The PES Presidency met in Brussels to set out common progressive priorities for the EU’s next long-term budget and strengthen cooperation among progressive parties. Discussions focused on improving people’s daily lives, supporting democratic opposition, and responding to the growing influence of the far right across Europe and beyond.
A progressive vision for Europe’s next long-term budget
The Presidency discussed the EU’s next long-term budget for 2028–2034, building on the work of the PES MFF Working Group chaired by Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of PES, Vice-President of the European Parliament. Members called for an ambitious budget that responds to people’s needs, protects Europe’s common policies, and provides sufficient funding for both longstanding commitments and new challenges.
The Presidency adopted the declaration “An Ambitious Budget for Europe 2028–2034”, setting out ten progressive priorities for the negotiations. These include boosting social investment, expanding access to affordable housing and quality healthcare, protecting cohesion and agriculture, advancing a fair green transition, and strengthening Europe’s security and capacity to act. The declaration calls for new, genuine own resources to finance these ambitions and repay NextGenerationEU without undermining essential EU programmes. It also supports joint borrowing in specific cases to strengthen security and strategic autonomy and respond to exceptional crises.
Read the full declaration here.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
“Europe’s next long-term budget must respond to people’s needs: a home they can afford, decent jobs, quality healthcare, and public services they can rely on. A strong social dimension must run through the entire budget, with investment that reduces inequality and creates opportunities in every region.
We must also strengthen Europe’s capacity to act independently, investing in clean energy, industry, innovation, and our shared security. These ambitions must go hand in hand with protecting social rights and ensuring a fair green transition.
Europe cannot deliver more with less. We need adequate funding and new, genuine own resources to meet new challenges without cutting the essential programmes on which people and communities depend.
We must also stand with those defending democracy and resisting repression. By working more closely with fellow progressives across Europe and beyond, we can defend our shared values and build a fairer, and more secure future.”
Standing with progressives across Europe
Ahead of Spain’s upcoming general election, the Presidency reaffirmed its full support for Pedro Sánchez and the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). Members highlighted the importance of defending the social progress achieved under Sánchez’s leadership, including stronger workers’ rights and measures to reduce inequality, and welcomed Spain’s strong contribution to job creation in the European Union. They stressed that the progressive response must address people’s immediate concerns, from affordable housing to the cost of living and access to public services. The PES stands with the PSOE in its efforts to secure a renewed progressive mandate and prevent the far right from dragging Spain backwards.
The Presidency congratulated Magdalena Andersson and the Swedish Social Democrats on emerging as Sweden’s largest political force and expressed support for their efforts to secure parliamentary backing for a new government.
Ahead of Serbia’s parliamentary elections on 25 October, members reaffirmed their solidarity with Serbia’s democratic and social democratic forces, including those that have chosen not to participate in the elections, and recognised the central role of the student movement in the struggle for democratic change.
Since the tragedy in Novi Sad, students have mobilised citizens across Serbia in demanding accountability, the rule of law and stronger democratic institutions. Members expressed their support for these democratic aspirations and reaffirmed their commitment to Serbia’s European future. Citizens, students and democratic political forces will play a decisive role in shaping that future.
The emergence of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as the largest party in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania raised serious concerns. Members expressed their full solidarity with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and emphasised the need for progressive solutions that respond to people’s concerns and rebuild trust through tangible improvements to their daily lives.
The Presidency also congratulated Sophia Christodoulou Makri on her election as leader of Cyprus’s EDEK, becoming the party’s first woman and youngest leader. Members called for continued efforts to advance gender equality and women’s participation in political leadership across the progressive family.
Strengthening the progressive family
The Presidency welcomed the decision by members of Progressief Nederland (PRO) to to continue its European journey as full member within the PES family. Bringing together the PvdA and GroenLinks, PRO opens a new chapter for the progressive movement in the Netherlands. Members congratulated party leader Jesse Klaver, Chair Kitty Jong and International Secretary Kenville Kleinmoedig, and looked forward to building on longstanding ties with Dutch progressives.
The Presidency also discussed the application of San Marino’s Partito dei Socialisti e dei Democratici (PSD) to become an associate member of the PES, following several years as an observer member. Closer cooperation would strengthen the partnership as San Marino pursues closer integration with the European Union.
