Search

FEPS Newsletter 7 July 2023 – Renewable energy, UK Labour, Visegrád countries, Just Transition and 9th Oxford Symposium

🌱 FEPS Newsletter: Renewable energy, UK Labour, Visegrád countries, Just Transition and 9th Oxford Sympos […]
All Topics
Search topic

07/07/2023

🌱 FEPS Newsletter: Renewable energy, UK Labour, Visegrád countries, Just Transition and 9th Oxford Sympos ium
Biodiversity & climate emergencies, Just transition, Social democracy, criticalities of the EU proposals….
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
Upcoming Events
This week, we analyse the impact of renewables’ deployment on biodiversity and argue that the trade-off between the two must be reduced to the minimum. We discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead for progressives in the UK and in the Visegrád countries. The state of social democracy was also the main concern of the 9th Oxford Symposium, the flagship event of the Next Left Research Initiative, even though we focused mostly on the EU. And then, we examine the EU’s proposals for regulating AI and online child sexual abuse material.

Finally, we’ll meet in 🇪🇸Valladolid to put back Just Transition at the centre of the political debate. Stay tuned!
Biodiversity and climate emergencies must be tackled together. Trade-offs between renewable energy and biodiversity can and must be reduced to an absolute minimum.
Drawing on case studies from Romania, Slovenia, Estonia and Latvia, our new policy study, published in collaboration with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), CEE Bankwatch Network and Institut Emile Vandervelde, shows how selected EU member states plan to use recovery funds to speed up renewable energy deployment. Pippa Gallop, Southeast Europe Energy Advisor at CEE Bankwatch Network, then analyses the impact this deployment will have on nature and provides policy recommendations. Read more.
Lessons for Labour from Europe
Edited by Iggy wood and Ania Skrzypek

With the 2024 election slowly creeping into view, a revitalised Labour party under Keir Starmer looks set to register its first victory in nearly two decades. But having spent such a long time out of power – at least in Westminster – how can Labour ensure that it brings about change as effectively and efficiently as possible?

Building on the discussion that took place during the FEPS-Fabian new year conference, the policies expounded in this collection bring together insights and advices from all across the EU. They can serve not only as a blueprint for a future Labour government, but as an inspiration to all of us – reminding us that, when progressives are in power, they can reshape society for the better. Read more.
This book analyses three decades of political developments within the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. It explains the rise, the fall, and the fight for the perseverance of the center-left in post-transition countries, and investigates the roots of the vulnerability of representative democracies in post-transition countries. László Andor, FEPS Secretary General, wrote the foreword of the book. Read more.
Order your copy of the book
11 July – Valladolid, Spain

In the framework of the two upcoming Spanish and Belgian Presidencies of the Council of the EU, FEPS, SOLIDAR, Movimiento por la Paz (MPDL) and Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz, will gather representatives of civil society organisations, trade unions, think tanks and foundations for a timely exchange of views on acting together for a Just Transition.
At the event, a call to action by civil society organisations and other stakeholders will be presented to the ministers present, including Teresa Ribera (Spain) and Zakia Khattabi (Belgium), which will give impulse for further actions to advance a Just Transition.
Read more
3-4 July – Oxford, UK

The 9th Oxford Symposium, organised with the support of Progressive Britain and Karl–Renner-Institut, gathered Shadow Cabinet members, front
bench politicians and renowned high-level academics, as well as pollsters and civic society leaders, to discuss the state of social democracy in Europe, its challenges and the choices to be made.
Much attention was given to defining “social progress for all”, the framework of poly-crisis and its limitations, the coalition building within the current political landscapes, and the mission to safeguard and promote democracy. An additional background was offered to all in the shape of the Next Left book series – volumes 12, 13 and 14.
Pictures
Read more
MEDIA
By Gerard Rinse Oosterwijk
In an article published on the digital media Social Europe, Gerard Rinse Oosterwijk, FEPS Policy Analyst on Digital, talks about the efforts to regulate AI undertaken by the EU. Not just the AI Act but also the Platform Work Directive will be critical for human controls on automated management.
AI will affect many jobs in Europe, and the EU needs to grasp this opportunity to set the rules for a human-centric approach in line with European social values and workers’ rights. Mitigation of algorithmic management’s health-and-safety risks could be sought, borrowing from the proposals to safeguard platform workers, with the two files in trilogue in the coming months under the Spanish presidency. Read more.
Photo credits: Shutterstock/ Antonello Marangi
Child sexual abuse material is a horror, causing long-term harm to victims. Numbers are increasing: the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, collects and shares child sexual abuse material evidence with authorised parties.
In 2021, it reported 29 million cases of online sexual exploitation. This is a factor of 10 increase over 2011 and a 40 per cent increase in Internet videos of child sexual abuse between 2020 and 2021. Yet most computer security experts and privacy advocates strongly oppose the EU proposal that online providers must recognise and remove all known child sexual abuse material, detect new abuse materials and ‘grooming’ (enticing and luring a minor into a sexually abusive situation). There simply is no technology to do this. Read more.
Photo credits: Shutterstock/ Andrew Angelov
Twitter
Facebook
Linkedin
Instagram
Youtube
Website
Was this email forwarded to you?
Subscribe


