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Policy Conference 2026

Towards a sustainable European sovereignty

30 SEPT – 1 OCT –  BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

The EU must reaffirm its commitment to its social and climate ambitions. Supporting a sustainable European sovereignty is not an end in itself: it is a means to a better quality of life for all. 

The Policy Conference will be a call to action to advance an agenda for a European sovereignty that serves people and the planet. Join the 2026 edition of the Policy Conference!

📅 Discover the full agenda

30 September

🌱 17:30 – 18:30 – High-level speakers dialogue on the future of sustainable European sovereignty, with VP Ribera

Join Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera and Sandrine Dixson-Declève, among many others! Europe must strengthen its resilience through climate leadership, clean industrial capacity, long-term public investment and meaningful digital innovation. 

1 October

📊 09:30 – 11:00 – Beyond the EU budget: innovative public investment instruments for sustainability and innovation scale-up

Financing of EU priorities is a hotly contested topic in the ongoing MFF negotiations. While the need for more ambitious EU spending is widely acknowledged, finding the needed resources remains a challenge. 

⚡ 11:30 – 13:00 – The electrification challenge: how can Europe accelerate electrification while protecting its households and workers?

Electrification is the foundation of a competitive and decarbonised European economy. It is the most efficient pathway to reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets for industry, buildings and transport, and deliver energy sovereignty. Accelerating electrification is not simply a technological challenge; it raises important economic, social and political questions.

🤖 14:00 – 15:30 – AI, work, and the future: elements for a pro-work agenda

The EU is digitally dependent on the US, which operates on the belief that AI will lead to productivity gains and geopolitical advantages that ultimately benefit US workers. But there is increasing backlash as the negative effects become clear…

The final speech before the decisive battle. This is perhaps how one might describe the State of the Union address delivered on 16 September by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the European Parliament, though with the ambition of speaking to the whole of Europe and the world. Read more.

Photo credits: Shutterstock / Berit Kessler

🔗 Upcoming events

📅  23 SEPTEMBER

📍 FEPS HQ

UPCOMING EVENT

Taking the temperature of the EU’s clean industry strategy

Competitiveness and resilience of heat pumps

Where does the EU production of heat pump components stand in terms of competitiveness and innovation?

Join our breakfast seminar for a deep dive into the heat pump value chain and a broader reflection on the EU’s industrial strategy, including the recent Industrial Accelerator Act. Register here.

📅  17 OCTOBER

📍 DUBLIN, IRELAND

UPCOMING EVENT

Building a digital Europe of equal opportunities

🇮🇪 Call to Europe Ireland 

We need a digital Europe, but not at the expense of equality. Join FEPS in Dublin for the latest edition of Call to Europe, which takes place in the context of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU!

This edition will look at the three key priorities of the Irish Presidency through a progressive and gender-equality lens. 

❌ Competitiveness without a free pass for Big Tech 

🏚️ Security focusing on housing as a fundamental right 

🗳️ Values defending democracy across Europe

A digital Europe must be a humane project built to advance Social Europe. Register now!

🔗 Past events

By FEPS, in collaboration with Eteron.

Athens has become one of Europe’s most visible examples of what happens when housing markets are left to financialisation and speculation. For this new edition of FEPS’ “Housing in Practice”, we looked at collaborative housing and collective ownership models in Athens and learned from experiences from across Europe’s regions and cities.

By FEPS, in collaboration with Eteron and in the context of “Democracy at its roots” with PES CoR, PES, S&D, YES and PES Women.

By FEPS, in collaboration with Karl-Renner-Institut and with the support of all the members of FEPS European Progressive Training Lab: Foundation Max van der Stoel, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Fondazione Pietro Nenni, Eteron, Amicus Europae and Olof Palmes Internationella Centre.

Following Sweden’s parliamentary election on 13 September 2026, this webinar discussed the electoral outcome by exploring factors that have shaped the result and the emerging coalition options.

Particular attention was given to the performance of the Social Democratic Party, including its core campaign themes and strategies, as well as the factors behind its gains or losses.

By FEPS, in collaboration with Olof Palme International Center and European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity.

Europe is good at creating new technologies and innovative ideas, but too often European companies struggle to get the funding they need to grow. 

While the EU has traditionally looked to the USA and Silicon Valley for inspiration, could China offer Europe some useful lessons on how to help innovative companies scale up and strengthen Europe’s industrial base?

By Cornel Ban – By FEPS, in collaboration with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Civil society isn’t an accessory to democracy or an audience to be managed. It is its front-line defence. Yet across the EU, its funding is cut and its integrity is questioned. 

Will progressives stand by it? Read more.

Photo credits: Shutterstock.com/wjarek

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