Search
Strategy Annual Conferences 2009 Bucharest
Bucharest 2009
Annual Conference 2009, Bucharest, Romania
This year's Annual Conference was in Bucharest between 26 and 29 aMay. The event was hosted by Motivation Romania in collaboration with Shaw Trust, UK.
The theme of the Conference was "Financial and Economic Challenges: 2009 and Beyond." The event addressed the major challenges facing the social sector as a result of the current economic downturn. Participants discussed ways to improve the employment situation of people experiencing disadvantage and looked at how collaboration with public authorities and stakeholders could be maximised. Inputs were given from WE members, EU Institutions, experts and academics.
Clich here for the fotos
WORKABILITY EUROPE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Financial and Economic Challenges: 2009 and Beyond
26-29 May 2009
Venue:Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bucharest, Romania
HOSTED BY | ||
|
| |
PROGRAMME | |||
| Exhibitions & Information stands | |||
| WEB BV | Display and Information Desk | ||
| VM2 Mentoring | Validating Mentoring 2 project will support the needs of disabled people and others disadvantaged in the job market by developing systems for the recognition of their non-formal and informal learning. | ||
| DAY I: Tuesday, 26 May 2009 | |||
| 09.00-11.00 | WEB BV Board Meeting | ||
| Coffee during sessions | |||
| 11.00-13.00 | Workability Europe Board Meeting | ||
| 13.00-14.00 | - Lunch - | ||
| 14.00-15.30 | Continuation of Workability Europe Board Meeting | ||
| 18.30 | Assembly and departure of Participants and Guests at Crowne Plaza Hotel | ||
| 19.00-20.30 | Welcome Reception (Bucharest Parliament Palace) | ||
| DAY II: Wednesday, 27 May 2009 | |||
Chair of morning session: Brendan Sinnott, European Commission | |||
| 08.30-09.00 | Participants Registration | ||
| 09.00-09.50 | Introduction and Welcome Address | ||
| Cristian Ispas, Motivation Romania | |||
| Marian Sarbu, Romanian Minister of Labour- Overview of Social/Employment Policy in Romania | |||
Robin Barnett, British Ambassador in Bucharest | |||
Ms. Rovana Plumb - Romanian MEP, Member of European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs | |||
| Hans Vrind, President of Workability Europe | |||
| 09.50 - 10.20 | Keynote Speech: Filippo Addarii, Director, Euclid Network, Europe. Click here to learn about about Euclid | ||
|
| Implications of the Current Crisis on the NGO Sector with particular Reference to People with Disabilities and other Marginalised Groups. Click here for his presentation! | |
| 10.20 - 10.30 | Questions & Answers | ||
| 10.30 - 10.50 | Coffee break | ||
| 10.50 - 11.15 | Keynote Speech 2: Mr. Thiery Weishaupt, Secretary General, FEDES. The Employers Perception on the Economic Future Relating to Employment. Click here for his presentation! | ||
| 11.15 - 11.40 | Keynote Speech 3: Mr Constantinescu Ianos,National Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Romania - FRATIA, Perception on the Economic Future Relating to Employment | ||
| 11:40 - 12:05 | Keynote Speech 4: Ms.Anne Hoel, Policy Coordinator European Social Platform, The ENGO's Perception on the Economic Future Relating to Employment and the effects on our Sector. Click here for her presentation! | ||
| 12:05 - 13:00 | Panel Discussion with Questions and Answers | ||
| 13:00 - 14:00 | - Lunch - | ||
Chair of afternoon session: Cristjan Ispas | |||
| 14.00 - 14.30 | Keynote Speech 5: Anne - Marie Martin, British Romanian Chamber of Commerce Funding - between Safety and Flexibility | ||
