The European Social Network (ESN) invites you to its European Parliament Roundtable on Social Service Quality on 19 November 2025, where we will present ESN's proposal for a European Framework on Quality in Social Services.
The Framework is the result of ESN's Working Group on Quality in Social Services. At the roundtable, we will present the framework to EU decision-makers and discuss how they can advance our proposal through a future EU policy initiative on social services quality.
At the event, we will explain how the framework has been developed, what it entails, and how it could be used at different levels to ensure people have access to quality social services. Participants are invited to share their feedback and ideas.
- Please read our latest Briefing to learn how the framework will look.
The registration link is here. You will need to provide your ID details for the security check at the EP.
Participants will be asked to meet in front of the European Parliament at 13:45 to allow for security checks before entering the building.
Registration deadline: 10 November 2025
You will receive your final confirmation by email.
Date: 19 November 2025
Time: 15:00 to 17:00
Location: European Parliament, room Spinelli 5E2
PROGRAMME
Wednesday 19 November
15:00- 15:10- Welcome and Introduction
- Elisabeth Grossmann, MEP, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Austria
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
- Jiri Svarc, Head of the Social Policies Unit, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
15:10- 15:40 - ESN proposal: A European Framework for Quality in Social Services
ESN will present its proposal for a European Framework for Quality in Social Services.
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, ESN
15:40- 15:55 - Views from the EU Commission
In this session, we will hear initial reactions from European Commission representatives.
- Jiri Svarc, Head of the Social Policies Unit, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
15:55- 16:35 - Views from Sector Professionals and National Policymakers
In this session, we will hear from sector professionals and national policymakers about their reactions to the framework proposal and how the framework could help promote quality in their countries.
- Niamh O’Rourke, Deputy Director – National Standards for Health and Social Care, Health Information and Quality Authority, Ireland
- Herdis Gunnarsdottir, Chief Executive Officer, Quality and Supervisory Agency of Welfare (GEV/QSAW), Iceland
- Heinz Stieb, Head of Care, Consortium of Retirement Homes in Vienna, Austria
- Sandra Miķelsone-Slava, Senior expert, ESF project ‘Improving the quality and efficiency of social services’, Ministry of Labour, Latvia
- Markéta Kateřina Holečkova, Civil Servant, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Czechia
16:35-16:55 - Questions & Reactions from the Audience
Q&A
16:55-17:00 - Wrapping Up & Next Steps
- Alfonso Lara Montero, Chief Executive Officer, ESN
For questions on the programme please contact martin.lichte@esn-eu.org