Lars Stollenwerk

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: As part of the Social Situation Monitor, our ICF Team, in collaboration with HIVA-KU Leuven, is now organising our 12th research seminar on behalf of DG EMPL. This time, the theme is “Cost of Living Crisis: Purchasing Power and Social (Dis)Satisfaction in the EU”. The seminar, which will take place in person in Brussels and online on September 26, 2024, will tap into a number of key topics: (i) trends in purchasing power of different population groups; (ii) spatial patterns of economic and social dissatisfaction in the EU; (iii) the effects of economic pressures facing households on perceptions on fairness and social (dis)satisfaction; (iv) the impact of social dissatisfaction on trust in institutions (including governments); (v) the impacts of policy interventions to address the cost of living crisis on social (dis)satisfaction; (vi) policy responses and innovative solutions to mitigate the underlying challenges and enhance social cohesion. Through a discussion of these six key topics, the seminar aims to connect two critical areas of research, namely the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and purchasing power on social cohesion, and the impacts of social cohesion on social (dis)satisfaction in the EU and political discontent/trust in institutions. Findings on these topics are not always consistent, and hence the seminar promises to set the stage for discussions on the determinants and conditions for impacts of purchasing power on political trust and discontent, and to provide a platform for ongoing discovery and research into these areas. Our research team welcome original submissions from academic researchers until September 16. Please send abstracts using the following link: https://lnkd.in/ep8jTiT8 Valeria Ansaloni, Koen van Lieshout, Christina Dziewanska-Stringer, Lucian Plaumann, Tamar Biedron #thisisicf #socialpolicy #costoflivingcrisis #politicaltrust #dissatisfaction #socialcohesion

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European Parliament has just yesterday adopted the agreement on the European Health Data Space (#EHDS). And Council still needs to formally adopt it. But Member States already started the implementation process a while ago. In Belgium, the Health Data Agency was created to act as a health data access body for secondary use of health data. It will ➡️act as a facilitator/coordinator ➡️be part of the governance ➡️ responsible for the Processing Environment for synthetic data It won’t be responsible for ➡️data permits ➡️Secure Processing Another health data access body will have to do it (one for Wallonie, one for Brussels, one for Flanders and one for the German part…?) Not decided yet. Hope was expressed that the EU will step in and be strict that it will not be too fragmented. A good example, where the EU can help and steer Member States in the right direction.

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#DC4EU partners Stefan Liström and Evelien Renders presented the progress of the DC4EU large-scale pilot (#LSP) on #educationalcredentials such as #openbadges and #microcredentials, #professionalqualifications and the use case pilot of the worldwide educational identity federation #eduGAIN within the #walletecosystem and the importance of #interoperability within the wallet and #credentialecosystem at this year's GÉANT conference #TNC24 in Rennes, France at the TF-EDU task force meeting. Interoperability is one of the core aspects of the wallet ecosystem across national borders and different sectors, such as #education and #socialsecurity and the various technical solutions and implementations of the wallet components that will coexist in the future. 

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📣Check out our latest edition of EuroHealthNet Magazine on mental health at work, featuring a conversation with Frank Vandenbroucke, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Affairs&Public Health. ➡ Decent and fair working conditions are crucial for mental health. ➡ Poor working environments, including discrimination and and job insecurity, pose a serious risk to mental health. ➡ A clear and strong focus on mental health at work is necessary in the European Pillar of Social Rights. ➡ The next European Commission needs to start the preparatory work for a European Directive on psychosocial risks at work. #EPSR #MentalHealth #InclusiveLabourMarket

