Programme

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Health, Care and Prosperity after COVID-19: Swedish and European perspectives

Conference in the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Stockholm, 25 May 2025

9:15–10:00 - Inaugural session

  • Séamus Boland, President of the Civil Society Organisations' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
  • Lena Hallengren, Member of Parliament, former Swedish Minister for Health and Social Policy (2019-2022)
  • Miriam Söderström, State Secretary to the Swedish Minister for Health Care
  • Q&A

10:00–11:00 -  Keynote speeches: What was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on European health systems?

  • Anette Richardson, Head of Unit for Preparedness and Crisis Management at the Swedish Public Health Agency, The example of Sweden
  • Dr Andrea Ammon, Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), EU cooperation on serious cross-border health threats and health emergencies with a focus on infectious diseases
  • Q&A

11:00–11:15 - Coffee break

11:15–12:30 - Panel I: Why do we need European cooperation in the health and care sectors?

Moderator: Jan Andersson, member of the Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC and member of the Board of the Swedish National Pensioners Organisation

  • Kinga Joó, member of the Bureau of the EESC and International Advisor to the President of the Hungarian National Association of Large Families (NOE), Upward convergence through the European Care Strategy
  • Ulrika Årehed Kågström, Secretary-General of the Swedish Cancer Society, Cooperating on non-communicable diseases: Europe's Beating Cancer Plan
  • Q&A

12:30–13:30 - Lunch break

13:30–15:00 - Panel II: How to build resilient and qualitative health and care systems in the EU?

Moderator: Irma Kilim, member of the Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC and Director of Advocacy, IOGT-NTO

  • Ulrika Stuart Hamilton, Secretary-General of Famna, Ensuring human-centred healthcare: the pivotal role of social enterprises
  • Lisa Bondesson, Head of Social Policy at Kommunal, Overcoming gender inequalities in the workforce and investing in an educated, skilled and motivated workforce
  • Kalle Conneryd Lundgren, COO of Kry, Embracing the digital transformation
  • Q&A

15:00–16:30 - Panel III: Guaranteeing the right to healthcare: enhancing accessibility and protecting the most vulnerable

Moderator: Louise Grabo, member of the Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC and representative of the Swedish Council of National Youth Organisations (LSU)

  • Noura Berrouba, President of the Swedish Council of National Youth Organisations (LSU), Effectively managing mental health among young people
  • Ylva Thörn, Vice President of the Swedish National Pensioners' Organisation, Balancing qualitative care for the elderly with demographic trends
  • Pietro Barbieri, Vice-President of the Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC and President of the Centre for Autonomy, Preventing family poverty and social exclusion: support to families caring for persons with disabilities
  • Merel de Heer, MD, research-scientist on Women's Health, Gender inequality in healthcare
  • Q&A

16:30–16:45 - Concluding remarks

  • Ariane Rodert, member of the Bureau of the EESC and Head of the Policy Unit at the Church of Sweden
  • Séamus Boland, President of the Civil Society Organisations' Group of the EESC