Rapporteur Talks

The COVID-19 pandemic brought to the fore the untapped potential for the deployment of digital health tools in Europe. Digital tools can empower citizens to manage their own health, allow healthcare workers to treat patients remotely, enable beneficial research efforts, and equip authorities to accurately track public health through data.A successful digital health transformation requires empowering citizens to access, understand and trust the benefits that new technologies can bring into their lives. Only through a wide uptake of digital tools can these solutions significantly improve both the quality of health services and citizens’ well-being. Citizens’ empowerment must be put at the centre of European digital policymaking.During this Roundtable event, the All Policies for a Healthy Europe coalition will discuss the work of its Digital Working Group, focusing on how the European Union can ensure that citizens are fully empowered and truly engaged in the development of digital health & well-being. The coalition is working on a Policy Paper tackling three key aspects of the digital transformation of healthcare and how they relate to the empowerment of EU citizens; Digital Skills & Literacy, the European Health Data Space and the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

As the world enters further into the 21st Century, now faced with the unprecedented advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, EU-Africa relations continue to evolve steadily, with both sides addressing key complementary priorities, such as trade and investment, sustainable development, job creation, industrialisation, peace and security, and migration.In order to achieve “A Stronger Europe in the World”, the European Commission identified the development of a new strategy with Africa as a key priority, by “working hand in hand with our neighbours and partners”. With the conclusion of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement on the horizon, this partnership is of increased importance.In recent EU negotiations, a clear shift in narrative from “development” to “fostering partnerships” is apparent – as seen during the 10th African Union - European Commission meeting in Ethiopia early this year. This shift is also central to the aspirations of the African Union, such as Agenda 2063. In late 2020, Brussels will host the 6th AU-EU Summit. This meeting will take place at a time when Africa’s economic growth continues to increase, estimated to have reached 3.4% in 2019Botswana’s sound macroeconomic policies, its legal and regulatory frameworks, and strong economic and political institutions make the country a safe and desirable investment destination. With growing infrastructure development and geographically in a central location, Botswana is seen by some as the gateway to doing business in the region, and a credible entry point to access the entire continent. President Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi, in his 2019 State of the Nation Address, welcomed “sustainable and impactful investment” as a top priority of his Government and committed to transform the country from an upper middle-income country to a high-income country, through the implementation of its blueprint Vision 2036.

As the world enters further into the 21st Century, now faced with the unprecedented advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, EU-Africa relations continue to evolve steadily, with both sides addressing key complementary priorities, such as trade and investment, sustainable development, job creation, industrialisation, peace and security, and migration.In order to achieve “A Stronger Europe in the World”, the European Commission identified the development of a new strategy with Africa as a key priority, by “working hand in hand with our neighbours and partners”. With the conclusion of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement on the horizon, this partnership is of increased importance.In recent EU negotiations, a clear shift in narrative from “development” to “fostering partnerships” is apparent – as seen during the 10th African Union - European Commission meeting in Ethiopia early this year. This shift is also central to the aspirations of the African Union, such as Agenda 2063. In late 2020, Brussels will host the 6th AU-EU Summit. This meeting will take place at a time when Africa’s economic growth continues to increase, estimated to have reached 3.4% in 2019Botswana’s sound macroeconomic policies, its legal and regulatory frameworks, and strong economic and political institutions make the country a safe and desirable investment destination. With growing infrastructure development and geographically in a central location, Botswana is seen by some as the gateway to doing business in the region, and a credible entry point to access the entire continent. President Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi, in his 2019 State of the Nation Address, welcomed “sustainable and impactful investment” as a top priority of his Government and committed to transform the country from an upper middle-income country to a high-income country, through the implementation of its blueprint Vision 2036.

Poultry is the most widely consumed meat in the world, and is enjoyed by many as part of a balanced diet. But the meat sector in general has come under intense scrutiny during the coronavirus crisis and has been a bone of contention throughout ongoing debates concerning the sustainability of the EU agricultural sector.Speaking at the recent AGRIFISH Council meeting, EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski addressed the criticism of the livestock sector, saying that the EU must work to support alternative methods of livestock farming and look to support the farmers who voluntarily introduce high standards of animal welfare.The recently released EU’s Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy softened its stance on meat compared to the previous draft versions but offered staunch support for alternative proteins and said it would work to encourage people to consume “less meat.”The strategy also laid out a commitment to “help reduce the environmental and climate impact of animal production”.EURACTIV organinsed this Virtual Conference to discuss the role of poultry in the future farm to fork strategy. Questions included:- How sustainable is the production of poultry meat, also compared to other meats and alternative meat proteins?- Is the animal health and welfare of EU poultry adhering to the highest possible standards? What practices have lower impact on the environment and consumers' health?- How can science and critical innovation ensure that European poultry meat remains safe, affordable and nutritious?- How can the European meat poultry sector produce more from less?- How will farm to fork standards affect imports from 3rd countries?[The content of this event programme represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission and the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (CHAFEA) do not accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the information it contains.]

Poultry is the most widely consumed meat in the world, and is enjoyed by many as part of a balanced diet. But the meat sector in general has come under intense scrutiny during the coronavirus crisis and has been a bone of contention throughout ongoing debates concerning the sustainability of the EU agricultural sector.Speaking at the recent AGRIFISH Council meeting, EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski addressed the criticism of the livestock sector, saying that the EU must work to support alternative methods of livestock farming and look to support the farmers who voluntarily introduce high standards of animal welfare.The recently released EU’s Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy softened its stance on meat compared to the previous draft versions but offered staunch support for alternative proteins and said it would work to encourage people to consume “less meat.”The strategy also laid out a commitment to “help reduce the environmental and climate impact of animal production”.EURACTIV organinsed this Virtual Conference to discuss the role of poultry in the future farm to fork strategy. Questions included:- How sustainable is the production of poultry meat, also compared to other meats and alternative meat proteins?- Is the animal health and welfare of EU poultry adhering to the highest possible standards? What practices have lower impact on the environment and consumers' health?- How can science and critical innovation ensure that European poultry meat remains safe, affordable and nutritious?- How can the European meat poultry sector produce more from less?- How will farm to fork standards affect imports from 3rd countries?[The content of this event programme represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission and the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (CHAFEA) do not accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the information it contains.]

