Foundation Forum 2025: Europe’s social model – the key to competitive growth
On 19–20 November 2025, Eurofound held its 8th Foundation Forum at IMMA Venues. It is the agency’s quadrennial high-level flagship event which has been running for the past 20 years and is organised in cooperation with the Irish Government.
&w=3840&q=80)
Event background
Forum 2025 marked 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 provided the 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 marked 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 provided the 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 kicked off with a gala dinner event on the evening of 19 November, which was followed by a half-day of discussions on 20 November, held alongside Eurofound’s Management Board meeting.
The programme featured keynote addresses, presentations and parallel thematic panel sessions encouraging discussion and audience engagement, as well as a closing plenary session.
This video is hosted by a third party, YouTube.
By clicking on the button to play the video you accept their terms and conditions .
This video is hosted by a third party, YouTube.
By clicking on the button to play the video you accept their terms and conditions .
See a selection of the key messages below or view the full set.
EU policymakers have an existential opportunity to pursue prosperity and growth – but not at the expense of people and planet. Prosperity and growth have to come from technological progress, which will drive ever-more inventive ideas, making growth smarter.
Promoting quality jobs will be key to a competitive Europe. Jobs that promote skills development, grant worker autonomy and give workers a genuine voice provide the basis for sustained innovation.
Ensuring high levels of employee engagement is critical in an era of massive technological change. Companies that invest in development and ‘take the pulse’ of their employees on an ongoing basis achieve higher levels of engagement and are better able to pivot and maintain performance.
Support for human-centric, participative development is essential for competitive AI deployment. When workers help shape AI tools, adoption improves, understanding of the technology deepens and solutions better meet both employee and business needs, reflecting the European social model.
Housing shortages need to be addressed through boosting supply rather than incentivising demand, particularly in high-growth areas where this issue poses a real constraint on growth and competitiveness.
Europe needs more long-term coherent thinking for investment in human capital and social services. Policymakers at both EU and national level need to embed social investment in strategic economic and social policy rather than treating it as optional.
Li Andersson
Speakers
We’re delighted to have welcomed a distinguished line-up of speakers, including:
Micheál Martin
Daniel Susskind
The Mercers’ School Memorial Professor of Business, Gresham College; Senior Research Associate, Institute for Ethics in AI at Oxford University
Roxana Mînzatu
EVP for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, European Commission
Li Andersson
Brigid Laffan
Thomas Byrne
Ivailo KalfinAgenda
Contact
For more information, please contact Cristina Arigho.
Cristina Arigho
Senior Communication ManagerCristina Arigho je višja vodja za komuniciranje ter vodja za vključevanje in promocijo deležnikov v enoti za informacije in komuniciranje pri Eurofoundu, ki se ji je pridružila leta 2012. Pred tem je skoraj 20 let preživela v Bruslju, kjer je delala na različnih položajih, med drugim v Evropski komisiji, med drugim kot tiskovna predstavnica GD za zaposlovanje, socialne zadeve in vključevanje (2010–2012) in GD za proračun (2007–2009). Preden se je pridružila službi tiskovne predstavnice Komisije, je bila tiskovna predstavnica GD za zaposlovanje (2005–2007) in takratna pisnica govorov za komisarko in generalno direktorico (2003–2005). Pred zaposlitvijo v Komisiji je delala na radiu in televiziji RTÉ (irska nacionalna televizija) v Bruslju kot asistentka produkcije in raziskovalka, kasneje pa kot producentka novic. Cristina je diplomirala iz uporabnih jezikov na Univerzi v Ulstru v Coleraine na Severnem Irskem.
Related content
26 November 2025
Foundation Forum 2025: Key takeaways
11 November 2025
Europe’s social model – The key to competitive growth – Background paper
6 November 2025
The European social model: Key to competitive growth?
8 January 2025
50 years supporting better policies for a strong social Europe
26 November 2025
Foundation Forum 2025: Key takeaways
11 November 2025
Europe’s social model – The key to competitive growth – Background paper
6 November 2025
The European social model: Key to competitive growth?
8 January 2025
50 years supporting better policies for a strong social Europe
Other events
Explore other Eurofound events.
