Researching the future of European society

The European Commission is running a series of 'dialogue workshops' with the objective of mobilising socio-economic research for the benefit of citizens, policymakers, non-governmental organisations and business.

The Commission hopes the series of workshops will help improve two way communication - as opposed to the traditional one-way distribution of information - on a number of different but related issues. Ultimately, the Research Directorate-General hopes the discussion will help support policy formulation and implementation, formulating research agendas or to provide evidence and arguments for informed public debate.

The first workshop on 'technology, economic integration and social cohesion' was held in Brussels in May. The following workshops are scheduled for 2000:

- Work and welfare: 9 to 10 November 2000;

- Regional dimensions of RTD strategies: 24 November;

- Employment funding: 6 to 7 December;

Workshops planned for 2001 include:

- Global trade and globalising society: challenges for governance, economic development and sustainability;

- Welfare and family;

- Education and social cohesion;

- European citizenship: beyond borders, across identities?

- European regional innovation research and the process of EU Enlargement;
- New development models;

- Organisational change, work and the use of ICTs;

- Assessing the effects of European monetary union on economic and social cohesion.
For further information, please contact:

Angela Liberatore
Research DG
Fax +32-2-2994462
E-mail: Angela.Liberatore@ec.europa.eu

or,

Piia Huusela
Press and information officer
Research DG
Fax +32-2-2958220
E-mail: piia.huusela@ec.europa.eu