Federal Councillor Baume-Schneider hosts meeting of German-speaking social and health affairs ministers in Brienz
Bern, 07.10.2025 — On 6 and 7 October 2025, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider welcomed her German-speaking counterparts to Brienz in the Bernese Oberland for a ministerial meeting. The discussions among the social and health affairs ministers focused on the key topics of retirement age, child and adolescent mental health, and the future of basic medical care. In a joint declaration the five countries reaffirmed their willingness to address these challenges together and to further intensify their collaboration.
Child and adolescent mental health
The ministers exchanged views on the adjustment of the retirement age in the light of current economic, social and demographic developments. They discussed how increased flexibility in pension systems could incentivise people to remain longer in employment without calling the standard retirement age into question. They also addressed the growing pressures on mental health among children and adolescents. Finally, the ministers considered how basic medical care could be developed further to ensure continued access to adequate, high-quality healthcare for the entire population.
The Social and Health Quintet representatives signed a joint declaration emphasising their intention to continue their dialogue on key issues, with the aim of further developing their social and health systems and intensifying their collaboration. This includes, examining sustainable approaches to financing retirement provision and promoting mental health among children and adolescents through prevention, early detection and integration – with a particular focus on analysing causal factors and influences. The ministers also stressed the need to strengthen basic medical care through innovative healthcare models and measures to address shortages of skilled staff.
Attending this year’s meeting, at the invitation of Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume‑Schneider, were Nina Warken, German Federal Minister of Health; Dr Emanuel Schädler, Liechtenstein’s Minister of Social Affairs and Justice; Martine Deprez, Luxembourg’s Minister of Health and Social Security; Korinna Schumann, Austrian Federal Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection; and Katja Mast, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
The next meeting of German-speaking social and health affairs ministers will be held in Luxembourg in 2026.