EUROPE - AEIP, the European Association of Paritarian Institutions of Social Protection, is to celebrate its 10th anniversary under the patronage of José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.

It is expected around 300 delegates to the event in Brussels on September 8.

Keynote speakers will be Leila Kostiainen, Secreatry of State, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health for the Finnish Presidency and Vladimír Spidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.

Ieke van den Burg, Member of the European Parliament and a representative of the European Social and Economic Committee will discuss about "Solidarity", a value for the future European Social Policy".

High level representatives of AEIP will conclude the event in discussing the subject "Freedom of Social Partners and Paritarian Model: Key Factors for the Development of the European Social Policy".

Since its foundation in 1996, the mission of AEIP has been to promote paritarism and to represent and defend the interests of its members.

Paritarian institutions are administered by representatives of the employers and salaried workers. This balanced management put into practice by the AEIP members, guarantees at the same time economic efficiency and promotes social justice and welfare.

AEIP President Bernard Devy (ARRCO, France) said: "Paritarism has an essential role to play in building the future of social protection at European level." 

Through its recent studies on national social and labour law in cooperation with the University "KU Leuven" and on solidarity, AEIP has once more pointed at a value that is at stake in Europe: Solidarity. AEIP is convinced that "solidarity" needs a legal framework at European level in order to enhance social protection for all.

AEIP has 25 members in 16 European countries. The fields of activities are health, provident benefits, coordinated retirement schemes, pensions and holiday pay schemes.

To register for the event, please contact: Corinne Lamarcq: 0033 1 42 79 1283 or Lydie Legrand: 0032 2 282 05 69

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