SOCIEUX successfully launched on 16th October in Brussels

SOCIEUX, the Social Protection European Union Expertise in Development Cooperation, was officially launched on the occasion of its kick-off meeting which took place in the premises of the European Commission in Brussels (Berlaymont) on 16^th October 2013.

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The launch event of SOCIEUX brought together about 110 high-level stakeholders, including practitioners and policymakers from EU Member States and partner countries, as well as from the European Commission. It was chaired by Ms Hélène BOURGADE, Head of Unit DEVCO B3 (Employment, Social Inclusion, Migration) at the European Commission.

In addition to Mr Hans WOLF, the team leader of SOCIEUX, speakers included Ms Nana Oye LITHUR, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection in Ghana, Mr Cyril COSME, a Director at the ministries for Social Affairs and Labour in France, Mr Harsh MANDER, Special Commissioner to the Supreme Court of India for the Right to Food Case, Ms Elsa ALFAI, social policy advisor of the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs in Mozambique and Ms Ana MOHEDANO ESCOBAR, Head of Social Programmes within the Organización Iberoamericana de Seguridad Social (OISS). The supporting documents of the interventions can be found in annex to this blog post.

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Some of the speakers at the SOCIEUX launch event, from left to right: Ms Nana Oye Lithur (Minister in charge of Social Protection, Ghana), Ms Hélène Bourgade (Head of Unit DEVCO B3 and Chair), Mr Hans Wolf (SOCIEUX team leader), Ms Elsa Alfai (Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Mozambique) and Mr Harsh Mander (Special Commissioner, Right to Food Case, India).

Speakers and other participants reminded how important is social protection in the fight against poverty and vulnerability all around the world and how SOCIEUX can efficiently contribute to make a difference by exchanging experiences and approaches towards setting up and reforming social protection systems in partner countries. 

The launch event of SOCIEUX was also the occasion to introduce the communication materials related to the programme, and especially the leaflet, which is already available in 4 languages (EN-FR-ES-PT) on the SOCIEUX webpage.

Finally, the day after the launch event of SOCIEUX (17^th October 2013), on the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the Commissioner for Development Cooperation, Mr Andris PIEBALGS, released a statement, in which he declared the following:

“Social protection is a key for poverty eradication, protecting vulnerable groups such as children, the unemployed or old people, increasing equity and supporting economic growth. But only 20% of people in the world have access to it. Today, the European Commission is launching SOCIEUX (Social Protection European Union Expertise in Development Cooperation), a facility that will help developing countries better design and manage their social protection systems and will provide partner countries with advice and expertise support, guide them in preparing legislation and policy and other activities, such as training”.

For further information about SOCIEUX, partner country representatives and social protection practitioners from EU Member States and partner countries public administrations and mandated bodies can contact the SOCIEUX team at contact@socieux.eu.