✊ Change starts locally! LGBTIQ rights, childcare policies, and more
With many small places doing many small things, we can change the future of the world. So goes the motto in this photo from Berlin's East Side Gallery. As progressive regions and cities, we could not agree more!
This month’s newsletter is a call to action to all of you. Join us, you just need to scroll and click 👇👇👇
✊ With courage. For Europe.
Tomorrow and Saturday, the Party of European Socialists will gather in Berlin, bringing together social democratic prime ministers and leaders to give a strong signal for progress and discuss our ideas for the future of Europe.
We will be there too, hosting a great debate “For a Child Union. A community that cares” from the local to the European level, together with the S&D Group in the European Parliament and FEPS. Watch live on our Facebook page at 16:00 tomorrow ➡️
Progressive cities and regions are already at the forefront when it comes to putting children first. Read the amazing stories by Governor Peter Kaiser, Mayor Michael Ludwig and Mayor Jerzy Kulak.
🌈 #LoveWhereILive, in progressive cities and regions
Defending LGBTIQ rights must start locally: if we really want Europe to be a place in which the fundamental rights of everybody are respected, we need concrete action on the ground. For Pride Month, with Rainbow Rose we call on all of you to declare your city/region an LGBTIQ Freedom Zone ➡️
And join us on Tuesday 29 June to talk about it with European Commissioner Helena Dalli, Mayor of Malmö Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, President of the S&D Group Iratxe García Pérez, and many more speakers from the EU and beyond.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out these interviews with mayors Fernando Medina, Peter Kurz, Asja Redžić, Augusto Hidalgo and stay tuned for more!
🤲 The progressive future we want
The Conference on the Future of Europe is a great opportunity to strengthen participatory democracy and shape our progressive future together. Last Saturday, our Group took part in the inaugural plenary session.
🏡 Making housing for all a reality
This week was a major success for the progressive family, with the commitment of the 27 EU member states to end homelessness in Europe by 2030. Read more ➡️
💪 Giving everyone a say in local politics
Ensuring that all EU citizens have full political rights in every EU member state is still a dream. Our member Pascal Smet wants to give international Brusselers a voice in regional politics. Find out more about this great project ➡️
✊ Refugees and migrants are welcome!
Do you have positive examples of integration of migrants and refugees to showcase and want to promote diversity as a key element of inclusive cities? Join the Cities and regions for integration of migrants platform of the European Committee of the Regions ➡️
❤️ #ProgressiveLocalStories
We love sharing what progressive cities and regions do, as they can inspire many others with their stories. This month, we bring you the example of Michael Ludwig, Mayor of Vienna:
What’s coming next?
💬 Next week, the last plenary before the summer break is on! Stay tuned on our social media for all important updates.
🙏 For the header photo, we thank: Mark König on Unsplash