High-Level Policy Forum and OECD Ministerial meeting on new horizons of social policy.

The OECD Social Affairs Ministerial meeting and the associated High-Level Policy Forum took place in Paris on 13 and 14 February. Under the title "New horizons of social policy: Investing in the future", Ministers and high-ranking political decision-makers discussed the current challenges for social protection systems and the associated opportunities and risks with representatives from the scientific community and various stakeholders.

International cooperation is key

The participants agreed that the global challenges facing social protection systems can only be overcome through international cooperation and joint solutions. The exchange of best practice examples is essential here.

Investing in people is investing in the future

Social policy services, such as in education or health, contribute significantly to our economic development and ensure the long-term well-being of our society. These investments in people are social investments that are just as important for economic growth and progress as investments in capital goods and infrastructure.

Human-centric AI

Technology must not be placed above people. For example, the cooperation between the professional association of construction workers and the Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs showed how innovative solutions for social protection are created. It is not always about developing the best individual solution. The focus is on creating ecosystems to solve a wide range of tasks and problems.

Old-age provision and long-term care must be considered together

Demographic ageing presents our society with the challenge of paying adequate pensions in the future while financing the increasing need for care. It was therefore emphasised several times in the discussion that an integrative approach is needed to meet both challenges.

The USA – The elephant in the room

The new US government did not take part in the High-Level Policy Forum or the meeting of Ministers. Although the absence was not addressed, it was constantly noticeable. Important topics, such as improved international cooperation to jointly tackle future social policy challenges or the development of strategies for more equal opportunities, were originally intended to be part of the joint final declaration of the Ministers of Social Affairs. This would also have been co-signed by the European Commission – a novelty made possible by an agreement between the Council and the European Commission in January.

However, the joint final declaration was not adopted due to the absence and missing approval of the Trump administration. In the end, only a statement from the two chairing countries, Spain and Portugal, was published on the meeting of Social Ministers.