Health and Societal Resilience
The Health and Societal Resilience Programme (HSR) focus is on society’s ability to recover from crises and economic shocks. It focuses on the following policies:
- strong and resilient healthcare systems;
- economic security;
- societal implications of AI;
- future of work;
- modern and inclusive labour markets;
- housing
- eradicating inequalities;
- women’s health;
- inclusive economic growth.
In recent years, the European Union has come under increasing pressure as a result of permanent and overlapping crises, and the societal and political repercussions these have generated. The economic and social disparities among EU member states, coupled with rising nationalism and populism, all point to a need to focus on areas where citizens experience a loss of trust in governments – such as in housing or healthcare.
Through policy dialogues, workshops, and publications, the HSR team focuses on the above-mentioned issues and finding ways to move forward. The Programme is currently working on projects that will contribute to our vision of whole-of-society resilience, which are desperately needed in the current geopolitical landscape.
Europe’s hospitals faced nearly 300 cybersecurity incidents in 2024, making healthcare the most targeted essential sector. Widely attributed to Russian-linked groups, major incidents cost around EUR 300 000 each — but the damage goes far beyond financial losses. The European Commission’s 2025 Action Plan on the Cybersecurity of Hospitals and Healthcare Providers is a critical step towards protecting EU healthcare from hybrid threats. Samuel Goodger and Elizabeth Kuiper of the European Policy Centre outline the priorities for ensuring the plan’s successful implementation.
