Competitiveness and inclusion in a new geopolitical era: Prosperity for all?
To mark its 50th anniversary, Eurofound hosted a high-level event with EU institutions, social partners and stakeholders in Brussels to debate Europe’s future. Speakers discussed social dialogue, competitiveness and fairness amid profound uncertainty.
Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Start
09:00
End
12:30
Watch the recording
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Event background
To mark its 50-year anniversary, Eurofound hosted a high-level event with key Brussels-based stakeholders to examine how Europe can balance economic competitiveness, social rights, inclusive growth and the role of social partners in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment – highlighting how working conditions, job quality and active social dialogue are integral to Europe’s competitiveness.
The event brought together senior representatives from ETUC, BusinessEurope, the European Commission, European Parliament, and other key organisations.
Rising geopolitical uncertainties, trade tensions and rapid economic shifts are putting Europe's social model to the test. In its first six months, the European Commission has prioritised the re-industrialisation of key European sectors, committing to boosting European productivity and ensuring European companies can compete on the global stage - all while in the coming months, the European Commission will launch a series of ambitious initiatives, including a European Quality Jobs Act and a new Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights.
As the focus on competitiveness takes on heightened urgency and increasing threats on our borders demand significant investment in defence and security, the event addressed crucial emerging questions such as: How can the EU reconcile competing priorities while maintaining the European Social Model and social rights? How can the EU continue to balance economic transformation with inclusive growth, quality jobs, and prosperity?
Photos from the event can be viewed on Eurofound’s Flickr page(opens in new tab)This link opens in a new tab.
Agenda
Contact
For any queries about the briefing, please contact the Eurofound events team.
Cristina Arigho
Senior Communication ManagerCristina Arigho is Senior Communications Manager and Stakeholder engagement and Promotions Lead in the Information and Communication unit at Eurofound, having joined the Agency in 2012. Previously, she spent almost 20 years in Brussels working in various roles, many of them at the European Commission, including as spokesperson for DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (2010–2012) and for DG Budget (2007–2009). Before joining the Commission’s spokesperson’s service, she was press officer at DG Employment (2005–2007) and speech writer for the Commissioner and Director General at the time (2003–2005). Prior to her years at the Commission, she worked for RTÉ radio and television (Irish national television) in Brussels as a production assistant and researcher, and later as news producer. Cristina is a graduate in Applied Languages from the University of Ulster at Coleraine, Northern Ireland.
Aidan McKeown
Editorial Production CoordinatorNo additional information available.
Eurofound speakers
Ivailo Kalfin
Executive DirectorIvailo Kalfin joined Eurofound as Executive Director on 1 June 2021. Mr Kalfin’s expertise covers a range of areas, from the dynamics of the labour market and social policy to global political trends, the EU and budget, as well as digital transformation. He has outlined five main priorities for his role at Eurofound: supporting the mainstreaming of Europe's green and digital transitions; complementing the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan with evidence-based research; increased cooperation with international organisations and external partners and greater outreach to European Neighbourhood Policy countries; support for enhancing and expanding the capacity of social partners within the remit of the Agency; raising Eurofound's profile among key stakeholders.
Maria Jepsen
Deputy DirectorMaria Jepsen is Eurofound’s Deputy Director, appointed on 1 November 2019. She coordinates the Agency’s programme development. Prior to this, she was Director of the research department at the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), and assistant professor and research fellow at the Free University of Brussels (ULB). She is currently also associate professor in labour economics at ULB and external lecturer at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. Her main research interests include gender studies, the impact of welfare states on labour supply, wages and working conditions, and the development of the European social dimension. Ms Jepsen has been a member of various committees, councils and advisory boards at national and international level on employment, social, gender and research issues. She has also served as a coordinator on the European Commission tripartite advisory committee on health and safety at work. She holds a PhD in Economics and a Master’s degree in Econometrics from the Free University of Brussels (ULB).
X: @MariaJepsenEF
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