This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
First EU Presidency event
04/07/2005
More than 400 delegates are in Edinburgh today to take
part in the European Social Services Conference, the first
event to be held in Scotland during the UK Presidency of
the European Union.
The conference, at the Assembly Rooms in George Street
until Wednesday, will look at how public services in Europe
should respond to growing care and health needs.
Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"This conference brings together people responsible for
social care from all over Europe to exchange expertise and
experience about the challenges every country is wrestling
with - how best to develop a professionally trained and
supported workforce, how to achieve strong organisational
performance and the highest standards of care.
"Around 4,000 visitors will be coming to Scotland over
the next six months on Presidency-connected business. Many
of the delegates will be visiting Scotland for the first
time. We will be hosting more than 30 Presidency-related
events.
"This is a great opportunity for us to show our European
neighbours that Scotland is a modern, dynamic and welcoming
country, while contributing positively to the development
of EU policy initiatives."
The conference is organised by the European Social
Network, a forum of national associations of directors of
social services and associates, in co-operation with the UK
Presidency of the EU, the Scottish Executive, the UK
Department of Health, the Association of Directors of
Social Work in Scotland, the Association of Directors of
Social services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and
the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.