Copyright © 2023 FEPS Europe, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you participated in one of FEPS’ events and/or have registered for FEPS’ newsletter.
If you wish not to receive FEPS’ communications anymore, please click here: unsubscribe now





Email Marketing by ActiveCampaign
Find all related Progressive Post
Progressive Post
21/09/2026
Ferruccio PASTORE

Can a fortress be attractive?

On the migration dimension of this year's State of the European Union speech
18/09/2026
Johan SJÖLANDER

Sweden’s 2026 election: Social Democrats lost the battle but won the war?

In last week’s parliamentary elections in Sweden, the Swedish Social Democratic Party undoubtedly became the […]
18/09/2026
Nicolas SCHMIT

A State of the Union bereft of coherence and clarity

The State of the Union is a very special exercise for the president of the […]
Find all related Magazine
Magazine
  • cover book

    Issue #31 Progressive Post

Issue #31

The Mediterranean: A crowded sea
Artificial Intelligence Cuba Enlargement Gaza Global Immigration Industrial Policy Mediterranean Middle East MIddle East Peace Migration Pact for the Mediterranean Return Regulation
  • cover book

    Issue #30 Progressive Post

Issue #30

A world of cracks: the new global disorder
21 century Climate adaptation Global MIddle East Peace poverty supply chains trade USA
  • cover book

    Issue #29 Progressive Post

Issue #29

Does peace still have a chance?
COP EU budget EU Defence Global peace
Find all related publications
Publications
See all
28/08/2026
Policy Study

How can Europe’s missing middle be financed

Translating Chinese lessons for scaling industrial innovation
14/08/2026
Policy Brief

A just transition in the Mediterranean

Rebalancing the burdens and benefits of EU-North Africa energy cooperation
31/07/2026
Policy Brief

Beyond the “Gaza Riviera” Approach

Preserving identity and supporting Palestine’s landscape and social fabric
22/07/2026
Policy Study

How (not) to fight the far right

FEPS YAN papers 9th cycle
Find all related news
News
See all
16/09/2026

FEPS Reacts: State of the European Union 2026

The 2026 State of the Union felt more like ‘von der Leyen I’ than ‘von […]
23/07/2026

FEPS Reacts: European Commission communication on the Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights

By Laszlo Andor, FEPS Secretary-General & François Balate, Policy Analyst on Social The communication on the […]
08/07/2026

Letter to Manfred Weber, Chair of the EPP Group, by FEPS President Nicolas Schmit 

Dear Mr Weber, You are European, but also German. One should be entitled to expect […]
23/06/2026

FEPS Reacts: 10 years after Brexit

Written by FEPS Secretary-General László Andor 🔸 Brexit has been a case study in national self-harm. The […]
Find all related in the media
In the media
See all

La Regina, il problema dei divari territoriali è una questione europea

by Regione Basilicata 22/09/2026
“La Regina: territorial disparities are a European issue” News article published by ANSA (IT), featuring Raffaele La Regina, participant in the FEPS Young Academics Network, discussing territorial and social inequalities across Europe, the need to reconcile competitiveness and cohesion, and the role of European cohesion policy, industrial policy and investment in ensuring that no region is left behind.

Канадскиот гамбит на Фон дер Лајен

by Racin.mk 21/09/2026
“Von der Leyen’s Canadian gambit” Opinion article by László Andor, FEPS Secretary General, published in Racin.mk (MK), analysing the EU’s growing rapprochement with Canada, the shift from geopolitics towards geoeconomics, and the need for Europe to reduce its dependence on the US while strengthening multilateralism. Andor also examines the Commission’s economic and social priorities, highlighting the need for stronger attention to living costs, labour and social policy.

Biztonságpolitika? Az a NATO dolga – EU-s biztosok értékelték Ursula von der Leyen beszédét

by Telex 21/09/2026
“Security policy? That’s NATO’s job – former EU Commissioners assess Ursula von der Leyen’s speech”. Article published in Telex (HU), featuring László Andor, FEPS Secretary General, analysing Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address and discussing Europe’s economic competitiveness, investment gap, strategic vulnerabilities, AI, migration and the EU’s changing geopolitical position.

EU’s new cross‑border work rules favour recruitment, not workers, say critics

by EUObserver 16/09/2026
FEPS Policy Analyst on Social François Balate discusses the latest EU Labour Mobility Package under Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu zatu for the EUObserver.