The 10 Progressive Actions to Defend Democracy, drafted and adopted by 50 progressive young local and regional elected politicians from across the European Union and candidate countries during the #ProgressivesSpeakUp School: Defend Democracy, Defeat Hate in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (14–16 January 2026), have received recognition from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
During the three-day school, participants worked together to identify the biggest democratic challenges facing Europe and jointly developed a declaration containing 10 concrete actions to strengthen democracy, participation and democratic resilience at local, regional and European level.
The initiative aims to provide concrete proposals to strengthen democratic participation and resilience at all levels of governance.
Following a joint letter sent by Luca Menesini, President of the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions, Iratxe García Pérez, President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, and João Martins Pereira, President of Young European Socialists (YES), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen replied, welcoming the initiative and recognising its contribution to strengthening democracy across Europe.
In her reply, President von der Leyen underlined that the 10 Progressive Actions fully reflect the European Democracy Shield’s “whole-of-society” approach, highlighting the importance of involving citizens, civil society, young people and public authorities in protecting democratic values. She confirmed that the European Commission shares the objective of building stronger democratic resilience and ensuring that democracy remains protected and actively promoted across Europe.
The President of the European Commission also highlighted that several of the proposals included in the 10 Progressive Actions closely align with the Commission’s priorities. These include promoting media literacy and the ability of citizens to identify and counter disinformation, strengthening citizenship education, improving access to reliable and trustworthy information, and encouraging greater civic and youth participation in democratic life.
For the participants of the #ProgressivesSpeakUp School, the Commission's response represents a significant recognition of the work they collectively developed and of the important role young local and regional politicians play in shaping Europe's democratic future.
Each year, the PES Group organises the #ProgressivesSpeakUp School for Young Leaders, bringing together progressive young elected representatives from across Europe to discuss the key challenges facing the European Union and its regions, exchange experiences and develop concrete political solutions from the local and regional perspective.
The initiative also demonstrates how ideas developed by local leaders can influence the European debate. As the elected representatives closest to citizens, local and regional politicians play a crucial role in defending democratic values, strengthening trust in public institutions, and ensuring citizens' voices are heard in European policymaking.
The next chapter is already around the corner. On 9–10 September 2026, the PES Group will bring together a new group of around 50 progressive young local and regional leaders in Athens for the next edition of the #ProgressivesSpeakUp School, "Be Ready for Elections!". Building on the success of Las Palmas, participants will exchange concrete best-practice examples, strengthen their communication and leadership skills, and develop practical tools to engage citizens and win local elections across Europe.