| 14.30 - 15.00 | Keynote Speech 6: Mr. Daniel Schmidt, Disability Unit DG Employment European Commission. Current Disability Issues which restrict people with disabilities accessing Employment in the present economic climate - How can the European Commission assist? -Click here for his presentation! | ||
| 15:00 - 15.30 | Panel Discussion with Questions and Answers | ||
| 15.30 - 15.50 | - Coffee break - | ||
| 15.50 - 16.10 | Leo Kooyman/Bertie Hunt Presentation on the Results from an Internal Survey conducted within our Membership on the Issues we now face and possible solutions for the Future - Click here for their presentation! | ||
| 16.10 - 17.10 | Panel Discussion with Questions and Answers | ||
| 17.10 - 17.30 | Conclusions and Closure of the Day Hans Vrind, President Workability Europe | ||
| Free Evening | |||
| DAY III: Thursday, 28 May 2009 | |||
| Business Development Strategies and Perspectives | |||
Chair of the morning session: - Tim Pap� | |||
| 9.00 - 9.30 | Keynote Speech 7: Silviu Hotaran - Former CEO Microsoft South East Europe Adapting to Succeed in a Challenging Market. Click here for his presentation! | ||
| 9.30 - 10.30 | Questions & Answers | ||
| 10.30 - 10.45 | A Debate by a Panel of Experts - Internal and External on the Challenges Facing our Members? | ||
| 10.45 - 11.45 | - Coffee break - | ||
| 11.45 - 12.45 | Using Existing Resources -- The Employment Quota Systems in Europe: | ||
| The Polish Quota System - Dr. Marek Lukomski, EKON Association, Poland. Click here for his presentation! | |||
| Presentation on the system in France - Francois Kuenz, Fegapei, France. Click here for his presentation! | |||
| Summary and overview of the European quota systems - lessons learned and applicability for other countries - Cristian Ispas, President, ACORD Federation, Romania. Click here for his presentation! | |||
| 12.45 - 13.00 | Presentation of Different Business/Service Models by our Members | ||
| Presentation 1 - KIGR- Poland - Wlodzimierz Sobczak. Click here for his presentation! | |||
| Presentation 2 - MOTIVATION - Romania Cristian Ispas. Click here for his presentation! | |||
| Presentation 3 FUNDOSA, Spain Mercedes Ramos | |||
| Presentation 4 -Salo Holdings, Germany - Manfred Philipp. Click here for his presentation! | |||
| Questions & Answers/ Debate | |||
| 13.00 - 14.00 | - Lunch - | ||
Chair of the afternoon - Hans Vrind | |||
| 14.00 - 14.30 | Open Discussion and the drafting of a Statement to be issued to the EU Institutions/National Governments | ||
| 14:30 - 15.00 | Key Priorities for inclusion in our next Strategic Plan 2011- 2013 | ||
| 15.00 - 15.15 | - Coffee Break - | ||
| 15.15 - 16.15 | Services Development Group Open Meeting - L.Alm/M.Egger Click here for their presentation! | ||
| 16.15 - 16.30 | Conclusions and Closure of the Day | ||
| 17.00 - 19.30 | Tour of Bucharest | ||
| 20.00 | Conference Dinner at "Tezaal" Restaurant | ||
| DAY IV: Friday, 29 May 2009 | |||
| Business Development Strategies and Perspectives Conclusions | |||
Chair of day: M.Egger | |||
| 08.45 - 09.45 | Business Development Group Open Meeting - Led by C. Hagens | ||
| 09.45 - 10.45 | Network Development Group Open Meeting, Led by F. Kuentz/T. Pape Click here for their presentation! | ||
| 10.45 - 11.05 | Closure of Conference - Hans Vrind, President, Workability Europe | ||
| 11.05 - 11.25 | - Coffee break - | ||
| 11.30 - 13.00 | WE Annual General Meeting (AGM), voting on the Bucharest Declaration (agreed) | ||
| 13.00 - 14.00 | Lunch and Departure | ||
Bucharest declaration
On 25-29 May 2009, Motivation Romania and the Shaw Trust together with Workability Europe hosted Workability Europe's annual conference on "Financial and Economic Challenges: 2009 and Beyond" in Bucharest.
