Foundation Forum 2025: Europe’s social model – the key to competitive growth

Event background

Forum 2025 will mark the agency’s 50th anniversary – a key milestone celebrating five decades of evidence-based contributions to social, employment, and work-related policies across the EU. This landmark event offers an opportunity to reflect on Eurofound’s legacy while looking ahead to the challenges and opportunities that will shape the future of work and society.

Forum 2025 will kick off with a gala dinner event on the evening of 19 November followed by a half-day on 20 November, held alongside Eurofound’s Management Board meeting.

The programme will feature a keynote address, presentations and parallel thematic panel sessions encouraging for discussion audience engagement, as well as a closing plenary session.

Publication

New

11 November 2025

Europe’s social model – The key to competitive growth – Background paper

This background paper outlines the context for the issues to be examined at Eurofound’s Foundation Forum 2025. As the global order proves to be increasingly volatile, the European Union itself is undergoing a profound transformation in terms of its socioeconomic and geopolitical landscape. Enhancing competitiveness and ensuring sustainable economic growth are now at the top of the EU agenda.

Article de blog

6 November 2025

The European social model: Key to competitive growth?

As Europe faces mounting global challenges, its distinctive social framework may hold the answer to achieving both economic competitiveness and social cohesion.

Speakers

We’re delighted to welcome a distinguished line-up of speakers, including:

Micheál Martin

Taoiseach, Prime Minister of Ireland

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Daniel Susskind

The Mercers’ School Memorial Professor of Business, Gresham College; Senior Research Associate, Institute for Ethics in AI at Oxford University

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Roxana Mînzatu

EVP for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, European Commission

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Li Andersson

Chair of Employment and Social Affairs Committee, European Parliament

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Brigid Laffan

Emeritus Professor, the European University Institute

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Image of Thomas Byrne Thomas Byrne

Irish Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence

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Ivailo Kalfin

Executive Director, Eurofound

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The plenary sessions will be livestreamed on the Eurofound website, with the full event available online after the Forum.

Agenda for Day 1 and Day 2

Contact

For more information, please contact Cristina Arigho.

Cristina Arigho

Senior Communication Manager

Information and Communication

Cristina Arigho est responsable principale de la communication et responsable de l’engagement des parties prenantes et de la promotion au sein de l’unité Information et communication d’Eurofound, ayant rejoint l’Agence en 2012. Auparavant, elle a passé près de 20 ans à Bruxelles, où elle a occupé divers postes, dont beaucoup à la Commission européenne, notamment en tant que porte-parole de la DG Emploi, affaires sociales et inclusion (2010-2012) et de la DG Budget (2007-2009). Avant de rejoindre le service de porte-parole de la Commission, elle a été attachée de presse à la DG Emploi (2005-2007) et rédactrice de discours pour le Commissaire et le directeur général de l’époque (2003-2005). Avant de rejoindre la Commission, elle a travaillé pour la radio et la télévision RTÉ (télévision nationale irlandaise) à Bruxelles en tant qu’assistante de production et recherchiste, puis en tant que productrice d’informations. Cristina est diplômée en langues appliquées de l’Université d’Ulster à Coleraine, en Irlande du Nord.

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