UK perspectives on EU employment and social law

A Foreign Policy Centre, European Commission Representation in the UK and TUC project

Date: Friday February 10th 2012, 2pm-5.45pm (Registration and lunch from 1pm, event followed by networking drinks)

Venue: TUC Congress House, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS

The FPC, ECUK and TUC's 'Single Market, Equal Rights?' conference will be a high profile half-day event that will bring together a range of different British perspectives on the EU's role in employment and social law. The conference will look at the current state of the debate in Brussels on employment and social rights, take the political temperature in the UK around the issue and set out the benefits and challenges for workers, businesses and the country.

The Conference will involve a range of high profile speakers including:

• Commissioner Lazlo Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
• Emma Reynolds MP, Shadow Europe Minister
• Brendan Barber, General Secretary, TUC
• Professor Anne Davies, University of Oxford
• Lord Monks, former General Secretary, ETUC
• Billy Hayes, General Secretary, CWU and TUC Europe Spokesperson
• Karen Clements, British Chambers of Commerce
• Mats Persson, Director, Open Europe

The conference will also launch the 'Single Market, Equal Rights?' pamphlet with copies available for participants. The event is free and open to all, though places will be allocated on a first come-first served basis.

Please contact events@fpc.org.uk to RSVP for this event

• Single Market, Equal Rights? conference invitation

As the wider Middle-East continues to absorb and respond to the effects of the Arab Spring, international focus has been somewhat diverted from the unresolved conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has been one of the main factors in past regional tension. Over the coming months the FPC will put forward a wide range of different perspectives from experts across the spectrum on the current state of relations between the parties, the nature of international engagement and the internal political dynamics in Israel, Palestine and across the Arab World. To open we have two somewhat divergent perspectives, one briefing from Dr Toby Greene and Prof Alan Johnson of the Britain Israel Communications Centre (BICOM) and the other from John Lyndon, Executive Director of peace building organisation OneVoice Europe. Further contributions will be added shortly as the project develops.

• FPC Briefing: How do we create a future for two-states
• FPC Briefing: Israel, Palestine, and the "Urgency of Now"

UK perspectives on EU employment and social law

Date: Friday 20th April 6pm-7.30pm

Venue: Diamond Room, Macdonald Burlington, Burlington Arcade, 126 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4JQ

The FPC, EC and TUC's 'Single Market, Equal Rights?' Birmingham seminar will bring together a range of different British perspectives on the EU's role in employment and social law. The event will look at the current state of the debate in Brussels on employment and social rights, take the political temperature in the UK around the issue and set out the benefits and challenges for workers, businesses and the country.

Our panel will comprise:

•Emma Reynolds MP, Shadow Europe Minister

•Lorely Burt MP, Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party

•Further speakers TBC

The event is free and open to all.

Please contact events@fpc.org.uk to RSVP for this event

Dr David Grigorian, Senior Economist at the International Monetary Fund's Monetary and Capital Markets Department and a co-founder of Policy Forum Armenia, gives an in-depth analysis of Armenia's economic development from independence and to the present day. He argues that better governance is crucial to efforts to reform the economy, tackle public debt and improve long-term growth prospects.

• FPC Briefing: Armenia's Economy since Independence

FPC Research Associate Marc Herzog explores the development of Turkey's Foreign Policy and its response to the Arab Spring, setting out the challenges faced and those still to come.

• FPC Briefing: Weathering the crazy seasons