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🚨 Big News for EU Health Policy: Full Health Committee on the Horizon! The EPP, Renew, and S&D groups in the European Parliament have reached an agreement to transform the Subcommittee on Public Health (SANT) into a full committee with legislative powers! This major move, part of the deal to support Commissioners-Designate Jessika Roswall and Hadja Lahbib, shifts health decision-making in the EU. This shift will separate health responsibilities from environmental issues, allowing the new SANT Committee to take the lead on crucial health areas, from pharmaceuticals and medical devices to mental health and health crisis response. Meanwhile, the ENVI Committee will focus on climate and environmental policies. Official confirmation is expected in December, with the new committee launching in January 2025. This restructuring has the potential to shape the EU’s future health response. Stay tuned for further updates! #EUHealth #EUPolicy #HealthCommittee #SANT RPP Group Flora Pidoux Kinga Wójtowicz Kit Greenop Salomé Chelli-Enriquez Sebastian Rohde Alberto Domingo Bayarri

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🏆 Conclusion of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU! 🏆 Yesterday marked the end of the #BelgianPresidency, characterised by a strong commitment to social policies that resonate with values I have come to appreciate during my 11 years in this remarkable country. The conclusion of this six-month term also marks the end of a more socially focused mandate for the European Commission, particular when compared with its predecessors. We look forward to even stronger commitments in the future. Here some key achievements of BE presidency in the social and health sectors: 🖋 Advancements in the #EuropeanHealthUnion to enhance health systems, crisis preparedness, and public health initiatives https://lnkd.in/ecMmrwAF 🖋 Adoption of the #EuropeanHealthDataSpace (along side the #AIact) to facilitate health data sharing and protection across member states https://lnkd.in/esSh7eSj 🖋 Implementation of new rules on #SubstancesofHumanOrigin to ensure safety and quality in medical procedures and products https://lnkd.in/eZZzp2Fd 🖋 #LaHulpeDeclaration, promoting the #EuropeanPillarofSocialRights and #SocialEurope https://lnkd.in/efkKiXk2 🖋 Tripartite Declaration for a stronger European #SocialDialogue https://lnkd.in/evh69CQk Let's see what comes next #HungarianPresidency https://lnkd.in/e-qfY_HM #EU2024 #SocialPolicy #HealthPolicy #FutureOfEurope #BelgianPresidency

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To say the least, it was quite surprising to read yesterday in POLITICO Europe that #Belgium, home to a significant #pharmaceutical sector, supports the European Commission proposal to decrease the Regulatory Data Protection (#RDP) from 8 years to 6 years 🗓️. It's well-known that companies decide where to carry out R&D considering factors such as where science is the strongest 💪, the stability and predictability of the intellectual property framework, available data and technology, manufacturing capabilities and the ability to get the medicines used by patients. While RDP is the last layer of protection for around one in three medicines, it will be factored into the decision-making process of 100% of medicines. This is why not only the pharma industry, but also Member States, research centers, and ultimately, the patients should be concerned by the proposal of the Commission and the Belgian position: 🏳 MEMBER STATES: Decreasing the RDP baseline to 6 years could significantly impact the European Union's (EU) attractiveness for global investments. Over the past few months, we've heard the Commission repeatedly state that every additional year of RDP would result in €1.2 billion in additional costs to Member States. This estimate, however, is based on the 'List Prices of medicines' - the publicly listed price before discounts, rebates, and clawbacks. A research study by the economic research agency, Dolon, has shown that reducing RDP in Europe would on the contrary cost €2 billion a year in lost R&D investment. #Belgium would be one of the most impacted Member States if the proposal of the Commission is adopted: the industry provides there 45,000 direct jobs and accounts for almost 15% of total Belgian exports. Over the last 5 years, the number of researchers working in the sector has increased by over 25%. In 2023, there were 6,706 researchers working in the sector. 🧪 RESEARCHERS: Fewer R&D initiatives in the EU and in Belgium would mean less clinical trials, which would greatly impact especially the academic hospitals, renowned globally as major centers for clinical trials. We often forget that hospitals are crucial players in the global scientific community, contributing to innovative research that shapes the future of medicines. 👩‍🔬 PATIENTS: Fewer clinical trials in Europe and in Belgium would mean less early access to highly innovative treatments answering unmet medical needs. To conclude: The EU is at a crossroads - will it be an innovation hub or a follower in the future? As a region, the EU has already lagged behind global competitors in terms of R&D and manufacturing, with lower investment, a smaller share of global clinical trials, and longer approval times for new medicines over the past 20 years. Belgium seems to have made its choice, let's hope they will reconsider their position 🙏. https://lnkd.in/dkVDyq8w #WeWontRest #EUPharmaLegislation #innovation #competitiveness

