SEDEC members to debate employment guidelines and regional impact of cultural heritage in Santander
At the invitation of the Cantabria Region (Spain), the European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) will hold its meeting in Santander on 29 April with a focus on the EU's new employment guidelines for Member States. The meeting will be followed the next day by a European conference on "Cultural heritage and sustainable tourism as key contributors to local and regional development".
Members of the SEDEC commission will hold a debate on the draft opinion prepared by Mauro D'Attis (IT/EPP), Brindisi Municipal Councillor, about the European Commission's proposal for new guidelines on employment policies. The rapporteur points out that it is cities and regions which are ultimately responsible for implementing social inclusion and economic policies, through their social and employment services. He therefore calls on the EU and the Member States to provide an appropriate framework and suitable financing instruments to support them in fulfilling these responsibilities. M. D'Attis also highlights the need for the Guidelines to focus more on the significant job creation potential of the green economy and to better encourage self-employment.
The meeting will also give SEDEC members the opportunity to hold a first discussion on the role of social economy in combating unemployment and restoring growth (rapporteur Luís Gomes (PT/EPP)), standards of remuneration in employment in the EU (A living wage) (rapporteur Mick Antoniw (UK/PES)), and the review of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (rapporteur Jean-François Istasse (BE/PES)).
On 30 April, SEDEC and the Cantabria region are co-organising a European conference to assess the contribution of cultural heritage and sustainable tourism to regional development. The event will gather policy-makers from all levels of government, representatives of cultural heritage organisations and academia around the two following themes:
· European Cultural Heritage - source and resource
· Cultural heritage and sustainable tourism for local and regional development
The main speakers will include Yoomi Renström, SEDEC Chair, José María Lasalle Ruiz, Spanish Secretary of State for Culture, Juan Ignacio Diego Palacios, President of Cantabria, Cristina Mazas Pérez-Oleaga, Cantabria's Minister for Economic Affairs and Employment and CoR member, and Iñigo de la Serna, Mayor of Santander.
More information:
SEDEC commission meeting and conference, Santander, 29-30 April 2015