ESNO in EESC 2025

Title: ‘European Health Workforce Policy Forum – November Brussels 2025’

 A Strategic Dialogue on Nursing Leadership, Retention, and Sustainable Health Systems

Objective

This high-level Brussels event tackles the critical shortage of health professionals, focusing on professionals in the nursing and care domain and doctors with emphasis on the primary and community health domain. Gathering European policymakers, healthcare leaders, and nursing professionals, it seeks to build consensus on harmonizing retention standards to strengthen the workforce professionals. The decline in nursing and doctors has weakened healthcare systems, a trend worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fragmented efforts have failed to provide lasting solutions. Research shows nurses and doctors are more likely to stay when they feel supported, recognized, and empowered—yet disparities in education and certification across Europe fuel instability. The event offers a platform to align perspectives and drive action toward a harmonized framework for nursing retention, career progression, education, and certification. Alongside keynote speakers, ‘keynote-listeners, questioners, and responders will encourage active engagement.

Key themes include mental health support, gender equity, and sustainable professional pathways. Evidence shows that when health professionals are recognized, empowered, and mentally supported, they are more likely to stay and thrive.

Participants will explore: Implementation of the WHO–EU Commission Nurse Action Plan and the Bucharest Declaration, best practices in retention with education and other European health workforce program and unified European framework to reduce regional disparities.

Participants will:

  • Examine how retention standards impact workforce stability and professional growth.
  • Share best practices in education and certification.
  • Propose actionable steps toward a unified European approach.

Confirmed engaging organisation’

  • WHO-Europe,
  • OECD
  • European Commission DG SANTE
  • European Parliament
  • Global and European Nursing Organisation

Organisation partners

  • European Specialist Nurses Organisation (ESNO)
  • Cancer Patient Europe (CPE)
  • European association for Private Hospitals (UEPH)
  • European Confederation of Care Homes Organizations (E.C.H.O.)

Under patronage of

  • European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
  • The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies- WHO

Event details
Date: Tuesday 4 November

Location: L42 Business Center & Workspaces, Rue de la Loi 42, 1040 Brussels www.L42.be

Program:  Click here to open the program

Speakers and contributors overview: Click here to open

Registration Link: https://form.jotform.com/251791477197471

Registration Link (in case above link does not work):  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfdeEp8sKrJTXutO6tRInX5zm1Zq6VQHQN6vlrqfUK0fmH7Q/viewform

For information, please contact the ESNO office