On 5 and 6 October 2000, the Fourth Conference for Public Employment Service Directors from Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia and Slovenia was held in Mošovce, Slovakia. The conference is a fixed and agreed work format within the framework of the multilateral cooperation of employment services from these countries. As before, the participation of the Employment Service of Slovenia (ESS) was very active at this fourth conference. The ESS representatives at the conference were Jože Glazer, Mavricija Batič and Joco Klopčič.

In the first part of the conference in line with others, the director of the Slovenian employment service presented the most important changes and events in the Slovenian service and on the Slovenian job market over the last two years. The presentation was well received and gained positive feedback from all participants. In the second part of the conference the directors established the form and content for future cooperation over the next two years. Many resolutions and decisions of importance to the ESS were accepted during these talks, including:

• the next directors’ conference will be in Slovenia in 2002;

• in 2001 the Slovenian and German employment services will jointly organise a workshop with the theme: Employment for older job seekers;

• the public employment services from the participating countries have accepted the Employment Service of Croatia (at Slovenia’s suggestion) and the Employment Service of Poland as new members of the group.

The conference, which was well prepared and organised by the Slovakian employment service, also featured the participation of Peter Magvaši, Slovakian Minister for Work, Social Affairs and Family and Phan Thuy, a representative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The conference definitely achieved its goals and further strengthened the rewarding cooperation of the Central European public employment services.