Deepening the EU data economy and investments in AI are top priorities on the agenda of the von der Leyen Commission. Because of the COVID-19 crisis, the digital transformation in all sectors is speeding up, intensifying our reliance on software, data and AI.Digitalisation has created many opportunities, transforming business landscapes and the world of work, but has also created threats. In the EU, approximately 30% of workers think they could become jobless by automation by 2024. Social protection needs to be adapted to ensure that emerging risks are managed efficiently.Responsibility for insurance, savings and pensions choices is increasingly falling to individuals themselves, as financial support from traditional sources - including employers and governments - shrinks. Surveys and studies have shown that platform workers face many challenges such as low wages, limited ability to save or to invest in pensions, and limited access to social protection schemes.The European Commission has sought to strengthen and modernise social protection in the EU through its European Pillar of Social Right. The policy measures of the pillar show that the problem is not only the social protection of platform workers but of all non-standard workers and self-employed people.Join this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to discuss how business in a post-COVID world will require a new way of thinking to protect their workforces who face new challenges with strained social protection systems, new skills and shifting employment relationships. Questions included:- How can we protect workforces at a time of profound change so that no-one is left behind?- What does COVID tell us about collective responsibility and managing risk in a changing world?- What are the effects of digitalisation and AI on the social protection of workers?- How are changes to traditional employment models driving the need for agile protection?- How to empower workers to build individual resilience?

Deepening the EU data economy and investments in AI are top priorities on the agenda of the von der Leyen Commission. Because of the COVID-19 crisis, the digital transformation in all sectors is speeding up, intensifying our reliance on software, data and AI.Digitalisation has created many opportunities, transforming business landscapes and the world of work, but has also created threats. In the EU, approximately 30% of workers think they could become jobless by automation by 2024. Social protection needs to be adapted to ensure that emerging risks are managed efficiently.Responsibility for insurance, savings and pensions choices is increasingly falling to individuals themselves, as financial support from traditional sources - including employers and governments - shrinks. Surveys and studies have shown that platform workers face many challenges such as low wages, limited ability to save or to invest in pensions, and limited access to social protection schemes.The European Commission has sought to strengthen and modernise social protection in the EU through its European Pillar of Social Right. The policy measures of the pillar show that the problem is not only the social protection of platform workers but of all non-standard workers and self-employed people.Join this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to discuss how business in a post-COVID world will require a new way of thinking to protect their workforces who face new challenges with strained social protection systems, new skills and shifting employment relationships. Questions included:- How can we protect workforces at a time of profound change so that no-one is left behind?- What does COVID tell us about collective responsibility and managing risk in a changing world?- What are the effects of digitalisation and AI on the social protection of workers?- How are changes to traditional employment models driving the need for agile protection?- How to empower workers to build individual resilience?

The European Commission announced in March 2020 that it will launch a five-year gender equality strategy. It will revive plans for mandatory quotas of women on company boards, amid slowing progress towards gender equality among top management. The EU commissioner for equality, Helena Dalli, said that quotas “can be a very ugly word” but were also “a necessary evil, in the sense we have to use quotas because otherwise we will wait another 100 years for things to change by themselves”.

Under a 2012 draft directive, European-listed companies would face fines if they failed to ensure that at least 40% of their non-executive board seats were taken by women. But the proposal ran into opposition from central and northern European Member Sates and has since been stuck in the Council.

EU officials point to the experience of countries that have introduced binding quotas, such as France, Germany, Italy and Belgium, which has led to a rapid increase of women in the boardroom.

The European Commission announced in March 2020 that it will launch a five-year gender equality strategy. It will revive plans for mandatory quotas of women on company boards, amid slowing progress towards gender equality among top management. The EU commissioner for equality, Helena Dalli, said that quotas “can be a very ugly word” but were also “a necessary evil, in the sense we have to use quotas because otherwise we will wait another 100 years for things to change by themselves”.

Under a 2012 draft directive, European-listed companies would face fines if they failed to ensure that at least 40% of their non-executive board seats were taken by women. But the proposal ran into opposition from central and northern European Member Sates and has since been stuck in the Council.

EU officials point to the experience of countries that have introduced binding quotas, such as France, Germany, Italy and Belgium, which has led to a rapid increase of women in the boardroom.

The EU’s new flagship food policy - The Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F) - was released on May 20th, confirming the aspiration of the EU executive to transform the way of producing, distributing and consuming food in the EU and beyond. The strategy is at the heart of the European Green Deal aiming to make food systems economically efficient, fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly.

The strategy also aims to accelerate our transition to food systems that are sustainable as well as resilient to crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic. The use of innovative technologies in producing food, and the corresponding investments companies need to make, will be essential in achieving these goals.

On the consumption side, the F2F Strategy aims to improve the availability and price of nutritious and sustainable food and to promote adoption of healthy and sustainable diets by consumers. Key elements include improving consumer information, strengthening sustainable food procurement and encouraging adoption of fiscal measures that support sustainable food consumption.

The F2F Strategy is also a central part of the EU recovery plan. Executive Vice-President Timmermans claims it holds the potential to create immediate business and investment opportunities to restore Europe’s economy.