⏰ Solidarity in times of energy crisis | Your PES Group newsletter
Seven months have passed since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. A war leading us to the worst energy crisis in recent years. Winter is approaching and many citizens won't afford the enormous energy bills. Will the EU be able to show its energy solidarity where most needed across its territories?
As we wait for European leaders to come up with a comprehensive plan to tackle this crisis, progressive cities and regions are ready to protect the most vulnerable ones with innovative solutions.
From building sustainable houses to rebuilding a sustainable Ukraine, we have been busy rethinking our society... Scroll down to dig deeper 👇👇👇
🇺🇦 Time to think about the future of Ukrainian cities
Our members met with Vitaliy Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv, and discussed the impact of the war at local and regional levels and the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities.
➡️ Watch PES Group President Christophe Rouillon, Mayor of Coulaines, France, on this crucial issue for Ukraine’s future.
🏡 Together for a new housing strategy!
In the frame of the European Week of Regions and Cities, we are organising a participatory lab on housing to discuss four key challenges that European cities and regions are facing from social to sustainable housing, from emergency to youth housing projects. Young progressive local and regional elected politicians will produce a joint declaration calling for a new European Housing Strategy and hand it over to Commissioner Nicolas Schmit. Join us online ➡️
🎂 European Week of Regions and Cities: 20th Anniversary!
The European Week of Regions and Cities is back! And apart from our workshop, there are some 300 more 😄 Among them, we flag you this conversation on combatting homelessness with our member Mikko Aaltonen, Member of Local Assembly in Tampere, Finland. Browse the full programme here ➡️
And on 11 October, all eyes will be on the European Committee of the Region’s President Vasco Alves Cordeiro, who will present the annual EU report on the state of regions and cities.
Young progressive elected politicians coming to Brussels!
We are delighted that more than 40 young politicians from our political family will join the #EURegionsWeek and enrich the debates with their fresh and progressive ideas! Stay tuned to our social media channels to see them in action. It's the European Year of Youth after all!
🌹🇪🇺 We are Berliners
Hosted with support from the governing German Social Democratic Party, the Party of European Socialists will hold its next Congress on 14-15 October in Berlin. Our Group will organise a study visit to discover the capital's innovative housing policies that aim at keeping rents affordable and providing adequate living space for households. Stay tuned for more.
🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃 Youth for Europe, Europe for Youth
At the invitation of our Group members Eugenio Giani, President of the Region Tuscany, and Dario Nardella, Mayor of Florence, the PES Group will hold its extraordinary meeting in Florence on 4th November. Come up with a progressive vision for the future of young people in Europe. Check out the programme here ➡️
🌍 Ready to play a greater role to deliver on the climate goals
📅 From 6 to 18 November, our member Alison Gilliland will be at the COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, together with the delegation of the European Committee of Regions’ members to advocate for a greater and formal role of cities and regions in international climate governance and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Find out more ➡️
🌹 ❤️ Progressive Local Stories
👏 🏆 The Occitanie region, led by socialist Carole Delga, has won the prize of the best region for biological agriculture. This is the result of six years of political engagement from the region who had helped producers convert to biological agriculture. It is now the first organic region in France! Congratulations to her and our member Nadia Pellefigue, Vice-President of Occitanie region, for this success!
What’s coming next?
💬 It will soon be time for a new edition of the EuroPCom, the largest event on European communication, taking place on 28 October online and focusing on “Communicating Climate Action". Join our member Alison Gililand, Dublin City Councillor for a discussion on communication techniques and methods on how to engage citizens in taking climate action. Register here ➡️
Tell us your #ProgressiveLocalStories!
Is your city or region a front-runner in promoting Sustainable Development Goals, LGBTIQ rights, gender equality or inclusive children education? Does your city or region have an inspiring story to share? We want to know more! Get in touch with us at pes-group@cor.europa.eu and find inspiration on our website!
🙏 For the header photo, we thank Natalya from Unsplash.