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FEPS Newsletter 21 Oct 2026 – 🏠🤖Housing, Big Tech & democracy through a progressive lens

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21/10/2026
Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU –

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Call to Europe Ireland
 

Call to Europe Ireland 🇮🇪

Building a digital Europe of equal opportunities

16-17 OCTOBER – DUBLIN, IRELAND
 

FEPS was in Dublin to look at some of the priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU through a progressive and gender equality lens – housing, big tech and democracy.
Call to Europe Ireland

For the third edition of the Housing in Practice, with a contribution by MEP Aodhán O’Ríordái, FEPS was on Gardiner Street, where 10% of people in emergency accommodation in Ireland live, including a large number of women and children. The accommodation is predominantly not fit for purpose and overcrowded. 
 

We learned how community services, such as Ozanam House, provide for those in need.
Housing in practice

Insights from Housing in Practice grounded the discussion at Call to Europe in real-life examples, with a panel on how progressive policies for affordable housing can advance gender equality, reduce discrimination and contribute to the eradication of homelessness and poverty in the EU. 
Call to Europe Ireland
Big tech in Ireland and the EU

Just days after the Dublin AI Summit, expert discussions turned to the role of Big tech in Ireland and the EU. Ireland has received significant criticism for being too soft on Big Tech and failing to use the full extent of its enforcement power.
 

With the growth of AI, the panel discussed how progressives can adopt a common approach to shape AI to benefit society equally, rather than further concentrating power in the hands of the tech oligarchy.

The panel “Sustainable careers in STEM fields” looked at how the AI transition can deliver fair and inclusive outcomes on gender equality, quality employment and strong social infrastructure, not just on technological progress.
Call to Europe Ireland

The final panel “Daring more democracy in the new era – how to forge the new wave of women’s emancipation?” deliberated the question of how progressives can tackle the growing threat to women’s political participation and rights posed by the rise of ‘manospheres’ and digital violence. 
 

Speakers also discussed how we can dismantle patriarchy in Big Tech and promote gender inclusion, with interventions from prominent feminist voices.
Building a digital Europe of equal opportunities

Call to Europe Ireland was organised by FEPS, in collaboration with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Think-tank for Action on Social Change, the Irish Labour Party, Social Democratic and Labour Party, PES Women, Young European Socialists and PES Committee of the Regions.
 
Events
Bridging competitiveness and shared prosperity through employee ownership 
 

📅  3 NOVEMBER

📍 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

Employee ownership: Bridging competitiveness and shared prosperity

Fringe event at the EO Days 2026 
 

Employee ownership is gaining momentum across Europe, but it remains fragmented, advancing country by country with little cross-border exchange of knowledge, models and policy tools. As a wave of business owners approach retirement and legislative frameworks for employee and steward ownership move up the EU agenda, this fringe event will look at where employee ownership stands today and what stands in its way. Register now! 
For the impactful EU-UK partnership in the rapidly changing world
 

📅  3 NOVEMBER

📍 FEPS HQ

For the impactful EU-UK partnership in the rapidly changing world
Fringe event at the EU-UK Progressive Forum
 

The second edition of the EU–UK Progressive Forum will explore the new chapter in EU–UK relations that opened with Labour’s return to government. How can the EU and the UK build a deeper partnership grounded in shared democratic values and common interests?
 

The event will examine how to move the relationship from transactional to strategic, what role the UK should play in Europe and how cooperation can extend beyond security into areas such as climate, digital and energy. Register here.

11-14 OCTOBER – BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

FEPS Annual Autumn Academy 2026

For a Europe of courage, cooperation and cohesion
 

The Academy equips Europe’s next generation of progressive leaders with the tools, knowledge and networks at EU level. With its mix of high-level expertise, learning formats and a collaborative atmosphere, it aimed to explore the current and emerging challenges facing social democrats in the EU.
FEPS Annual Autumn Academy 2026

By FEPS, in cooperation with FES Future of Work, Amicus Europae, Karl-Renner-Institut, PRO International, FES Poland, Olof Palme International Center, Eteron and Fondazione Pietro Nenni. This activity is part of the FEPS European Progressive Training Lab.
Youth, protest and the fight for social rights in Europe

12 OCTOBER – BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

Youth, protest and the fight for social rights in Europe

A view from Spain and France 
 

Barricaded schools in France. Tents across Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. How can today’s demonstrations create real progress on housing, public schools, and social rights? What part can youth movements play in shaping a more social Europe?

This event looked at what we can learn from the ongoing protests in France and Spain, and how these lessons can help improve life for young people across Europe.
 

By FEPS, in cooperation with FES EU Office. 

13 OCTOBER – EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Launch of the Open Progressive University

Progressive Ukraine Programme – Second edition
 

The second edition of the Progressive Ukraine Programme of the Open Progressive University was launched with S&D President Iratxe García Pérez, S&D Vice-President Kathleen Van Brempt and FEPS President Nicolas Schmit in the EU Parliament!
Launch of the Open Progressive University

This pioneering initiative aims to empower young Ukrainians to shape a progressive post-war society through educational partnerships and tailored academic training. 
 

Over the next nine months, more than 30 students and young professionals from across Ukrainian society will once again have the opportunity to engage with prominent European and Ukrainian politicians, policy practitioners, academics, experts, and civil society and youth representatives through live online sessions, recorded lectures and training sessions.
 

By FEPS, in collaboration with the S&D Group and PRO International.
Progressive Post
The missing engine of Europe’s renewal

PROGRESSIVE PAGE

The missing engine of Europe’s renewal

Extending democracy to the workplace

By Isabelle Ferreras, FNRS Research director and Professor extraordinaire at the University of Louvain

Workers aren’t disposable resources. Extending the democratic project into the economy by recognising workers’ access to voice and ownership – the two pillars of economic democracy – is the only structural antidote to a trend that will otherwise destroy political democracy. Read more.

Photo credits:  Shutterstock/Mahmoud asad
 

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