PES Group | European Committee of the Regions

Progressive Local Leaders 🇪🇺 | Fighting for housing, climate & equality 🏘🌱⚖️ | Party of European Socialists Group in the @EU_CoR

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

How can cities and regions defend democracy from the ground up? Gergely Karácsony, Budapest Mayor Giannis Maniatis,

@TheProgressives
VP Zita Gurmai,
@PES_Women
President Nicolas Schmit,
@FEPS_Europe
President Moderator :
@NgongoStephanie
📍Athens · 11 Sept #DemocracyAtItsRoots

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

How can cities and regions defend democracy from the ground up?

Gergely Karácsony, Budapest Mayor
Giannis Maniatis, @TheProgressives VP
Zita Gurmai, @PES_Women President
Nicolas Schmit, @FEPS_Europe President
Moderator : @NgongoStephanie

📍Athens · 11 Sept #DemocracyAtItsRoots

[Theodoros P. Dimopoulos - Θεόδωρος Π. Δημόπουλος @Theo_Dimopoulos]

In Jan 2026 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria @PES_CoR young politicians issued 10 actions to defend #Democracy through the #ProgressivesSpeakUp process. The initiative was welcomed by @EU_Commission President @vonderleyen

📑 https://t.co/Bpxtgvjiw8

🔗 https://t.co/ab2Q3nmMI8

#PES

[PES 🌹🇪🇺 @PES_PSE]

🇺🇦 On Ukraine's Independence Day, we reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine and its people.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the PES has stood with Ukraine. And we will keep standing with Ukrainians -defending freedom, supporting a just peace, and accompanying Ukraine on its path to the EU. 🇪🇺

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

“Queer people are the canaries in the coal mine.” 🏳️‍🌈

@SmetPascal ’s warning at the #CoRplenary: attacks on LGBTIQ+ people never stop with one minority.

Cities must be places where everyone can live freely. No exceptions.

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

Geography shouldn't decide how far a woman can go. But right now, it does.

The EU's FemAI scores regions based on 33 indicators to show where women are winning, and where they're still fighting an uphill battle.

📊 Are you surprised by how your region ranks? #GenderEquality

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

Building affordable housing is important.

But so does stopping speculation that pushes people out of cities like Valencia.

Housing is a right, and defending it is a democratic imperative.

- @borsanro at #CoRPlenary 👏

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

Progressive values have to deliver.

🏘️ Social housing to lower costs
🚌 Public transport that improves daily life
⚡ Energy communities to cut bills

At #GPM2026, @gualtierieurope on turning progressive politics into concrete results for people, from Rome to New York.

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

When will the eclipse peak where you are? 🌒

We mapped the local peak time of the 12 August solar eclipse across all 27 EU capitals.

From Dublin at 19:10 to Riga at 20:57.

Find your capital 👇

[PES 🌹🇪🇺 @PES_PSE]

We condemn the horrific Russian ballistic missiles and drone barrage launched against the Kyiv region overnight. At least 14 lives have been lost, and 27 Ukrainians were injured in yet another cowardly act of aggression aimed at terrorising civilians and destroying essential facilities. Social democrats across Europe continue to stand with Ukraine—today and for as long as it takes to secure a just and lasting peace rooted in sovereignty and freedom. Слава Україні #StandWithUkraine

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

Democracy begins when people know they are not alone.

At #GPM2026, CoR President and PES Group member @CoR_President Kata Tüttő made the case for cities as democracy’s first line: places where fear becomes solidarity and people regain the power to shape their future.

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

Looking for some positive news? Then read our monthly newsletter 😉☀️
👉 https://t.co/5NaNPTbuKU

🏠 Affordable housing in Barcelona
🏖️ A new free public beach in Genoa
🌻 Protecting Plaka from overtourism in Athens
🏳️‍🌈 Progress for LGBTIQ+ rights in Spain

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

From Stockholm to Hamburg and Zagreb, progressive cities are proving that climate adaptation is possible. 👏🌱

🔗 Source: https://t.co/gdwFkUzdBV (Featuring only cities with >500K residents, only top-ranked city per country).

