There is no shortage of difficult news these days. So, for this summer edition, we decided to focus on something positive: the progress happening across Europe. Discover how progressive local and regional leaders are making cities and regions fairer, greener and more resilient through practical action. 👇👇👇
🏠 Barcelona: rent regulation brings results
Under the leadership of Mayor Jaume Collboni, Barcelona is showing encouraging results in tackling the housing crisis. Average rents have fallen by almost 5% since Catalonia introduced rent regulation in 2024, while the number of rental homes on the market has continued to grow. Barcelona demonstrates how bold housing policies can help make homes more affordable and accessible.
374 likes, 0 comments - jcollboni on July 13, 2026: "A Barcelona, hem fet de l’accés a l’habitatge la nostra prioritat. Avui hem conegut dues bones notícies: ☝️ La primera: el preu mitjà del lloguer a Barcelona és un 5% més barat que abans de l’entrada en vigor de la Llei d’Habitatge. ✌️ La segona: ara mateix hi ha 2.000 contractes de lloguer vigents més que abans de la regulació. Però sabem que això no és suficient. Els lloguers continuen sent massa cars i continua sent complicat accedir a un habitatge digne i assequible. La regulació ens protegeix de les pujades de preus descontrolades, a diferència del que passa on governa la dreta i la ultradreta. I, mentrestant, seguim fent un salt d’escala en la construcció. Aquest mandat lliurarem 3.000 claus, i el que ve, acabarem el doble de pisos: 6.000. A #barcelona treballem per garantir el dret a quedar-se a viure aquí. #habitatge #vivienda #lloguers".
Everyone deserves access to the coast. This summer, the Municipality of Genoa opened a new 800 m² free public beach along Corso Italia, making the city's coastline more accessible and enjoyable for residents and visitors alike.
26K likes, 1,166 comments - silviasalis on July 18, 2026: "Quest’anno Genova avrà una spiaggia libera in più, grazie all’accordo tra il Comune e l’Esercito Italiano. Siamo stati nei loro bagni, in corso Italia, dove 800 metri quadrati di spiaggia saranno disponibili per tutta la cittadinanza. Il Comune si occuperà del servizio di salvamento e delle docce, e questo spazio potrà essere utilizzato da lunedì prossimo fino alla fine di settembre. Si tratta di un intervento che non è un fatto isolato: c'è ancora tanto da fare, ma è un tassello del lavoro che la nostra amministrazione, con la regia dell’assessore @davidepatrone_ e dei suoi uffici, sta portando avanti su tutto il litorale genovese. Per questa stagione balneare abbiamo investito 821 mila euro dedicati interamente alle spiagge libere della nostra città: risorse utilizzate per la riprofilatura delle spiagge, la sicurezza, l’accompagnamento guidato in acqua per le persone con disabilità e una prima rimessa in ordine dei bagni ex Capo Marina, che da qualche settimana sono già spiaggia libera attrezzata. A Genova il mare è quotidianamente davanti ai nostri occhi, ma sappiamo che non è ancora davvero a disposizione di tutte e tutti. Questa scelta va in una direzione precisa: anche poche centinaia di metri quadrati possono cambiare l’estate di tante persone. Il mare deve essere un diritto, non un lusso. E noi vogliamo continuare questo percorso, per un mare sempre più aperto alla cittadinanza di Genova. Un mare libero e sicuro.".
As tourism continues to grow, cities must find the right balance between welcoming visitors and protecting local communities. In Athens, Mayor Haris Doukas is taking action to tackle overtourism in Plaka, helping preserve the neighbourhood's character and improve residents' quality of life.
547 likes, 34 comments - pes_cor on July 11, 2026: "🙅🏻♂️ Don’t let Plaka become just a postcard. At the foot of the Acropolis, Plaka is one of Athens’ oldest neighbourhoods. A place of beautiful streets, historic houses, small shops, and local residents who have given it its unique character. But Plaka is not just a place to visit. It is a neighbourhood where people live. As tourism grows, we risk losing the very thing that makes Plaka special: its authenticity. Visitors come to discover a charming, real Athenian village, not a place where local life has disappeared. The Mayor of Athens @harisdoukas is now taking action on this issue, recognising that protecting the city’s historic neighbourhoods also means protecting the people who live in them. Protecting Plaka means protecting its community. That means managing tourism and regulating short-term rentals in areas where they have become too many. Because a city is not only made of monuments and views. It is made of the people who call it home. #athens #athensgreece #shorttermrental #housing #housingmarket".
