Episode 3: Towards more holistic policymaking

Policy Crossroads - Episode 3

Speakers: Sirpa Pietikäinen, Member of the European Parliament, European People's Party (Christian Democrats); Elizabeth Kuiper, Associate Director and Head of the Social Europe and Well- being programme, European Policy Centre, Danielle Brady, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre

In this third episode of Policy Crossroads, Elizabeth Kuiper and Danielle Brady from the EPC engage in conversation with MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen from the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) to explore pathways towards an approach that aims to improve societal resilience and steers policy-making in the EU towards multiple economic, social and environmental goals rather than only focusing on economic growth. The exchange revolves around the following questions:

a) What are the achievements of the current mandate with regards to advancing a more holistic approach in policymaking?

b) As we move further away from the pandemic and in the context of permacrisis, how can we ensure that health remains a priority in the next mandate, especially considering the interconnectedness of health and other policy areas such as the environment, industrial policy, research and innovation, digital health and artificial intelligence, and broader social policies?

c) What action is needed in the next mandate to further shift towards a more holistic policymaking approach and promote an approach that goes beyond economic growth?

The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the necessity to shift from isolated health policies towards a holistic approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of public health, economic security, and climate change. Embracing a holistic policy framework is essential for policymakers to understand the broader impact of their decisions on people's health and societal resilience. In fact, there is a notable disconnect between current economic priorities and broader social and environmental objectives, with traditional models failing to account for factors like mental wellbeing, work quality and environmental degradation. Bridging this gap requires engaging citizens who increasingly feel left behind.

Geopolitical concerns like the EU’s defense and security from external threats, should not divert political willingness and budgetary resources away from social and environmental concerns. The EU needs to broaden its understanding of what a functional economic model entails, and to place people’s wellbeing alongside the notions of security, prosperity, and competitiveness. This entails more holistic policymaking and coordination mechanisms at the EU level, while also combating anti-European sentiments and illiberal movements to ensure the EU's capacity to enact transformative, health-focused, and human-centered policies.

Key quote from Sirpa Pietikäinen: “The economy is for the purpose, and the purpose is people’s wellbeing”.

Follow-up reading: The Social Pillar and the future of the EU Social Agenda