FEPS at PES Congress 2025

The PES Congress 2025 was a crucial gathering for progressives and civil society to tackle the major challenges of our time and to create a shared vision for a fairer, more sustainable future. The goal was clear – to mobilise all those committed to progressive values and revitalise progressive thought. We need bold new ideas, solidarity, and a strategic willingness to cooperate among democratic forces. Together, we can build confidence for change and uphold our common values of freedom, equality, and justice.

On Friday, 17 October, in the afternoon, FEPS hosted a series of fringe events to explore the renewal of social democracy, the shifts in the global order, and the future of work, alongside dedicated training sessions with our partners.

FEPS Fringe events

Renewal of Social Democracy

14:25-15:25 – Room Berlage Zaal – By FEPS in collaboration with Karl-Renner-Institut

Presenting the newest findings from the Next Left research programme, including the new pamphlet “Facing the future”, this fringe event allowed audience members to directly interact with social democratic leaders to help shape the debate on how to make social democracy a powerhouse again. 

With speakers:

• Paul Magnette, President of PS Belgium
• Kata Tüttő, President of PES at CoR
• Raphael Glucksmann, S&D Group Envoy for Social Democratic Renewal
• Elfva Barrio, President of SSF 
• Patrick Diamond, Professor of Public Policy at Queen Mary, University of London, FEPS Scientific Council member
• Ania Skrzypek, FEPS Director for Research and Training

Download the agenda

Fostering Peace in Times of Geopolitical Challenges – Shaping the Zeitenwende for Peace and Security in Europe

16:00-16:45 – Room Berlage Zaal – By FEPS in collaboration with FES Warsaw

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine marked a true Zeitenwende – a historic turning point that challenged peace and security in Europe. 

Europe must respond with unwavering support to Ukraine, building a more united and stronger Europe rooted in solidarity and shared solutions, while strengthening and forging partnerships worldwide and defending a rules-based global order. 

With speakers: 

• Dietmar Nietan, Treasurer and Member of the Executive Board of SPD
• Magda Zydra, Deputy Head of the Chancellery of the Polish Senate
• Ireneusz Bil, Chairman of Aleksander Kwasniewski’s “Amicus Europae” Foundation (Poland) 
• Bert Koenders, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs 
• Maria João Rodrigues, President of FEPS

Tech and labour: Rebalancing power

17:50-18;50 – Room Ontvangkamer – By FEPS in collaboration with FES Competence Center

Algorithmic management is deepening precarity, weakening labour, and stagnating wages – fueling far-right shifts. Recent AI advances facilitate the speeding up of work and increased exploitation, with negative effects on workers’ physical and mental health. How can progressives turn this around?

With speakers: 

• Justin Nogarede, Senior Policy Officer, FES Future of Work
• Estelle Ceulemans, MEP (S&D) and EMPL Coordinator 
• Eric Mwezi Manzi, Deputy General Secretary (ITUC) 
• Rein de Sauvage Nolting, Researcher, De Burcht – Scientific Bureau of the Dutch Trade Union Movement 
• László Andor, Secretary General, FEPS
• Monty Aal, Policy Analyst on Digital, FEPS 

Skills booster workshops

14:25-19:00 – Room Derkinderenkamer – By FEPS in collaboration with Foundation Max van der Stoel (FMS) and Karl Renner Institut

• How to Talk to Generation Next!?
• Creating a progressive narrative
• Confronting a populist in the wild

Discover more about the Skills Booster workshop!

Get ready for PES Congress with FEPS!

From podcasts to publications and The Progressive Post magazine, check out our work:

• “Facing the future: How to make social democracy a powerhouse again” pamphlet, written by Professor Patrick Diamond and Dr Ania Skrzypek.
• Progressive Pollsters FEPS Talks podcast series with insights from leading pollsters across Europe.
• The Progressive Post Special Coverage magazine “European Social Democracy – A transformative force for the future“, which includes analyses and proposals concerning the concept of the state, work, internationalism, digital capitalism, democracy and leadership.
• Next Left Vol. 16 “The Progressive Compass“, which explores how social democratic parties in Europe can rebuild trust, respond to voter expectations, and shape a progressive future.

The task of reinvigorating the progressive movement is both historical and imminent. The Next Left research programme, founded by FEPS and the Karl Renner Institute in 2009, is dedicated to this crucial task. Based on solid empirical evidence from trusted pollsters and data, we examine key political and social trends shaping Europe’s future and reflect on the lessons learned.

Watch the full Congress here! And discover the PES Congress 2025 Progressive Mobilisation website.

Check out the highlights of FEPS fringe events:

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Ania Skrzypek, Director for Research and Training (ania.skrzypek@feps-europe.eu) and/or Céline Guedes, Coordinator of Partnership and Project (celine.guedes@feps-europe.eu).