The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research celebrates its 50th anniversary to commemorate the contributions made to social policy developments across the member states of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The events were jointly implemented by the European Centre and its Board of Directors, especially the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) and comprised the Ceremonial Act on 25 September 2024, followed by a two-days-lasting Invitational Conference on ‘The future of social welfare policy and research’ in the United Nations Offices at Vienna on 26-27 September 2024.
Recognised high-level speakers emphasized the necessity of social policies that are built on evidence provided by research. During the past 50 years the European Centre had a major role to play in this regard. Participating experts of the ceremonial events highlighted its unique perceived benefits that include conducting comparative research on social policies across the UN-Europe region, establishing an exceptional platform for fruitful exchange between policy making and research, co-creating policy solutions between actors of different background including civil society organisations and building bridges between the countries of the UN-Europe region, especially between the EU countries and the (potential) EU candidate countries in the Western Balkan and the Eastern Partnership region.
Three discussion papers have been prepared prior to the events that reflect on the past five decades of social welfare in Europe. They also focus on necessary improvements in social welfare, in particular in the areas of employment and labour mobility, health and care, as well as social protection and inclusion. Conference findings will be included in the papers that finally will be published here during the months to come.
The European Centre is proud of its 50th anniversary. We are honoured that we have been able to contribute to improving social policy in the past. We will continue to do so together with our partners in the future.
