The EU Investment Plan currently has had little impact on the social sector so far, with under 4% of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) going to social infrastructures and under 1% to social services. At a time of growing demand for community-based care and support services, the EU Investment Plan could help the social sector in accessing much-needed loans to build, innovate and provide better services. It is for this reason that the European Policy Centre (EPC) and the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD)organised a conference bringing together relevant stakeholders from the social sector(s), potential investors and local, national and EU policymakers to discuss how to unlock investment that can help fund quality social care and support for all, and thus meet the growing needs of EU citizens.

Speakers included:

Opening remarks: Jim Crowe, President of the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD), Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Policy Centre and President Emeritus of the European Council, Zoltan Kazatsay, Deputy Director-General, DG Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, European Commission.

Introduction: Luk Zelderloo, Secretary General of the EASPD and member of the High Level Task Force on Social Infrastructure (HLTF-SI), Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive of the European Policy Centre.

Panel I: EU Investment Plan and Social Investment - Practical examples

Brian Murphy, Head of Planning, Primary Care, Health Service Executive, Ireland // Jussi Nykänen, Partner, EPIQUIS, Finland // Günter Benischek, Head of Social Banking, Erste Bank, Austria.

Moderator: Claire Dhéret, Senior Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre

Panel II: What are the investments needs in social services? Are loans needed?

Franz Wolfmayr, Advisor, EASPD // Kirsi Konola, Head of Development, KVPS, Finland  // Gildas Le Scouezec, CEO, Adapei du Bas-Rhin & Board member of Nexem, France // Stéphane Emmanuelidis, President UNIPSO, Belgium // Christy Lynch, CEO of KARE, Ireland // Sabina Lobato, Director of Training, Employment and Projects, Fundacion ONCE, Spain.

Moderator: Thomas Bignal, Investment Policy Advisor, EASPD

Panel III Proposals to unlock investment in social care and support infrastructure

Helmut von Glasenapp, Secretary General for Health, DG Health and Food Safety, European Commission // Dirk Coeckelbergh, Social Investment Expert.

Moderator: Lieve Fransen, Senior Advisor to the EPC & Chair of HLTF-SI

Panel IV: What next? How can we unlock investment into social services infrastructure?

Jiri Horecky, Vice President Federation of European Social Employers // Martin Seychell, Deputy General Director for Health, DG Health and Food Safety, European Commission // Jose Manuel Fernandes, Member of the European Parliament // Iliyana Tsanova, Deputy Managing Director, European Fund for Strategic Investments // Hubert Cottogni, Director, Head of the Mandate Management at EIF // Edoardo Reviglio, chief economist, Cassa depositi e prestiti (CDP) and special Rapporteur of the HLTF-SI.

Moderator: Lieve Fransen, Senior Advisor to the EPC & Chair of HLTF-SI