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🌐 Concise overview of EU AI Act from a health perspective! Many thanks to Janneke van Oirschot and Hannah van Kolfschooten at Health Action International for drafting this insightful factsheet on the EU #AI Act and its impact on the health sector. Here are key takeaways on the critical issues that are yet to be addressed: 🔎 Unclear Implications: The Act's lack of precise definitions for health-related terms introduces ambiguity in its application to the healthcare landscape 🔎 Lack of Clarity: Ambiguous definitions and guidelines within the Act introduce uncertainty regarding its implementation 🔎 Uneven Protection: While #fundamentalrights assessments predominantly target public entities, they overlook private stakeholders responsible for deployment of high-risk AI 🔎 Incomplete Coverage: Numerous #AIsystems used in healthcare evade classification as medical devices, resulting in regulatory gaps and oversight challenges 🔎 Selective Transparency: Mandates to disclose AI decisions only pertain to specific high-risk systems, excluding crucial medical devices from scrutiny

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Worth watching documentary of ARTE about the detrimental effects of privatisation on long term care in Europe. The documentary mentioned my opinion for EESC Workers' Group on the right of live- in care workers. There is also my short contribution to the documentary about the global care chain of migration in the sector. https://lnkd.in/ezyCiJC5

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On behalf of the European Commission,ICF in collaboration with HIVA-KU Leuven, on 30/05 successfully organized and facilitated the 11th Social Situation Monitor. This seminar delved into the impact of #demographic changes on the #labourmarket, #poverty, and #intergenerational fairness. Key insights from the seminar highlighted that our current policy framework is inadequate to address the intertwined and fast-changing challenges of low fertility rates, an ageing workforce, and evolving family structures. However, we also learned that well-developed policies can effectively support tackling these challenges. The discussions underscored the critical need for ongoing research into these issues to identify effective policy solutions. The Social Situation Monitor plays a pivotal role in bridging academic research and policymaking, fostering the development of informed and effective labour market and social policies for a resilient and prosperous future. At ICF we are dedicated to providing the European Commission with high-quality insights and innovative solutions. Special thanks to my amazing team, Valeria Ansaloni , Corinne Mele, Tamar Biedron, Koen van Lieshout #ThisIsICF #EUPolicy #SocialSituationMonitor #AgeingPopulation #fertilityrate

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I am proud to share the news that ICF together with KU Leuven has been awarded the leadership of the Social Situation Monitor (SSM) from DG EMPL. It’s the 8th consecutive year, I have the privilege to lead this assignment with a team of amazing colleagues, Valeria Ansaloni, Tamar Biedron, Koen van Lieshout, Corinne Mele, Fiona Sinclair. In a context of fast changing demographic and technological conditions, access to high-quality, policy-relevant research is essential to understand how Europe is to achieve rapid and equitable recovery from the impacts of the #COVID-19 pandemic, and the imperative of creating wealth and decent work within a more environmentally sustainable economic model is to be achieved. The SSM provides DG EMPL with evidence that meets these strategic needs. It helps policymakers in Member States and at EU level to track and understand change, both delivering high quality research note and debating the most key challenging topics in quarterly research seminars. Our research work is featured in reports like the Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) and its Quarterly Reviews, helping to shape European policy development effectively. #thisisicf #socialpolicy #innovation