Discussions also addressed the escalating pressure on Türkiye’s democratic opposition. In May 2026, a court ruling annulled the CHP congress vote that had elected Özgür Özel as party leader in 2023 and reinstated former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Özel remained at the party’s headquarters in protest. On 24 May, police entered the building using tear gas to remove the ousted leadership.
The Presidency expressed serious concerns about judicial interference in opposition politics and the right of party members to choose their own leaders. On 24 July, Özel and 90 other MPs left the CHP and formally established YENİ Parti.
In light of these developments, the Presidency decided to suspend the CHP’s membership and welcome YENİ Parti as an associate member of the PES, reaffirming its support for democratic and progressive forces facing repression in Türkiye. The Presidency also condemned the raid on Halk TV, the detention of 11 people and the appointment of a trustee, expressing solidarity with the broadcaster’s journalists, workers and their families.
Defending democracy and human rights internationally
Ahead of Brazil’s presidential run-off, the Presidency expressed its support for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Workers’ Party (PT). Members underlined the importance of defending democracy, tackling inequality and protecting the social progress achieved under Lula’s leadership, while strengthening cooperation with Brazilian progressives.
Ahead of Israel’s elections on 27 October, the Presidency expressed solidarity with our associated member party, The Democrats, who are working to defend democracy and promote a just and lasting peace. Leaders highlighted that these elections will be decisive to bring hope to revive the two state solutions.
The Presidency expressed solidarity with those imprisoned or persecuted for their political engagement, and with their families. It called for the release of political prisoners and reaffirmed its support for democratic forces facing repression.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
“The situation of political opponents across the world, including Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan, and Palestine, is alarming and must be addressed. Behind every politically motivated prosecution is a person deprived of their freedom, a family living with uncertainty and a community whose voice is being silenced. We cannot allow this to become normal.
From the arbitrary arrests of CHP representatives across Türkiye to the unlawful trial of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the democratic situation in Türkiye continues to deteriorate. We stand in full solidarity with Ekrem İmamoğlu, his family and all those unjustly targeted. This politically motivated indictment cannot be ignored. Political pluralism is a necessary component of any modern democracy and must be respected to maintain long-term legitimacy and stability. People must be free to choose their representatives, and political opponents must be able to challenge those in power without fear of imprisonment.
In Kyrgyzstan, we are deeply concerned about the striking similarities between the 2024 and 2025 detentions of Temirlan Sultanbekov. Both took place on the eve of electoral processes; the 2024 detention resulted in the SDK being disqualified from running in the elections and occurred as part of a wider political campaign to prosecute opposition parties. In light of this, we believe the new prosecutions are politically motivated, and we see the court’s decision as further restricting political pluralism ahead of the January 2027 presidential elections. We call for the release of Temirlan Sultanbekov and Kadyr Atambayev. Their imprisonment silences opposition voices ahead of the presidential elections. Political affiliation must never determine access to justice. Political opponents should not be silenced through criminal prosecution.
We also renew our call for the release of Marwan Barghouti and all Palestinian political prisoners held by Israel. After 24 years in prison, Barghouti remains a unifying figure for Palestinians. His release could help restore hope in a political path towards peace.
Together with our international partners, including our comrades in Palestine and Israel, we remain firmly committed to the two-state solution. Palestinians and Israelis deserve a future free from violence and fear.
Our solidarity must go beyond words. We will continue to speak out for those behind bars and support those defending democracy, justice, and fundamental freedoms.”
Moreover, the PES Presidency discussed the situation in Georgia and expressed deep concern over proceedings before the Constitutional Court seeking to ban political parties. Political pluralism, freedom of expression and a vibrant civil society are fundamental pillars of democracy and the rule of law. We strongly condemn any attempt to undermine these principles and stand in solidarity with the people of Georgia.
The PES will continue to strengthen cooperation with progressive partners across Europe and internationally to defend democracy, protect fundamental rights and deliver concrete improvements to people’s lives.
Following consultations with the French host parties, the PES Council scheduled for 27–28 November in Paris has been cancelled and postponed to 2027.
Pictures of the meeting available here.
