The first year of my second mandate as CED President, 2025, was also marked by ongoing challenges for the dental profession, in the midst of growing global political instability. Dental professionals, alongside other healthcare workers, witnessed the impact of these uncertainties and security challenges on the European economy and workforce, including a significant shift in national and European policy priorities and the sharp rise of international reactionary and far right political parties.
This political shift not only raises democratic and cohesion concerns for our European nations but also poses a certain threat to the prioritisation of oral health within government budgets and national health insurance benefit packages, impacting the conditions and practice of the European dental profession and the overall accessibility of dental treatments.
The situation for global oral health, as well as the working conditions and rights of dental professionals and humanitarian workers practising in countries impacted by wars, armed conflicts and political instability was also a main topic of concern for the CED. We joined the international civil society call, issuing a statement condemning the deliberate targeting of medical and dental professionals and facilities, and calling for unconditional respect of health neutrality and the protection of healthcare workers.
We have also seen priorities within the European agenda shift towards enhancing the competitiveness of European markets and simplifying existing regulations. In this context, the free movement of professionals within the EU Single Market has become a key objective of the Commission, aimed at boosting skills and labour mobility. The European Skills Portability Initiative, announced in 2025 and expected to be developed in 2026, will therefore be a key priority for the CED in the year ahead.
On the other hand, reflecting on 2025, I am proud to say that it was a highly productive year for our organisation. We developed and adopted 9 policy papers addressing a diverse set of topics from artificial intelligence, novel tobacco products, to custom-made athletic mouthguards, as well as prepared 6 official CED positions in response to European public consultations, launched 5 surveys for the collection of data, published several articles and statements in European dental and policy journals, and co-organised the first joint policy event gathering all five main European oral healthcare professional organisations, bringing a common voice to European policy makers in Brussels.
Despite the challenging political environment, the CED is hopeful of this year’s advancements and future European initiatives in the field of public health. I could cite here initial steps taken in the direction of the necessary and long-awaited revision of the Medical Devices Regulation, the adoption of the European Health Data Space at the start of 2025, as well as signs of enhanced political will to tackle key risk-factors, with the revision of the Tobacco Tax Directive and the launch of the crucial EU Cardiovascular Health Plan.
Finally, the CED has and will of course continue its collaboration with other European dental organisations and strive to strengthen interprofessional cooperation with other healthcare professionals, for a better and more resilient European health workforce!
Dr. Freddie Sloth-Lisbjerg
President (Denmark)
