Taking a broader perspective, after 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, the 2010 European debt crisis, the 2015 refugee migration challenges and the 2015/2016 terrorist attacks, everyone became aware once again that crises do not remain sectoral: they are stress tests for public administrations, for health and education systems, for security and police forces, for the justice system and many further parts of the public services alike, all of whom are in exceptional demand.

Not only, but especially in times of crises, public services are at the forefront of providing essential goods and services which are indispensable especially for the most vulnerable members of our societies and economies. It is the public sector which is ‘essential’. It cares, protects and supports –the citizens, the society and the economy. It determines whether societies are sustainable or not.

The Covid-19 pandemic has reminded everyone, again, of the importance of long-term planning and crisis preparedness of public services. It has revealed once more that crises are unpredictable in nature and scope but are certain to happen, and that public services cannot be equipped overnight in a tailored manner. It has made clear that long-term investments across the public services are necessary to make them resilient and performing during crises that inevitably occur.

Without well performing public services also in times of crisis, the 20 principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights cannot be attained.

This conference, co-funded by the European Union, organised in partnership with the European Policy Centre (EPC) and with the media partnership of Euractiv.pl, will take stock of the lessons learnt from the pandemic and previous crises and seek to advance a strong European public service agenda which will put investments in the equipment, facilities and staff of public services first – starting with the Recovery and Resilience Facility programmes in the Member States as of this fall, which must be implemented in the spirit of the European Pillar of Social Rights.