Editorial

Dear Readers,

The coronavirus pandemic continues to have a firm grip on our health and social systems and it poses significant challenges for the EU. Smart management, transparency and valid facts can help to overcome the crisis.

The German Council Presidency succeeded very well in balancing different interests in the second half of 2020, according to the general impression in Brussels. During Brexit and in terms of constitutionality, there was no serious conflict and many billions of euros were allocated to fighting the pandemic with agreement from all 27 capitals. That can be seen. The Portuguese Council Presidency now intends to make further progress along this path by summer 2021. Its work programme sets good priorities. In particular, I look forward to further discussions on securing the supply of medicines and improving the capacity to respond to public health crises. Progress could also be made in the social sector. It would be welcome if, at the Social Summit planned for May 2021, Portugal were to give special priority to progressing with workers’ social security.

The problems in the social and healthcare sectors seem evident to me. Sustainable financing of both areas and optimum care for the insured will provide the next generation with a much-needed perspective. That is what needs to be addressed.

Exchange of opinions, milieu analysis and togetherness - these are, in my view, three key concepts for achieving this goal. For this reason, German Social Insurance‘s European representative was invited to an online conference entitled „Securing healthcare and social systems for the next generation“ that was held on October 28, 2020 – which was a hybrid live conference from Brussels and Berlin due to the pandemic.

High-ranking decision-makers from the EU institutions, the Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs, the boards of the umbrella organisations of the German Social Insurance and industry took part in the two panels „Medicines for future generations - more supply reliability through strategic independence?“ and „The pressure on the self-employed during the pandemic: What does social security for the next generation look like?“. They had an interesting and intensive discussion on the current situation in the EU’s member states. Learn more about policy objectives, professional assessments, and heartfelt desires in this ed* issue.

We hope you find it an interesting read!

Ilka Wölfle