Plenary 3

A new social contract for a resilient recovery

Organised by the European Health Forum Gastein

The complex nature of the challenges we are currently facing could be described as a “poly-pandemic” - comprising multi-faceted crises of an ecological, economic, democratic and inegalitarian nature. This poses great challenges to humanity, but we shouldn´t forget it also offers opportunities: not least “to build forward better”.

In this vein the idea of a new social contract (an agreement of everyone with everyone to protect and further the common good) has once again come to the fore. This could lay the foundation for the systemic reforms and responses that we need to build a more resilient future - inclusive, sustainable and solidaric policies that protect both vulnerable populations and ecosystems. Such policies are in the self-interest of everyone and are strategic investments for a healthy future. In a European context, this plenary will explore what such policies could look like and what ideas and innovations can help our phoenix rise again.