The organizers are grateful for the support of the Romanian National Authority for People with Disabilities and would also like to acknowledge the significant role played by participants and speakers.
Participants from 30 member organisations from 17 countries as well as officials from the Romanian government, the European Union and other non-governmental organisations were present during the conference.
1. The presentations and discussions of the conference show a common concern among participants about the future operations of the sector in these times of economic turmoil. Most members of Workability Europe report that they are directly affected by the global recession. Some national member organisations report a loss of jobs of up to 30% and income, jeopardising the sustainability of the ongoing operations during these economically difficult times. This holds especially true for jobs in the industrial sector.
2. Participants of the conference express their concern that achievements of the last years, even decades, are currently under threat, especially the statement of the Reykjavik Declaration of 2003 of equal opportunities of employment for people with disabilities. Workability Europe and its members want to remind governments and the European Institutions that social systems are also social stabilisers and that in times of economic uncertainty these systems are of increased importance to society. We therefore offer our expertise and cooperation to the relevant authorities in order to provide solutions and mechanisms to address this issue with our knowledge of the various models of employment, such as sheltered employment, supported employment, social enterprises, vocational training programmes and re-integration programmes.
3. Participants agree that further action has to be taken to encourage disabled people to enter - and retrain and retain in - the labour market. The current efforts of Governments, Companies and non-profit Organisations therefore should be increased.
Namely:
- More and better training possibilities for people with disabilities,
- Advocacy to get employers to recognise the capacities of people with disabilities,
- Optimise the opportunities for employment for people with disabilities to enter/re-enter the workplace by providing sustainable employment, in our own organisations as well as in open employment
4. Workability Europe is nevertheless convinced that the current economic challenges also present opportunities to its members to build stronger and more sustainable organisations.
Some of the key strategies agreed on by the participants are:
- Reviewing operations and seeking innovative solutions,
- Stimulating cross-border partnerships to secure the development of employment opportunities for people with disabilities,
- Exchanging good practices through networking.
Ultimately, only sustainable and competitive organisations will ensure the human right to work including for people with disabilities.
5. Workability Europe is expressing the need for all relevant stakeholders (in government, the economy and civil society) to increase their work together, in order to overcome this crisis and enable people with disabilities to lead productive and independent lives.
Downloads:
download this Buchares Declaration
in the English version 
in the Icelandic version! 
Press release
Crisis threatens employment for people with disabilities
Participants of the annual conference of Workability Europe, the European association of service providers and employers of people with disabilities, voiced their concern today about the impact of the financial crisis on the employment possibilities of people with disabilities At the conference which took place in Bucharest from 26-29 May, members of Workability Europe reported job losses of up to 30% as well as a considerable loss of profits. This holds especially true for the situation in the industrial sector. Potentially the consequences of the crisis could destroy progress made during the last years, even decades, for the employment of people with disabilities.Hans Vrind, President of Workability Europe stated: "Existing jobs of people with disabilities are at risk and new jobs are more difficult to find for this vulnerable group. We want to invest in the existing relations with all the stakeholders in order to address this important issue."
In various workshops the conference worked on strategies to overcome the current difficulties. Participants concluded that the challenges ahead must be seen as a chance to build stronger organizations and more sustainable business models by reviewing operations, implementing innovative solutions, stimulating cross-border partnerships and exchanging good practices among its members.
Cristian Ispas, President of Motivation Romania said: "This year's conference was particularly important as it helped us to work together to identify the challenges ahead of us, during these times of economic downturn. We hope that as a result we are prepared and will be able to address the problems we face for the benefit of our members."
Workability Europe and its members reminded governments and the European Institutions that social systems are also social stabilisers and that in times of economic uncertainty these systems are of increased importance to society
Workability Europe therefore offers its expertise and cooperation to the relevant authorities in order to provide solutions and mechanisms to address this issue.
For further information please contact:Henner Sorg
Communications Officer Workability Europe
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
032 (0)472 429 650
download this Press release
in the English version
in the Icelandic version!