dr. Tatiana Karabchuk , Deputy Director of the International Laboratory for Comparative Social Research at National Research University- Higher School of Economics, Moscow
• Prof. Frank Vandenbroucke, Former Minister of Social Affairs Belgium and Professor at Leuven and Amsterdam
• Giorgos Moschos, Greek Deputy Ombudsman, in charge of children's rights

For more information please check the speakers’ profile.

Host organizations of the event are the National Center for Social Research(EKKE) and the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, two entities that focus on the Social Sciences and Humanities.Simultaneous interpretation services in the official languages (Greek and English) of the event will be available.