Plenary 1

Rethinking solidarity in health

Healing Europe's fractured social contract

Organised by the European Health Forum Gastein

This plenary will focus on the main theme of the EHFG 2025: Rethinking solidarity in health – Healing Europe´s fractured social contract. It will highlight the fragility of the social contract, which underpins trust between citizens and institutions, and why it is under threat in a climate of economic pressures, growing inequality, and political disillusionment. While Europe strives to boost innovation, efforts must also strengthen health and social protection systems - a distinguishing factor of the European way of life that enhances our competitiveness and defines our strong societies. Ensuring no-one is left behind through addressing the social determinants of health requires policies grounded in equity, such as the EU Anti-Poverty Plan, the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, and the Critical Medicines Act.