Plenary 1

A competitive Europe starts with health!

Organised by the European Health Forum Gastein

Europe’s competitiveness debate is missing its most important ingredient: health. The current focus on deregulation, industrial policy and defence risks overlooking the strategic asset that underpins them all—a healthy population. Without healthy people, there is no productive workforce, no innovation economy, no resilient society, and no sustainable public finances.

Europe’s commitment to universal health coverage, prevention and social solidarity has long been a source of economic strength and global influence. Yet this competitive advantage cannot be taken for granted. Ageing populations, chronic disease, workforce shortages and geopolitical instability are increasing pressure on health systems, while calls to deregulate in the name of competitiveness raise difficult questions about protecting the high standards that are a hallmark of Europe and that protect health and drive innovation, trust and long-term prosperity.

This session will challenge the false dichotomy between health and competitiveness and explore whether Europe can secure its economic future by treating health as critical infrastructure—investing in resilient health systems, prevention and innovation as the foundations of productivity, strategic autonomy and sustainable growth in an increasingly uncertain world.

Further speakers to be announced