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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 from the 2024 EU elections.

As you head into the summer break, we hope these debates offer some food for thought. 

You can already register for our upcoming September events, which include discussions on inflation and building a clean, just, and competitive European industry.

Stay informed. Stay engaged – and enjoy a well-deserved summer rest!

The Next Left research programme has become a multilayered universe connecting leading progressive politicians, scholars, and experts. With a rich library and interesting audiovisual material, it provides original research from contemporary political thought and quantitative analyses, with the help of the Progressive Pollsters Network.

In these last busy pre-summer days, it featured expert debates on electoral trends and forecasts on emerging key social issues, trends and changes within the political landscape at the anniversary of the 2024 European elections, and the presentation of the new book “Next Left Country Case Study” on Finland.

Over the course of four episodes, FEPS Director of Research and Training Ania Skrzypek, delves into topics including elections, populism, cost-of-living, housing, and more, with:

• Marcin Duma, CEO of IBRIS, Poland
• Kaisa Vatanen, Chief Officer, Datapraxis, Europe
• Bruno Jeanbart, Vice President, Opinion Way. France 
• Kevin Cunningham, MD and founder, Ireland Thinks

All speakers are part of the Progressive Pollsters network, which brings together leading pollsters and political analysts to discuss and reflect on key political and social trends shaping Europe’s destiny, especially following the European elections in 2024. 

Upcoming events

See full schedule

📅  3 SEPT

📍EESC HQ

Inflation preparedness in the EU

Before the summer break, save this date on your agenda! We will explore key lessons from the recent inflation episode, which was largely caused by a few huge companies that reap enormous profits on speculation, and imagine a new inflation governance framework to prevent or mitigate inflation shocks in the future. 

We will also present the policy study “The profit-price spiral in food and energy“, which examines the drivers of inflation in these critical sectors. Register and get a taste of this key topic with the podcast ‘How to stop inflation’.

📅  24 SEPT

📍BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

A clean, just, and competitive European Industry
Policy Conference

Since the release of the Draghi Report one year ago, competitiveness has become the buzzword of this EU mandate – but what does it really mean?

This conference will discuss the goals and means for a clean, just and competitive European industrial policy, with topics including decarbonisation, competitiveness, trade, circularity and workers’ rights. Register.

These busy weeks have also seen a great number of training activities, including the Open Progressive University (OPU), Training of Trainers (preparing training day ahead of the PES Congress), Europapolitische Akademie and the Leadership Training at the YES Congress.

A European Commission

against the Social Contract

FEPS COMMENTARY ON THE MMF 2028-2034

Ursula von der Leyen is undoing what she built in her first mandate. The new MFF proposal is another example. There was a kind of budget revolution in 2020, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, resulting in a surge in EU fiscal capacity to protect our people and our economy. Now, while nominally we speak about the largest ever MFF, the real value of key EU programmes is about to fall. But the nature of EU funds is also changing: workers, farmers, regions, and civil society are all set to lose. 

Photo credit: European Union 2025 – Source : EP

US continues arms deliveries to Ukraine – for how long?

‘BRUSSELS, MY LOVE’ – EURONEWS

In this episode of Brussels, my love?, Ania Skrzypek, FEPS Director for Research and Training, discusses:

• Support for Ukraine – Can Europe do it alone?
• Moldova – Is Moscow driving EU enlargement?
• Conscription – Women to the front?

Hungary, EU Funds, and the Rule of Law: What’s at Stake?

EURACTIV TALKS PODCAST

FEPS Secretary General László Andor joins Euractiv’s Christoph Schwaiger to speak about Hungary’s complex relationship with EU cohesion funds.

Together, they explore the impact of rule of law concerns on funding access and how political shifts – like a potential government change – could reshape Hungary’s future within the EU. 

Photo credit: Shutterstock / Fesus Robert

Europe’s demographic crisis: What’s next for the ageing EU?

MOVING EUROPE PODCAST

FEPS Secretary General László Andor joins the Moving Europe Podcast to discuss Europe’s aging population and the demographic challenges it faces – including the consequences for pensions, healthcare, elections, regional disparities, and migration.

Since 2015, EU member states have reintroduced border controls more than 400 times! What do borders mean for the EU today?

Michela Ceccorulli reflects on the EU member states’ contradictory relations with Schengen 40 years after its creation. Read more.

This milestone will be marked by a summit on 24 July in Beijing. It comes at a moment of profound global transformation: geopolitical conflicts are escalating into wars, global institutions are losing effectiveness, economic interdependence is under pressure and international norms are being challenged. Read more.

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