Tackling societal challenges through trusted partnerships

European societies face a number of profound and interlinked challenges—ranging from climate change and demographic shifts to declining competitiveness and labour market imbalances. These are long-term, structural issues that cannot be addressed through public and regulatory initiatives alone. Sustainable solutions require close cooperation between governments, social partners, and civil society, based on mutual trust, shared responsibility, and a commitment to the common good.

It is no surprise that two of Denmark's main priorities for its EU presidency are the green transition to advance the EU’s climate and energy agenda, and pushing for a stronger, more competitive Europe by fostering innovation, scaling up industrial initiatives, and strengthening economic resilience.

The conference "Tackling societal challenges through trusted partnerships" will explore how a collaborative approach can strengthen Europe’s capacity to respond to such challenges. Drawing on the Danish experience, the conference will illustrate how public institutions and social partners work together to develop long-term solutions to complex societal questions. These examples will serve as a basis for dialogue on models of cooperation that could be adapted or expanded across Member States.

The programme will feature two thematic debates fully in line with the priorities of the Danish presidency. The first will examine how the Danish social model supports competitiveness by addressing skills gaps and labour shortages through structured cooperation between employers, trade unions, and public authorities. The second will focus on the green transition, demonstrating how the combination of ambitious policy frameworks and strong engagement from companies and civil society can lead to lasting, competitive, and climate-resilient outcomes.

These discussions will provide an opportunity for members of the EESC' Employers' Group and other participants to:

❖ Exchange national experiences and assess the potential for strengthening trust-based partnerships at European level.

❖ Discuss the role of collaborative governance in addressing shared societal challenges to contribute to the development of more resilient and competitive policy responses across the European Union.