#ClimateAdaptation #ClimateCrisis

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

Athens is a home before it is a destination.

Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas @h_doukas is clear: tourism must support the city, not push residents out of it.

Europe must give cities the power to protect affordable housing, vibrant neighbourhoods and the people who call them home.

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

Democracy cannot be silenced. From our long-standing partnership with the CHP to this new chapter with @yenipartiyiz, our commitment remains unchanged.

We stand with @eczozgurozel and all those fighting for democracy, freedom and social justice in Türkiye 🇹🇷

#YeniPARTİ

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

Our hearts are with everyone affected at the Christopher Street day parade in Berlin 🇩🇪 last night.

We stand with Berlin's LGBTIQ+ community and all those celebrating love, equality and freedom.

🏳️‍🌈 Love is stronger than hate.

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

Where does tourism weigh most heavily on local communities? 🧳

This ranking shows Europe's 20 most tourism-intensive regions; not by visitor numbers, but by tourism pressure relative to the local population.

[FEPS @FEPS_Europe]

FEPS Reacts to the European Commission communication on the Action Plan on the European Pillar of #SocialRights.
https://t.co/E7mDkmQSj1

🇪🇺 🌹 The communication on the EPSR is a stark reminder that social rights must be the compass for EU action. Blind competitiveness and deregulation will not lead us to better outcomes in labour markets or living conditions.

The EPSR was adopted after the recovery from the Eurozone crisis to confirm the EU’s commitment to social rights. The first Action Plan was introduced during the COVID-19 crisis to demonstrate the power of EU solidarity. The new Action Plan was expected to reassure Europeans that we do not give up our goals and that preserving the European Social Model is our priority.

While we are making progress toward the employment target, we are still far from achieving our objectives for poverty reduction and lifelong learning among adults. Anaemic growth, coupled with growing income inequality, represents a risk to our democracies as well.

Thanks to the leadership of Executive Vice-President @RoxanaMinzatu, the commitment to social Europe remains and is reinforced. Her work to fight poverty, ensure quality jobs in a transforming world of work, and to create the conditions for fair labour mobility is essential. FEPS welcomes her new priorities. 👏

Addressing affordability, notably through activation policies, the Quality Jobs Act and the European Care deal, will answer the number one priority for people in Europe. Reducing inequalities, especially the gender pay gap, and allowing people to exercise their right to stay will help reinforce trust in institutions' capacity to deliver social justice and genuine cohesion. Lastly, addressing the question of AI in the future of world work cannot be ignored. It needs a human-centred approach with workers’ rights at the heart.

This new orientation is necessary. However, an even more ambitious approach is needed for the EU to further advance social rights. The EU cannot allow the European Social Fund to shrink and social legislation to evaporate.

🇵🇹 In Porto, FEPS rallied a coalition of policymakers, thought leaders, trade unionists, and civil society activists to call for more action for social Europe. In the turbulent times we live in, we stood firmly for our welfare systems and presented a vision that combines the social dimension with European sovereignty.

Our message was loud and clear:
👉 Back ambition and strategies with adequate financial means;
👉Make our social model the foundation of European sovereignty;
👉Strengthen public services for more well-being in society.

✍️ Written by @LaszloAndorEU & @FrancoisBalate

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

More than 100 routes proposed. Still no visible route allowed.
For the 4th year in a row, Oradea’s authorities are trying to make Pride invisible.
This is not logistics. It is discrimination.

🏳️‍🌈 Pride is not a crime, Pride is a protest
🇪🇺 No EU funding without fundamental rights

[PES Group | European Committee of the Regions @PES_CoR]

From the roots of democracy to its future.🌱🏛️

On 10-11 September, “Democracy at its roots” comes to Athens to shape democracy’s future from the local level up.

With host @h_doukas and @TheProgressives, @PES_PSE, @FEPS_Europe & @YESocialists

Info: https://t.co/w2pCo2TA2s