PES Congress: “The future will not wait. Nor will the people of Europe”

On the second day of the PES Congress in Amsterdam, ideas turned into action: 14 resolutions were adopted, a renewed leadership team was elected, and the progressive family grew stronger with new member parties joining the movement. Throughout the day, inspiring voices - local and regional leaders, trade unionists, social partners, community organisers, academics, and national figures - came together around one common goal: mobilising to deliver a fairer, more sustainable, and more democratic Europe.

Discussions spanned the key priorities for progressives - from fair taxation and social justice to jobs, equality, and democracy - through panels such as Progressive Cooperation in Action, Tax the Super-Rich!, Jobs that Pay, Protect and Empower, Mental Health - Human Forever, Social Europe, Strong Europe, and Progressive Mayors: For Housing Justice and Quality of Life.

Workshops and side events broadened the conversation, tackling progressive narratives, the green and digital transitions, EU-Africa cooperation, social-democracy renewal, LGBTIQ+ rights, the future of work, tax justice, CSDDD, journalism, migration, and the fight against populism. The European Committee of the Regions contributed with a panel entitled Our Communities, Our Future, bringing local perspectives to the heart of European debate.

Opening the Congress proceedings, PES Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck set the tone for the days ahead - clear, united, and focused on turning ideas into action:

''We are here today as European socialists, social democrats and progressives to send a clear message: we reject the false choice between which values and policies are more relevant than others. We know it is not only possible, but essential, to fight at the same time for social justice and for human dignity, for quality employment and for the wellbeing of our young people and the elderly, for healthcare and education, for climate action and for minority rights, for fair taxation, and for democracy and the rule of law. We do not give up one cause in order to pursue another. We do not abandon our principles for the sake of short-term gain. We hold all these values together, because they belong together. The European project itself is built on this foundation: on solidarity, sustainability, and democracy - not on internal competition or social dumping. Our task is not to shrink this vision, but to deepen it - and defend it.''

Action for Fairness, Democracy and Peace

Opening the afternoon session, PES President Stefan Löfven outlined the priorities for the new mandate - fairness and dignity, democracy and peace - urging progressives to refuse fear and division, and to turn hope into action:

"We refuse to accept a regressive vision of international relations and trade wars. And we refuse to bow to those who use war as a weapon of domination. To do so, we need three pillars of action: Action for fairness and dignity. Action for democracy. Action for peace. And the urgency of our times leaves us no choice: we need to deliver. History teaches us that appeasement does not stop authoritarianism; it emboldens it. We cannot go back to that dark past. We will fight the far-right with all our might."

In accepting his renewed mandate, Stefan Löfven thanked delegates and underlined the duty to deliver:

"I remember from my time as a trade unionist all the women and men I worked with, struggling every year, every day for a better future, be it in the workplace, or be it in society, and I can see them in front of me now. This is what it's all about - being together, creating results, putting society forward forward forward - and I am so proud of what we have achieved so far. We know that the only sustainable peace is the one where we build a common security together, nations beside nations - that is the only long-term solution. We as Socialists, we have also an obligation to think ahead, to think what our society will be like when peace is in the world, not war.
Thank you very very much, I will do my very best to live up to these expectations.''

Frans Timmermans, Leader of GroenLinks-PvdA, congratulated Löfven and welcomed delegates to Amsterdam:

"Aren't we all very proud of Stefan? The one essential element, besides his social justice, strong commitment to equity and equality, the one thing that he brings to our family which our family desperately needs, is kindness. Kindness gives us hope for the future, thank you Stefan for being such a strong leader."

Reflecting on Delivery and Renewal

The PES and S&D activity reports showed a demanding cycle turned into delivery - resilience when tested, renewal when needed. Against that backdrop, Iratxe García, First Vice-President of the PES and President of the S&D Group, urged a new step up in mobilisation and courage for what comes next:

"One year into this new Parliament, we have shown what leadership looks like. We shaped the agenda of this Commission, not for our own power, but for our people.
We secured a European Affordable Housing Plan, the first-ever Commissioner for Housing, and a Housing Committee in Parliament, because we believe a home is not a privilege. It is a right. We won commitments for an Anti-Poverty Strategy, a Roadmap for Quality Jobs, a Pact for Social Dialogue, and a Strengthened Child Guarantee. But let us be clear: these are only words, and words must become reality. The work programme that the Commission will present in November will be the moment of truth. We will support ambition, but we will not support complacency. Our support is not a blank cheque. It is a moral contract: deliver for people, or step aside."

Expanding the Progressive Family

Delegates also welcomed new member parties to the PES: Place Publique (France), Party of Freedom and Justice/SSP (Serbia), and Vetëvendosje/LVV (Kosovo) - expanding the party's reach in Europe and beyond. Bringing Place Publique's progressive voice to the stage, Raphaël Glucksmann told the Congress:

"I am honoured that you have accepted our party's candidacy to become a full member of the PES. We are not just a pro-European party, we fight for European social democracy: a social Europe, a green Europe, a fair Europe. We are the dam against authoritarian regimes and their far-right puppets, the leading force in the struggle for European democracy. And together we will win.''

Statutory decisions: The Congress also confirmed the expulsion of SMER. We are a progressive family, and all our members stand for European values such as equal rights, rule of law and a strong social Europe. Giacomo Filibeck underlined that the political position of SMER contradicts our core values.

A renewed leadership team

Other key moments from today included the unveiling of the new PES Presidency team:

PES President: Stefan Löfven (SAP, Sweden)
PES Vice-Presidents:
• First Vice-President: Iratxe García (PSOE, Spain)
• Executive Vice-President: Katarina Barley (SPD, Germany)
• Executive Vice-President: Andi Babler (SPÖ, Austria)
• Vice-President: Tanja Fajon (SD, Slovenia)
• Vice-President: Victor Negrescu (PSD, Romania)
• Vice-President: Kati Piri (PvdA, Netherlands)
• Vice-President: Nora Mebarek (PS, France)
• Vice-President: Krzysztof Śmiszek (Nowa Lewica, Poland)
Treasurer: Caroline Gennez (Vooruit, Belgium)
PES Secretary General: Giacomo Filibeck (PD, Italy)
Deputy Secretary Generals: Yonnec Polet (PS, Belgium); Saar Van Bueren (PvdA, Netherlands); Thomas Vaupel (SPD, Germany)

Looking ahead to the final day, delegates will focus on Europe's next steps for the Green Deal, clean industry and competitiveness - closely linked to security, democracy and global partnerships - with contributions from Giacomo Filibeck, Stefan Löfven, António Costa, and concluding speeches by Pedro Sánchez and Frans Timmermans.

Full programme here: https://events.pes.eu/

Watch live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L44JIL6wHQM (Source: PES - no restrictions).

Photos from the congress are available here - No restrictions.