Social Europe is our target

The EU seems to have shifted its economic and social agenda to increasingly mirror a US-style competitiveness agenda, cherry-picking recommendations from the Draghi Report. However, with a fifth of the EU population at risk of poverty or exclusion, including millions of children, precarious working conditions in the face of the green and digital transition, demographic change and economic austerity measures across Member States, a new European Economic Socialisation Agenda is needed. Five years after the Porto Social Summit and the adoption of the Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), it is time to revive the spirit of Porto. 

The current geopolitical landscape has shifted the attention towards defence spending and militarisation. This is often done at the expense of social investment, while wars and conflicts across the globe have direct consequences on the cost of living for millions of people. The defence of the land shall not overtake the need to protect citizens with strong welfare states.    

While the European Commission is expected to present important initiatives such as the Quality Jobs Act, the Anti-Poverty Strategy or the Fair Labour Mobility Package, there is a need to further reinforce the social dimension of European policies and to adopt a new roadmap for “Porto 2.0”, looking at where the Action Plan for the EPSR fell short and how Europe can define new economic and social policy objectives and tools.  

Therefore, FEPS, in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Portugal, the Fundação Res Publica, SOLIDAR, the Johannes Mihkelson Centre and Proforum,  organises a high-level conference in Porto. Following an afternoon of expert meetings the day before, the public conference takes place on Friday, 19 June 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Porto and will feature high-level and expert keynote speeches and future-oriented panel discussions on topics such as the implementation of the EPSR and the definition of European sovereignty with a strong social dimension. 

Among our confirmed speakers are:

• Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights, Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness (online)
• Mário Centeno, Former Minister of Finance, Portugal, former Governor of the Bank of Portugal, and former President of the Eurogroup
• José Luís Carneiro, Secretary General of the Socialist Party of Portugal
• Nicolas Schmit, President, FEPS, and former European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights 
• Pedro Silva Pereira, President, Fundação Res Publica
• Gabriele Bischoff, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the PES Social Europe Network (video message)
• Estelle Ceulemans, Member of the European Parliament
• Ana Mendes Godinho, Former Minister of Labour, Solidarity, and Social Security, Portugal
• Maria Helena André, Former Deputy Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation, former Director of the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities, and former Minister of Employment and Social Affairs, Portugal
• Tanel Kiik, Member of Parliament, Estonia
• László Andor, Secretary General, FEPS, and former European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Let’s send a strong message to political stakeholders for prosperity and well-being for all. Register now.