Affordable housing is one of the defining social challenges facing Europe today and lies at the heart of the progressive agenda. In this interview, Tom Jungen, Mayor of Roeser in Luxembourg, discusses the housing crisis, the role of local and regional authorities, and the bold policies needed to guarantee decent and affordable homes for all. 👇
Housing is one of the most pressing challenges facing Europe's cities and regions. We asked Tom Jungen, Mayor of Roeser (Luxembourg) and Member of the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions, to share his views on the housing crisis, the role of local authorities, and the initiatives his municipality is taking to make affordable housing a reality.
🚿 Rome's Heat Plan: protecting people in a warming climate
As climate change brings more frequent and intense heatwaves, cities must adapt to protect their residents. In this interview, Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri presents the city's Heat Plan, which includes measures such as expanding green spaces, creating climate shelters, improving access to drinking water, and providing targeted support for vulnerable groups.
71K likes, 2,151 comments - robertogualtieri on June 26, 2026: "Temperature estreme, #Roma si attiva. Nebulizzatori, punti ristoro, più lavaggio delle strade, oltre 3.000 punti d’acqua tra nasoni e Case dell’Acqua. In campo anche il sistema di assistenza alle persone più fragili. Grazie alla Protezione Civile di Roma Capitale per il grande impegno: presìdi informativi e aree temporaneamente raffrescate in diversi punti della città, dal centro alla periferia. Stiamo lavorando ogni giorno per affrontare l’emergenza caldo e proteggere cittadini e visitatori. Tutte le informazioni utili sul sito di Roma Capitale.".
Spain has taken an important step towards strengthening the rights of LGBTIQ+ people. In late June, the Spanish Parliament approved a proposal to make so-called "conversion therapies" a criminal offence, with prison sentences for those carrying out these harmful practices. The proposal now moves to the Senate for consideration. It marks another step towards ensuring that everyone can live freely, without coercion or discrimination because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
What's next after the summer?
🗓️ 10-11 September: "Democracy at its roots" in Athens
Join us in Athens on 11 September for a high-level discussion on strengthening democracy, rebuilding trust and reinforcing democratic resilience. Together with local and regional leaders, European policymakers, young elected politicians and civil society, we'll explore how cities and regions can help shape a stronger, more democratic Europe. 👉 Register here
🗓️ 12-14 October: EU regions week in Brussels
Registrations for the EURegionsWeek 2026 are now open! Join Europe's largest event dedicated to cohesion policy, connect with regional leaders from across Europe and start building your personalised agenda. 👉 Register here
Opportunity 👩🎓
Traineeship at the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions
Ready to kick-start your career in EU affairs? Join the PES Group for a paid traineeship in Brussels and gain hands-on experience of progressive politics, communications and policymaking at the local and regional level. Apply by 1 October! 👇
Apply by 1 October! ⏰ Calling all trainees who want to see progressive politics in action! Freshly graduated and ready to gain hands-on experience of how the EU works with local and regional levels? Join our team and learn how progressive local leaders push for change in Europe, and how our secretariat supports their work. 📅 Spring Session: 16 February to 15 July 💶 Five-month paid traineeship 📍 European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, Belgium Important! 👉 Select the 'PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions' as one of your three preferences during the application process! ⏰ Join us! https://lnkd.in/ekrgQvmh #EU #Traineeship #Brussels
About PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions
The Group of the Party of European Socialists (PES Group) in the European Committee of the Regions is a political group that brings together social democratic and progressive locally and regionally elected politicians from across the European Union. The Group aims at taking forward a progressive European vision with solidarity, sustainability, as well as social and territorial cohesion at its core.
