A lively debate marked the last PES Group meeting, where members reaffirmed a clear vision for Europe: competitiveness must go hand in hand with social progress, quality jobs and strong territorial cohesion.
Bringing together members, mayors, presidents of regions and local and regional councillors from across the EU, the discussion focused on the key role of local and regional authorities in shaping a renewed Social Europe in a context of major economic, social and geopolitical change.
The exchange featured Gabriele Bischoff, Vice-President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, and László Andor, former European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and current Secretary General of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS).
Gabriele Bischoff stressed that progress is strongest when the progressive family works across all levels of governance — European, national, regional and local — and highlighted how cities and regions actively shape social progress on the ground. She pointed to key achievements such as the Minimum Wage Directive, the Child Guarantee and the European Care Strategy, underlining that “there is no competitiveness without quality jobs”, calling for a fair and socially just European economy.
A central part of the discussion focused on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the future of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), a key EU instrument supporting employment, skills, social inclusion and cohesion across regions and cities.
László Andor issued a strong warning that the ESF+ “must not become an ESF-”, a message that resonated strongly among participants and translated into a clear call to protect and strengthen Europe’s social investment capacity in the next EU budget. He recalled that the evolution from the European Social Fund (ESF) to ESF+ reflects the need to respond to growing social challenges. He warned that weakening it would undermine the EU’s ability to address inequalities and territorial disparities.
Our progressive leaders also highlighted housing as one of Europe’s most urgent social priorities, calling for ambitious EU action in partnership with local and regional authorities.
The meeting highlighted the PES Group's presence and active contribution to the "Global Progressive Mobilisation" held in Barcelona on 17–18 April, recognised as a strong moment of international progressive unity and mobilisation. The active participation of high-level PES Group members in different parts of the programme ensured that the voice of local and regional authorities was heard.
The overall message was clear: Europe’s resilience will be built not through deregulation, but through social investment, solidarity and strong local and regional communities.