FEPS Policy Conference 2026

The European Union has been experiencing recurring geopolitical and economic disruptions for the past years, from the energy crisis following the war of aggression against Ukraine to the trade uncertainties of the second Trump mandate and now the new energy crisis prompted by the conflict between the US/Israel and Iran. The EU has also felt increasing pressure on key environmental, social and digital regulations, whether coming from the US or from conservative and far-right political groups relaying the interests of a few industrial lobbies.

This context highlights the importance of reclaiming a sustainable European sovereignty by breaking away from our fossil fuel dependence, protecting citizens’ and workers’ rights, and purposefully investing in economic activities fit for a healthy and climate-neutral future. The European Union must reaffirm the ambition of its project and its development model, rooted in social justice, climate and biodiversity protection, and fair digital innovation.

With the current EU legislative term dominated by deregulation and a narrow perspective on competitiveness, and a few days after the State of the Union in the European Parliament, the 2026 Policy Conference, led by FEPS, FES, and a consortium of partners, will be a call to action to define and advance an agenda for a European sovereignty that serves people and the planet.

The Policy Conference 2026 will take place on 30 September and 1 October 2026 in Brussels, bringing a programme of high-level debates, thematic sessions and networking opportunities, with a diverse range of progressive policymakers, trade unionists, civil society representatives, and experts.

It will focus on key issues such as

• Energy independence and affordability,
• The next Multiannual Financial Framework
• Quality jobs for the green and digital transition.

The Policy Conference 2026 builds on two successful editions in 2024 (shaping the priorities for the new legislative term) and 2025 (on a clean, just, and competitive European industry).

This conference is organised by FEPS in partnership with FES, ETUC, IndustriAll Europe and Solidar.

For inquiries regarding this event, please do not hesitate to contact Luis Sáez Jiménez, Project Officer (luis.saez@feps-europe.eu).

AGENDA

30 September – 15:30 – 18:00

17.00 – 18.00    Dialogue between high-level speakers

1 October – 8:30 – 16:00

09:30 – 11:00 Session 1 – 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. We witness heated discussions about the size of the EU budget, but also disagreement on the priorities of spending. The way to alleviate this tension is to mobilise more resources outside the EU’s budget. In particular, there is significant untapped potential in off-budget tools, such as government guidance funds, development banks, and others. In this session, we discuss these instruments and the role of the European Competitiveness Fund in coordinating them. This new ambitious design should serve both money mobilisation purposes and foster a sustainable and sovereign EU economy.

11:30 – 13:00 Session 2 – 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. Despite growing renewable electricity generation, many households and businesses continue to face high electricity prices. In several Member States, electricity remains disproportionately taxed compared to fossil fuels, weakening incentives to switch to clean technologies. At the same time, electrification will require significant investments in grids, skills, manufacturing capacity and consumer support schemes. Without adequate safeguards, there is a risk that parts of society may perceive electrification as another burden rather than an opportunity.

14:00 – 15:30   Session 3 –  AI, work, and the future: where is the social-democratic agenda?

When we talk about sustainable European sovereignty, the question of AI looms large. The EU is dependent on the US, which operates on the belief that the relentless roll out of AI across the economy will lead to productivity gains and geopolitical advantages that ultimately benefit US workers. But there is increasing backlash as the negative effects become clear, with US politicians calling for data centre moratoriums and an AI sovereign wealth fund to redistribute AI profits.

More information coming soon!