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From:Department of Children, Disability and Equality

Business leaders, policymakers and international experts are gathering in Dublin today to explore how greater participation and inclusion can support growth, innovation and competitiveness across Europe as part of Ireland’s EU Presidency Programme.

Through legislation and collective action, the EU has achieved progress in areas such as narrowing the gender pay gap, supporting employment through the Single Market and improving workplace safety standards.

However, significant challenges remain. Research suggests that the economic cost of exclusion may amount to between 3 and 7 per cent of GDP, leaving talent underutilised, constraining competitiveness and limiting Europe's economic potential.

Today’s EU High-Level Conference onEquality and Competitivenesswill explore growing evidence that equality is not only a social imperative but also a driver of economic success.

Hosted by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley, the conference brings together representatives from EU Member States, policymakers, social partners, researchers and practitioners working across the equality and economic policy fields.

Speaking at the conferenceMinister Foley said:

"A competitive Europe is one that harnesses the talents of all its people. Today's conference highlights the extensive and growing evidence that equality measures can also strengthen economic competitiveness and societal wellbeing. In an uncertain and unpredictable world, Ireland is committed to our European values and to demonstrating that equality is a competitive advantage for the EU."

The conference is hearing from leading international experts, includingProfessor Kate Pickettof the University of York, co-author ofThe Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone, alongside senior representatives from government, business, academia and civil society. Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is taking part in a panel discussion about how diversity in leadership roles can drive innovation and competitiveness.

A wide variety of organisations will also contribute to the conference including the European Commission, OECD, World Bank, European Economic and Social Committee, European Institute for Gender Equality and European Disability Forum, to explore the relationship between equality and economic performance.

Competitiveness and values feature among the top three priorities in Ireland’s EU Presidency Programme.

The conference will showcase evidence highlighting the positive relationship between equality and competitiveness, featuring businesses that are successfully leveraging Europe's equality advantage.

Discussions will also examine how inequality may be impeding the EU's capacity to adopt and benefit from digital innovation, including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Social partners will contribute perspectives on how EU legislation that promotes equality and supports competitiveness can be effectively implemented, monitored and enforced.

Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne said:

“For the EU to realise its full economic potential, we must recognise that inequalities have a cost because not only do they threaten the safety and dignity of our citizens, but they also have a negative impact on our economic growth. There is extensive evidence that greater equality serves as a foundation for sustained competitiveness and growth, and by sharing best practice amongst fellow EU member states, we are working to make our Union more equal, and more competitive.”

The conference forms part of the Irish Presidency's work on Council Conclusions on Equality and Competitiveness, which are currently being negotiated by EU Member States. The discussions and insights generated will help inform those negotiations and contribute to wider discussions on equality and competitiveness across the European Union.

Keynote Speaker at the Conference will be Kate Pickett, Professor of Public Understanding of Social Science at the University of York. Her landmark bookThe Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone, co-written with Richard Wilkinson, was an international bestseller, chosen by theGuardianas one of the 100 most influential books of the century and by theNew Statesmanas a top ten book of the decade. Their follow-up,The Inner Level, shows how societal inequality has similarly profound effects on individual health and wellbeing. Pickett’s latest book,The Good Society and How We Make Itwas published earlier this year.

The full list of speakers and panellists at the Conference is as follows:

Ministers and Government Representatives

European Union and International Institutions

Business and Industry Representatives

Equality, Civil Society and Social Policy Speakers