Academic support to the preparation of the Belgian EU Council Presidency 2024

The Centre for Social Policy Herman Deleeck (CSB, University of Antwerp) and the OSE have secured a contract with the Belgian Federal Public Service Social Security (SPF Sécurité Sociale) to provide the academic underpinning of the ‘Social Affairs’ side of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU during the first half of 2024. In the first phase, the OSE has been tasked with writing three background papers on a) ‘improving access to social protection’; b) ‘just transition towards climate neutrality’; and c) ‘advancing disability rights in the context of the Union of equality’. These background papers have been authored by CSB and OSE researchers, as well as external academic experts. Other papers in the contract pertain to the European Pillar of Social Rights, pensions and the European Labour Authority. They are being discussed in dedicated workshops during spring 2023, with Belgian administrations and political ‘cabinets’, as well with a variety of Belgian and EU stakeholders. The paper and discussions will feed directly into the policymaking process. In the second phase of the project (2023), the OSE and CSB teams will support the SPF Sécurité Sociale in developing the agenda and activities of the Social Affairs side of the future Belgian presidency.