Social Europe Debate: The Future of Social Policies in the European Union

The Hub Social in Barcelona will host Social Europe 2025, an event bringing together representatives from the third social sector and regional actors to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the negotiation of the European Union’s new Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034). The discussion will focus on how current geopolitical, socioeconomic, technological, and climate-related factors will influence the transformation of European social policies.

The event will open its doors and accreditation at 9:15 a.m., followed by an institutional welcome at 09:45 a.m. from Xavier Trabado, President of the Third Sector Social Platform of Catalonia; Laura Foraster, Secretary General of Catalonia International; and Mònica Martínez, Minister of the Social Rights and Inclusion Ministry from the Generalitat of Catalonia. 

At 10 a.m., the first debate will take place. Under the title "The new multiannual financial frame of the EU", it will assess the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the challenges it may face. Speakers will be:

• Jorge Núñez, Director of Cohesion and Budget of the EU at the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR).
• Agustí Fernández de Losada, Secretary for European, Multilateral and Development Cooperation Affairs at the Department of European Union and External Action.

The next debate will happen at 10:45 a.m., and it will assess the European Pillar of Social Rights in the current state of the estructural transformation of social services. Speakers will include:

• Alfonso Lara-Montero, Chief Executive Officer of the European Social Network.
• Anna Montaner Roquet, EU Policy and Affairs Officer at the Delegation of the Government to the EU.
• Bárbara Diaz Santis, Regional Coordinator of the Red Cross in Catalonia and expert in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

Next, after the coffee brake, at 12:15 p.m., a new debate will be held about territorial approaches to the betterment of governance and the impact of european funds. Will speak: 

• Albert Bauló, Head of the Project Management and Digital Transformation Area at the Pere Tarrés Foundation (Next Gen Digital Transformation).
• Līva Švarce, Project Manager at the Latvian Social Entrepreneurship Association.
• Carla Ventura, Vice-President of the António Sérgio Cooperative for the Social Economy (CASES), Portugal.
• Francesca Lupi, Researcher and Project Manager in the Europe Programme, Barcelona Centre for International Affairs.

The event will close at 1:15 p.m. with remarks by Marta Cid, coordinator of the international area of the Third Sector Social Platform of Catalonia.

Those interested in attending are already able to register.