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🚀 Empowering educators in the digital transition: next generation strategies for teacher professional development Proud to share that, with the support of the European Commission's DG REFORM and the TSI (Technical Support Instrument), a collaborative project between Belgian (Flemish) and Dutch authorities is advancing the digital upskilling of educators! The main CPD providers from both Flanders and the Netherlands attended the kick-off of this project today in Brussels. Their involvement highlights the strong commitment across sectors to innovate teacher professional development and ensure it meets the demands of a digitalised world. Key outcomes will include: 1️⃣ An inventory of innovative digital approaches for teachers' professional development. 2️⃣ A new framework to enhance digital components in CPD for teachers. 3️⃣ Policy and funding adaptations to support these innovations. Thanks to this EU and TSI-backed initiative, these reforms will help drive long-term impact on education in Flanders and the Netherlands, ensuring teachers are equipped for the digital future. #DigitalTransformation #EdTech #EUSupport #TSI #CPD #Flanders #Netherlands Katrien Bernaerts Hamid Riffi IDEACONSULT International - Groupe STUDI ICF Cecile Hoareau McGrath ICT Minocw Ministry of Education and Training Schoolmakers meemoo, Flemish Institute for Archives Olav AdamiBart BoelenHans De Four

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🌍 Digital Transformation with a Social Focus 🌍 Deputy Mayor Faouzi Achbar is calling on the EU to ensure that social perspectives are a key consideration in the ongoing digital transformation efforts. It's crucial that we work together to create an inclusive digital society, where no one is left behind as technology advances. Let's build a future where innovation serves everyone! #DigitalTransformation #Inclusion #SocialImpact #InclusiveSociety #TechForGood #AIforGood See his message at: https://t.co/j83I5kg1YC

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Black Friday and Christmas shopping rush is approaching. They will offer you faken discounts, pressurise you to buy. Remember you are the decision maker. The EU meanwhile works to protect you. Have a look at this list of unfair commercial practices we fall into everyday: https://lnkd.in/eVtteiQk — Il Black Friday e la frenesia da shopping natalizio sono alle porte. Ci offriranno sconti finti e ci presseranno per comprare comprare comprare. Ricordiamoci che siamo noi a decidere. L’UE nel frattempo lavora per proteggerci. Dai un’occhiata alle tipiche practiche commerciali sleali in cui cadiamo continuamente: https://lnkd.in/eXz7p5Ni

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In 2023, EESC made a clear and unequivocal call to the European Commission to draw up a European Strategy for #OlderPeople before the end of the current mandate. The strategy should be supported by a #guarantee for older people #AgeGuarantee – similar to the Youth Guarantee and the Child Guarantee – which would serve as the tool for implementing the strategy at the EU and national level. It would also allow EU funding to be used to finance programmes that support older people. The new strategy should furthermore address the employment, education and training of older people. It should be based on respect and solidarity between generations. It should have a life-cycle approach to prevent and reduce age-related challenges, correcting the current focus on ageing as a cost. #socialinvestment #EUfunds #SDH #investingforhealth #investingforageing #healthyageing #activeageing In response to the EESC's call, EC Vice-President Šuica said that a new strategy and a Guarantee for Older Persons would be the next logical step, which the Commission would carefully examine. (I hope the October 2023 Demography Toolbox is just a milestone toward the actual strategy.) https://lnkd.in/eY4TFebp

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Another important step in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s digital transformation! Today, we celebrated JP BH Pošta becoming certified to provide secure, qualified e-signature certificates for the Public Procurement Agency of BiH. This means that when a Public Procurement Agency of BiH employee needs to sign a document, they can now do so electronically and securely, with the same legal validity as handwritten signatures.  E-signatures will save this important public institution time and money, letting it focus on its critical mission of managing all public spending across this country. By embracing e-signature and other advanced digital solutions in the work of government institutions, we’re changing old practices and shaping a modern public sector that will better serve citizens and businesses, ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency! #USAIDBiH #ProjekatEuprave #EGovernanceActivity #ePotpis #eSignature #DigitalnaTransformacija #DigitalTransformation

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New draft topics for call 9 and 10 in Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) are now published!

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