If a mayor ruled the world, s/he would be progressive | The PES Group newsletter is back!
Welcome to your — we hope favourite — newsletter by the PES Group! For our first stop after the summer, we bring you to Rotterdam, as our member Ahmed Aboutaleb was awarded the World Mayor 2021 Award for his commitment to treat all citizens as “Rotterdammers”, regardless of their origin. He proudly says: “I have the best job you can imagine.” We definitely agree!
We have a lot of fresh news for you... Scroll down and check what is in the pipeline 👇👇👇
🚵 Just a Green Deal or a Just Green Deal? Let’s discuss it in Seville!
On 26 November, we will gather in Seville to discuss one of the main priorities for European socialists: a progressive European Green Deal that leaves no place and no people behind. Join the city’s Mayor Juan Espadas, our President Christophe Rouillon, S&D Group President Iratxe García Pérez, and many others. Find out more ➡️
But that’s not all! The same weekend, together with the Young European Socialists, we will host the second edition of our “#ProgressivesSpeakUp: School of young local politicians”. This time it will be all about the Green Deal. Are you elected at local/regional level and under 35 years old? Then check out the programme and apply here ➡️
🌈 From Paris with love
Our #LoveWhereILive campaign to declare progressive cities and regions as LGBTIQ Freedom Zones goes on! We are proud to bring you the stories of two inspiring European cities that defend and promote LGBTIQ rights. Read more in these interviews with Deputy-Mayor of Paris Jean-Luc Romero-Michel (aussi en français) and with the Mayor of St Pölten Matthias Stadler (auch auf Deutsch).
Find out how you, too, can declare your city/region an LGBTIQ Freedom Zone ➡️
🌍 #Act4SDGs: cities and regions make it happen
From global to local, progressive cities and regions are best placed to translate the Sustainable Development Goals into concrete local solutions. Want to get inspired? Join us on 13 October at #EURegionsWeek for a great debate with Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Former Prime Minister of Denmark, Kata Tüttő, Deputy-Mayor of Budapest, Paul Magnette, Mayor of Charleroi, Alison Gilliland, Lord mayor of Dublin, and many more! Register here ➡️
This week, in the lead up of the COP 26, you can join the UN Global Week to #Act4SDGs to remind world leaders that cities and regions are doing their part in promoting a healthy, just and green recovery. Use #Act4SDGs on your social media ➡️
🧒 Making high-quality child care a reality for all children
Promoting equal access to high-quality early childhood education and care for all children in the European Union is at the core of our call for a Child Union. Read how President of La Rioja Concha Andreu puts children first ➡️
Would you like to share your stories and join this campaign? Find out more 👉
❤️ #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 Loredana Capone, President of the regional council of Apulia in Italy, who led a battle to close the gender pay gap in her region. Since this week, equal pay is now a regional law in Puglia. “It is the victory of all women, one by one, of our beautiful and now fairer Apulia”.
What’s coming next?
The EU Regions and Cities Week is here!
The European Week of Regions and cities is back! And apart from our workshop, there are some 300 more 😄 We flag you this conversation between young leaders on the future of Europe with our progressive Deputy mayor of Strasbourg, Céline Geissman. Browse the full programme here ➡️
🙏 For the header photo, we thank: Serhat Beyazkaya on Unsplash.