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.

Publicatie

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.

Blogbericht

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

View profile

Daniel Susskind

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

View profile

Roxana Mînzatu

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

View profile

Li Andersson

Chair of Employment and Social Affairs Committee, European Parliament

View profile

Brigid Laffan

Emeritus Professor, the European University Institute

View profile

Image of Thomas Byrne Thomas Byrne

Irish Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence

View profile

Ivailo Kalfin

Executive Director, Eurofound

View profile

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 is Senior Communications Manager en Stakeholder Engagement and Promotions Lead bij de eenheid Informatie en Communicatie bij Eurofound, en is in 2012 bij het Agentschap in dienst getreden. Daarvoor werkte ze bijna 20 jaar in Brussel in verschillende functies, waaronder bij de Europese Commissie, onder meer als woordvoerder van DG Werkgelegenheid, Sociale Zaken en Inclusie (2010-2012) en van DG Begroting (2007-2009). Voordat zij bij de woordvoerder van de Commissie in dienst trad, was zij persvoorlichter bij DG Werkgelegenheid (2005-2007) en speechschrijver voor de toenmalige commissaris en directeur-generaal (2003-2005). Voorafgaand aan haar jaren bij de Commissie werkte ze voor RTÉ radio en televisie (Ierse nationale televisie) in Brussel als productieassistent en onderzoeker, en later als nieuwsproducent. Cristina is afgestudeerd in Toegepaste Talen aan de Universiteit van Ulster in Coleraine, Noord-Ierland.

See profile