FEPS Newsletter 27 Jan 2025 – Yearbook launch, Taxation, Trumpism…

Looking back to look ahead – If you have problems displaying this email, follow this […]

27/01/2025
Looking back to look ahead –

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Our annual tradition is back! Join us this week at our annual reception and Progressive Yearbook launch to look back on the year that passed so we can look forward to the year ahead. In the following days, we will also look at taxation. As Oxfam’s recently released annual report shows, inequality is worse than ever, and the ultra-rich have become even richer while the rest have become poorer. We need to ensure that workers and the middle class are not compensating for the super-rich by being able to manipulate tax systems!

Events

Upcoming events

See full schedule

Progressive Yearbook launch
 

📅  29 JANUARY 2025

📍 FEPS HQ

Progressive Yearbook launch

Join us at the launch of the sixth edition of one of our most unique publications, the Progressive Yearbook. We will also reveal and interview FEPS Progressive Person of the Year.

 

With the mission of bringing forward analysis of the key political developments of the year, the Progressive Yearbook focuses on transversal European issues that have left a mark on 2024. It brings insightful future-looking analysis and symbolises FEPS’ readiness to put it into perspective. Find out more. 

 

Stay tuned, the Progressive Yearbook will be available soon! 

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Capital and wealth taxation in the EU
 

📅  4 FEBRUARY 2025

📍 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Capital and wealth taxation in the EU

Large multinational corporations and the ultra-wealthy find ways to avoid paying their fair share, leaving the heaviest tax burden on workers and the middle class. This dynamic worsens income and wealth inequality. It is time to rebalance the tax system to alleviate the strain on workers and the middle class, while ensuring corporations and the ultra-rich contribute fairly.

 

At this event at the European Parliament, co-organised with the S&D and Kalevi Sorsa Foundation, we will explore the path to reforming wealth and capital income taxation and launch a new Policy Study on the topic. Register now! 

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International tax policy at crossroads
 

📅 7 FEBRUARY 2025

📍HELSINKI, FINLAND

International tax policy at crossroads

FEPS Fringe event at the Tax Conference Veroareena

FEPS’ panel discussion will explore the growing role of the United Nations in international tax policy, with a particular focus on its impacts and opportunities for the Nordic region.

 

Veroareena, an annual public tax policy conference, brings together economic and tax specialists, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders to discuss tax policy. This third edition will centre on the relationship between taxation and economic growth and the latest international trends in tax policy. More info. 

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Past events

See all past events

17 JAN – VIENNA, AUSTRIA

11th Barbara Prammer Symposium

Money. Power. Equality. The benefits of gender budgeting

 

Hosted in the Austrian Parliament in Vienna, this event showcased the transformative power of gender budgeting in shaping more inclusive and equitable societies.

 

While EU treaties and the Austrian constitution clearly mandate gender budgeting, translating these goals into action remains a complex challenge.

Find out more about the event

Ahead of the start of the EU long-term budget (MFF) negotiations, experts from across the EU, at federal and municipal levels, convened to explore the pathways to gender-equitable fiscal and budgetary policies. Among them was Professor Diane Elson, who explained that most governments approach gender budgeting too narrowly: “They focus only on expenditures explicitly targeted to women, and they don’t look at taxation and macroeconomics.” She also highlighted the broader societal and economic benefits of investing in social infrastructure to advance equity.

 

FEPS also co-hosted a panel discussion which demonstrated how local governments can lead in implementing gender-sensitive policies. 

 

You can also check out the highlights of the conference!

 
Time to build a European digital ecosystem

14 JAN – FEPS HQ & EP

Time to build a European digital ecosystem

Recommendations for the EU’s digital policy

 

How should Europeans react when Elon Musk uses X for his right-wing propaganda? What are the implications of META’s fact-checking policy changes that contradict EU legal requirements? These pressing questions were at the heart of our recent event, where we discussed the essential steps for the EU to reduce its digital dependencies on US firms.

Launched at FEPS HQ and amongst MEPs and researchers at the European Parliament, the new 📕policy study ‘Time to build a European ecosystem includes critical recommendations for the EU’s digital policy aimed at the new European Commission.

 

The EU must resist pressure from Big Tech firms and enforce digital regulations passed to protect citizens and society. We must build capacity by investing in Digital Public Infrastructure and an industrial policy that will support European initiatives in digital transformation.

 
Podcast

Launch of the new Open Progressive University’s Ukraine programme!

 

We have launched the new programme ‘Progressive Ukraine’ in collaboration with S&D Group as part of FEPS’ Open Progressive University! This year-long programme is aimed at empowering, inspiring and engaging with young progressive Ukrainians. 

Launch of the 'Progressive Ukraine' programme!

The courses will focus on the far-reaching impacts of Russia’s war of aggression, the reconstruction of Ukraine and its journey towards EU membership. 

 

The Open Progressive University is a first-of-a-kind e-learning platform established by FEPS to empower the progressive movement in Europe by broadening access to expert knowledge.

Podcast
Listen to the podcast 'EU and UK in the same boat'

FEPS TALKS PODCAST

EU and UK in the same boat

With Jonathan Portes and László Andor

 

🎧  Spotify | Apple Podcast | Website

Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Professor Jonathan Portes from King’s College, London, discussed with FEPS Secretary General László Andor the shared concerns between the EU and the UK, including economic competitiveness.

 

Despite the UK’s historically assumed special relationship with the US, it is now a target for the new trade wars promised by Trump – another factor pushing the EU and UK together into a common effort to uphold multilateralism and a relatively open international trade system.

Progressive Post

PROGRESSIVE PAGE

The discreet charm of the plutocracy

Article by László Andor, FEPS Secretary General

 

As the political year 2025 begins with the inauguration of the recycled US President Donald Trump, using the words ‘annus horribilis’ seems justified. 

The discreet charm of the plutocracy

If only we knew whether it applies to 2024 which ended with the shift to full Trumpism in the US, or to the year ahead. Read more.

Photo credits: Photomontage using images from Shutterstock (Kovop & Anna Moneymaker)

Donald Tusk's quadriga

Photo credits: European Union

PROGRESSIVE PAGE

Donald Tusk’s quadriga

Article by Ania Skrzypek, FEPS Director for Research and Training

 

On first January, Poland took over the rotating presidency of the EU for the second time – led once again by Donald Tusk.

In which directions will Donald Tusk and his team be steering the Union? Read more.

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