OREANDA-NEWS. During the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) a meeting of the Social Protection Committee of the EU Council (SPC) will be held in Riga on 2-3 February.

The meeting will review the Annual Report of the Social Protection Committee regarding the social situation in the EU Member States, the proposals for the draft Council Conclusions on inclusive labour markets. Representatives of Cyprus, Denmark and Luxembourg will present the evaluations of the existing depth of poverty in their countries and their policies for solving this issue.

A presentation regarding the accessibility of social and care services within the context of active inclusion will be provided by the Head of the Living Conditions and Quality Department of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) Robert Anderson. The representative of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Ragnheidur Hergeirsdottir will present the Iceland strategy for the improvement of the labour market situation following the financial and economic crisis. The Chief of the Social Board of the Welfare Department of Riga City Council, the Deputy Director of the Department M?rti?? Moors will introduce the services implemented at Riga municipality for promoting active inclusion of long-term unemployed persons.

The meeting will be attended by representatives of all the EU Member States, representatives of the European Economic Area (EEA) and EFTA and representatives from the European Commission and Council General Secretariat. The participants of the meeting of the Social Protection Committee will also participate in the conference “Inclusive labour markets in Europe: the role of improved job quality and enhanced inclusion” to be held in Riga on 3-4 February.