Defending democracy, building the future l Your PES Group newsletter
At a time when democracy faces threats both inside and outside Europe, local and regional leaders are showing the way forward.
Democracy is defended not only in parliaments but also in our communities, in our towns, cities and regions. In this edition, we look at how progressives across Europe are standing up for democratic values. 👇
State of the Union 2025: Europe’s future is local, not centralised
In her speech to the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen chose competitiveness over cohesion and left regions and cities out of her vision for Europe. This silence is a broken promise: just last year she pledged to keep them at the centre of EU policy. Without a strong cohesion policy, trust in the Union will continue to erode. Europe’s future cannot be written from the top down but must be built locally. ➡️ Read our full analysis
Standing up for democracy: nominate Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu
Six months after the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Joško Klisović, Chair of the Commission of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) and member of the Assembly of the City of Zagreb, travelled to Türkiye to deliver a clear message: democracy cannot be silenced. Meetings with political parties and civil society confirmed how much European solidarity matters in the face of repression and the dismissal of elected mayors.
As a concrete act of solidarity, the PES Group is nominating Mayor İmamoğlu for the next edition of the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award, which honours courage, freedom, solidarity and equality at the local level. His imprisonment is not only a personal injustice, but a wider attack on local democracy in Türkiye.
We invite all eligible partners to support this nomination by Friday 24 October 2025.
➡️ Add your signature
Feminist Cities: Last call to register to our event!
Don’t miss our workshop duing the European Week of Regions and Cities: Feminist Cities – Building equality from the ground up. We will explore how local policies can empower women and make cities safer and more inclusive. [A few spots left ➡️ here]
❤️ Progressive Local Stories ❤️
Progressive Local Dialogue in Constanța
On 25th August, the PES Group met in Constanța, Romania to defend the territorial dimension of the EU budget and ensure regions and cities remain central. Progressive leaders highlighted the risks of reduced cohesion and agriculture funding, and the push for more citizen-focused, ambitious investment. The meeting also showcased the #SafePlace4Women campaign, uniting over 80 local administrations to promote safety and equality.
Amsterdam: €6M Investment in Women's Safety
Amsterdam, led by GroenLinks-PvdA, is investing an additional €6 million to enhance women's safety. Initiatives include improved public lighting, safer public spaces, and the development of a dedicated app to support victims of gender-based violence. This comprehensive approach aims to create a safer environment for all women in the city.
🌟 Last call for trainees!
Want to gain experience in EU politics and progressive communications? Applications for our trainee programme is open until today ➡️ Apply here
📅 What’s coming next?
✅ 15 Oct: Housing Solutions Now: A Chat with Your Progressive Mayor
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas will lead the conversation on Europe’s housing crisis. Registration is now closed, but we’ll share key insights and outcomes from the discussion on local initiatives and EU policy for #HousingForAll.
✅ 17–18 Oct: PES Congress in Amsterdam
Progressives from across Europe will meet for the PES Congress in Amsterdam. Together, we’ll debate our shared vision for a democratic, fair and sustainable Europe.
✅ 15-16 Jan 2026: A Europe that has your back
Save the date for our external Group meeting in Las Palmas; Gran Canarias. More details coming soon!
🙏 © Photo credits of the header: John Tyson from Unplash