Final stakeholder conference of the FutuRes project
We are looking forward to welcoming our stakeholders in the Brussels area to discuss with us in person. The FutuRes research teams will present their findings and discuss the implications for Europe's welfare states. Discussants will give feedback to the presentations.
We invite all stakeholders from policy and civil society to join us, and share their expertise.
Tuesday, 4 November, 2025
Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the EU, Jacques de Lalaingstraat 8/14, 1040 Brussels (Maelbeek station)
Presentations from 11.00 to 17.30
Evening event from 18.00
Programme
From 11.00 Arrival, registration
11.30 – 12.30 Welcome Session: “Resilience, policy and intergenerational fairness”
Keynote by: Arnstein Aassve, Principal Investigator of the FutuRes Project | Bocconi University, Italy
Guest presenter: Prof. Vincenzo Galasso | Bocconi University, Italy
In view of demographic projections, Prof. Aassve outlines the challenges facing Europe’s welfare states, such as: sustainability of the pensions, the “minority of younger people”, and risks to equality. Prof. Galasso then presents his suggestion for an index to measure intergenerational fairness, as an evidence-based tool for policymaking.
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch break
13.30 – 14.30 Presentation & discussion: “Fertility and life course resilience”
Presenters: Prof. Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak, Prof. Paweł Strzelecki, Dr. Anita Abramowska-Kmon | Warsaw School of Economics, Poland
Discussant: Prof. Rense Nieuwenhuis, Joint Coordinator of the EU-funded project rEUsilience | Stockholm University, Sweden
The FutuRes team at Warsaw School of Economics present their analysis of the latest Europe-wide surveys. Their findings help understand the effects of social and human capital in crises, especially with respect to families. Research leader Prof. Chłoń-Domińczak introduces the team’s approach. Data analyses will then be presented by Prof. Paweł Strzelecki and Dr. Anita Abramowska-Kmon, with regards to fertility decisions, the old-age, and life-course vulnerabilities.
14.30 – 15.00 Coffee break
15.00 – 16.00 Presentation & discussion: “Responding to the Challenges of an Ageing Labour Market – Migration, Automation and AI”
Presenters: Prof. Jakub Bijak, Dr. Emily Barker | University of Southampton
Discussants: Diana Ognyanova, Economic Analyst, DG RTD - Industrial Research, Strategy and Coordination | European Commission; Beatrice Boots, Director of the Dutch National STEM Platform | Platform Talent voor Technologie (PTVT), Netherlands; Fabrizio Natale, Project Lead, Migration and Demography | Joint Research Centre (JRC)
The FutuRes research team at the University of Southampton finds that both automation and migration may be part of adaptive solutions to Europe’s dwindling labour force - but they aren’t viable on their own, nor do they have the same effects everywhere. Looking at data, Prof. Bijak and Dr. Barker discuss policy scenarios, and how they can be attuned to specific economic and social contexts.
16.00 – 16.30 Coffee break
16.30 – 17.30 Presentation & discussion: “Reforming old age security in Europe – Scenarios for resilience”
Presenters: Prof. Alexia Fürnkranz-Prskawetz, Dr. Miguel Sánchez-Romero | TU Vienna and Vienna Institute of Demography
Discussants: Fabiana Pierini, DG EMPL - Ageing, Pensions and Access to Social Protection | European Commission; Dr. Hervé Boulhol, Head of the Pensions and Population Aging Unit, Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs | Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Based on their innovative models, the TU Vienna team present scenarios for how future economic and demographic shocks will impact growth and pension systems. Prof. Fürnkranz-Prskawetz and Dr. Sánchez-Romero propose reforms that could be implemented in most countries to reduce the inequalities that are likely to increase without intervention. They also explain how these reforms should be linked with education, health and care systems.
17.30 – 18.00 Arrival, registration for the audience of the evening event
18.00 – 19.15 Panel discussion: “The new intergenerational contract”
Panelists: Deša Srsen, European Commission, Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Glenn Micallef; Idoia Mendia, Member of the European Parliament; Christa Schweng, European Economic and Social Committee; Maciej Kucharczyk, Secretary General of AGE Platform Europe; Arnstein Aassve, Bocconi University, Head of FutuRes
Welcome address by: Ambassador Helen Winter
Europe is in the middle of large-scale demographic change, headed towards an older population. Labour markets, health and care systems are only a few of the institutions that will have to transform. How can policy ensure that well-being is maintained and that increasing political discontentment is prevented? The panel will discuss adaptive strategies for welfare states.
19.15 – 20.15 Reception
20.15 – 20.30 Concluding remarks and end of event
in cooperation with the 
FutuRes is funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, Grant Agreement no.: 101094741. This stakeholder conference is hosted in cooperation with the Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the EU.