European Parliament Round Table
Event Report
Shaping the Future of Social Services: Advancing the European Social Model through Responsiveness and Quality
European Parliament, Brussels, 3 February 2026
Host: Hannes Heide, Member of the European Parliament
Special Guests:
Dan Barna, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the Renew Europe Group
Irma Borde, Policy Officer at DG Employment, Social Rights and Inclusion in the European Commission
Victor Draguțan, Policy and Programme Manager – Social Inclusion, Romania, European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Hannah Buchinger, Policy Officer responsible for EMPL, Office of MEP Evelyn Regner
Dafina Savić, Coordinator of the Intergroup on Fighting Against Poverty, European Parliament
The event was moderated by Martin Lichte, representative of the European Social Network (ESN).
The event was organized and coordinated by Ana Rădulescu, Herbert Paulischin, and Michael Rasell with the support of Eva Luzia Werlberger, Accredited Parliamentary Assistant, Office of MEP Hannes Heide.
The roundtable brought together policymakers, representatives of the European Commission, social services experts, and practitioners from across Europe to discuss how responsiveness and quality can be effectively integrated into social services.
The participation of special guests, notably Dan Barna, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the Renew Europe Group, and Irma Borde, Policy Officer at DG Employment, Social Rights and Inclusion, European Commission, highlighted the political and institutional commitment to developing a European model of social services that is responsive to citizens’ needs.
During the European Parliament Round Table – Shaping the Future of Social Services: Advancing the European Social Model through Responsiveness and Quality, discussions focused on a series of key themes essential for the development and strengthening of social services in Europe. Participants explored how responsiveness can be embedded in European social service quality standards, emphasizing adaptation to the real needs of citizens.
The agenda included an analysis of the RESPONSIVE project results and their implications for social service practices and policies, as well as the need for a coherent European framework to support funding, workforce development, and the quality standards required for effective social services. Discussions emphasized the importance of adapting social services for youth leaving care systems, as well as for other vulnerable groups, including those at risk of social exclusion.
Another central topic was the identification of factors that enable or hinder responsiveness from the perspective of service users, highlighting the importance of their involvement in planning and evaluating social services. The discussions also addressed the need to develop resilience and transformation frameworks to ensure services can respond effectively to social crises.
Other themes addressed in the agenda included the need for professional reflection and collaboration spaces for social workers, emphasizing the role of professional development and the exchange of best practices in improving service delivery. Additionally, participants discussed the democratic dimension of social services – how services can be more open, transparent, and oriented toward citizen participation – as well as the political and institutional support provided by European initiatives relevant to social cohesion.
The event concluded with a networking session, providing participants with the opportunity to reflect and establish connections for future collaboration, thereby reinforcing the European commitment to more responsive, relevant, and high-quality social services.
