Thursday, 5 November 

12:00 - 13:00 - Registration of Delegates and Lunch 

13:00 - 13:15 - Welcome and opening remarks

• Gabriel Amitsis, Professor of Social Security Law, Director, SARL UNIWA 
• Ioannis Livanos, President, Regional Social Welfare Centre of Attica 
• Olga Verikaki, General Secretary, Hellenic Association of Social Workers 

13:15 - 13:45 - Opening Session:  The Role of ESF+ in Supporting Social Services 

The opening session will introduce the objectives of the ESF+ Social Services Hub and present key findings from ESN’s consultation with social services. It will also provide an overview of the European Commission’s perspective on the role and priorities of ESF+ in supporting social services.

• Alfonso Lara-Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
• Michiel Berrevoets, Policy Officer, European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), ESF+ Unit

13:45 - 14:45 - Plenary 1: How does ESF+ works in practice? Perspectives from Managing Authorities 

In this session, we will hear from Managing Authorities about how ESF+ programmes are designed and implemented in practice. Panellists will share experiences of setting priorities, developing funding opportunities and supporting organisations to access and implement ESF+ funding.

Moderated by: Tabeth Masengu, Head of Advocacy, Eurodiaconia

• Alma Feenstra,  Head of the Managing Authority; Head of Unit – Implementation of Policy, Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment 
• Itziar FernándezMarrón, Director of Economic Policy and European Cohesion, Department of Treasury and Finance, Basque Government Regional Manging Authority
• Andriani Manoli, Head of the Managing Authority, ESF+ Human Resources and Social Cohesion Programme, Greek Ministry of Economy and Finance

14:45 - 15:00 - Coffee Break

15:00 - 16:00 - Plenary 2: What does ESF+ mean for social services: Evidence and Perspectives

This session will explore the implementation and impact of ESF+ from the perspective of social services. We will hear evidence and evaluation findings on what works well, where challenges remain, and what the experience of beneficiaries and Managing Authorities can tell us about improving ESF+ funding for social services.

Moderated by: Alfonso Lara-Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network

• Oana Parvulescu, Director General, Arad City Council – Social Care Directorate 
• Tamara Trento, Manager of Social Inclusion Unit, Regional Government of Lombardy
• Jonna Källström-Böresson, Analyst at the Swedish ESF Council, Managing Authority Sweden
• Polina Vasilakou, Social Network Attica, Regional Social Inclusion Observatory of Attica

16:00 - 17:15 - Case Study Group Work: From Opportunity to Implementation – Learning from Real ESF+ Projects 

In this interactive session, participants will explore real examples of ESF+ funded projects and learn directly from those involved in their implementation. Case study presenters will introduce their projects, including objectives, approaches, partnerships, implementation processes and key challenges. Participants will then work in groups with the case study presenters to explore the projects in more detail, ask questions and discuss lessons that could be applied in their own contexts.

Moderated by: Filippo Pelissero, Caritas Europa

Case Studies: 

• FAVO project (Gothenburg), Anita Toth, Planning Manager EU/External Financing, Gothenburg Region, Sweden 
• Towards a new child protection system (Greece), Dr. Fotini Marini, SARL UNIWA Expert
• The South Aegean Social Inclusion Observatory (Greece), Kyriaki Kyritsi, Director General of Financial Services at the Region of South Aegean

17:15 - 17:30 - Wrap up and closing

Key reflections and takeaways from Day 1.

• Alfonso Lara-Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network 

19:00 - 21:00 - Dinner 

BenakiMuseum, Koumpari 1, Athina 106 74, Greece

Friday, 6 November

08:30 - 09:00 - Registration of Delegates and Welcome Coffee

09:00 - 09:15 - Welcome & Recap of Day 1

A brief recap of the key discussions and insights from Day 1, followed by an introduction to the day’s activities. 

Alfonso Lara-Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network 

9:15 - 10:15 - Plenary 3: From Access to Partnership: Strengthening Cooperation Between Managing Authorities and Social Services

Effective ESF+ implementation depends on strong cooperation between Managing Authorities and the organisations delivering services on the ground. In this session, we will explore how communication, cooperation and partnerships can be strengthened to make ESF+ funding more accessible and responsive to the needs of social services.

Moderated by: Carlos Roldán Mejías, Social Policy Coordinator, Solidar

• Kristi Suur, International Project Manager at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Managing Authority Estonia
• Erikas Juchnevičius, Coordinator of Community of Practice on Social Inclusion, European Competence Centre for Social Innovation
• Amira Bieber, Senior Project Manager, Pro Arbeit AöR
• Lilly Rödel, European Project Officer, La Ligue de l'Enseignement

10:15 - 11:30 - Group Work: Navigating ESF+ in practice

In this interactive session, participants will explore practical challenges across the ESF+ funding journey and identify solutions to make ESF+ funding more accessible, effective and sustainable.

Moderated by:  George Pierrakos, Professor, SARL UNIWA 

Thematic  workshops:  

Table 1 – The EU funding process, step by step 

Table 2 – Administrative barriers

Table 3 – Governance, strategic planning and regional cooperation

Table 4 – Sustainability & long-term impact 

11:30 - 11:45 - Coffee Break 

11:45 - 12:45 - Plenary 4: Improving ESF+: Lessons and priorities for the future 

The closing panel will build on the recommendations emerging from the group work, with participants presenting their key findings and panellists reflecting on realistic actions to improve the implementation of ESF+ and strengthen its contribution to social services at European, national and local levels.  

Moderated by: Gabriel Amitsis, Professor of Social Security Law, SARL UNIWA Director

• Michiel Berrevoets, Policy Officer, European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), ESF+ Unit
• Kristi Suur, International Project Manager at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Managing Authority Estonia
• Greek Managing Authority representative 

12:45 - 13:00 - Closing: ESF+ Social Services Hub Forward Look

A final reflection on the outcomes of the Hub and the next steps for strengthening cooperation and continuing the dialogue on ESF+ and social services.

• Alfonso Lara-Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
• Christian Fillet, Chair, European Social Network

13:00 - 14:00 - Networking Lunch