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24th European Social Services Conference, The Hague

On 20-22 June 2016, the European Social Network's 2016 conference took place at the World Forum in The Hague. The theme of the event was 'The Future is Local' and this saw participants coming together to discuss services at the local level, and decentralisation of services in their national contexts.

The 24th European Social Services Conference (ESSC) explored how public services can collaborate more effectively with local communities and their citizens in combatting poverty and social exclusion. Welcoming over 320 delegates from 36 countries in Europe as well as the US, Canada, South Korea and Australia, the conference was a unique opportunity for international cooperation through a rich exchange of knowledge and skills, while also providing a space for senior professionals working in the social sector to build new connections and networks.

The ESSC is organised annually by the European Social Network (ESN) in cooperation with the host country of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It is attended by international delegates from all levels of government, private sector companies and third sector organisations dedicated to improving people’s lives.

Welcome plenary and plenary session 1

Following on from the welcome plenary, where both Christian Fillet (ESN Chair) and Jetta Klijnsma (Secretary of State in the Netherlands) greeted delegates and laid out what was in store over the coming days, we saw a panel of social services professionals from all over Europe coming together to discuss what decentralisation has meant for them in their local context.

Please find podcasts from all speakers in plenary session one below alongside audio from the discussion. 

ESSC: Welcome plenary - Christian Fillet: 

ESSC: Welcome Plenary - Jetta Klijnsma

ESSC: Session 1: John Halloran

ESSC: Session 1 - Frédéric Vailler

ESSC: Session 1 - Rene Paas

ESSC: Session 1 - Kate Bogh

ESSC: Session 1 - Emmanuel Gagneux

Decentralisation At The Crossroads - Discussion