Home

PES CONGRESS 2022

With Courage. For Europe. 14-15 October 2022, Berlin

PES Congress in Berlin

The PES Congress took place in Berlin on 14-15 October 2022.

Hosted with the support from the governing German SPD – a PES full member party – the PES Congress welcomed heads of state and government, European Commissioners, party leaders and other representatives.

Europe is about a year and a half away from the next European election, with this Congress coming at a moment of fundamental changes and high uncertainties.

With the motto "With Courage. For Europe" PES leaders discussed policies to address deep shifts in the international security and multilateral balance, soaring energy prices and inflation, the covid crisis, climate change and social challenges.

Home

PES Congress Resolution

Check the Congress Resolution in English, German, French and Spanish

Congress Resolution

Speakers

Sergei Stanishev

Sergei Stanishev

PES President
Stefan Löfven

Stefan Löfven

PES President candidate and former Prime Minister of Sweden
Olaf Scholz

Olaf Scholz

Chancellor of Germany
Sanna Marin

Sanna Marin

Leader of SDP and Prime Minister of Finland.
Pedro Sánchez

Pedro Sánchez

Leader of PSOE and Prime Minister of Spain.
António Costa

António Costa

Leader of the Socialist Party and Prime Minister of Portugal.
Magdalena Andersson

Magdalena Andersson

Leader of Swedish Socialdemokraterna and Prime Minister of Sweden.
Robert Abela

Robert Abela

Leader of Labour Party (Malta) and Prime Minister of Malta.
Edi_Rama

Edi Rama

Leader of PS Albanian and Prime Minister of Albania.
Frans Timmermans

Frans Timmermans

European Commission Executive Vice-President.
Josep Borrell Fontelles

Josep Borrell Fontelles

European Union High Representative/ European Commission Vice-President.
Elisa Ferreira

Elisa Ferreira

European Commisioner for Cohesion and Reforms.
Nicolas Schmit

Nicolas Schmit

European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights.
Ylva Johansson

Ylva Johansson

European Commissioner for Home Affairs.
Tanja Fajon

Tanja Fajon

Leader of the Social Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia.


Lars Klingbeil

Lars Klingbeil

Co-leader of SPD Germany.
Iratxe Garcia

Iratxe García Pérez

1st Vice-President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) and President of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament.
Vasco Cordeiro

Vasco Cordeiro

President of the European Committee of the Regions
Enrico Letta

Enrico Letta

Leader of the Democratic Party Italy.
Attje Kuiken

Attje Kuiken

Leader of the PvdA and leader of the PvdA in the House of Representatives.
Pamela Rendi-Wagner

Pamela Rendi-Wagner

Leader of SPOE Austria.
Paul-Magnette

Paul Magnette

Leader of Socialist Party Belgium.
Robert Biedron

Robert Biedron

Co-leader of Lewica, Poland
Conner Rousseau

Conner Rousseau

Leader of Vooruit Belgium.
Ivana Bacik

Ivana Bacik

Ivana Bacik is the leader of the Irish Labour Party.
Pedja Grbin

Pedja Grbin

Leader of SDP Croatia.
Franziska Giffey

Franziska Giffey

Mayor of Berlin
Katarina Barley

Katarina Barley

Vice-President of the European Parliament
Anneliese Dodds

Anneliese Dodds

Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities and Chair of the Labour Party.
Christophe Clergeau

Christophe Clergeau

Member of the European Committee of the Regions, PES Group (PS France)
Achim Post PES Secretary General

Achim Post

Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists (PES).
Zita Gurmai

Zita Gurmai

PES Women President
Alicia Homs

Alicia Homs

President of YES (Young European Socialists), MEP
Maria João Rodrigues

Maria João Rodrigues

President of FEPS (Foundation for European Progressive Studies)
Agnes Jongerius

Agnes Jongerius

Chair of the PES Social Europe Network, MEP
Ester Lynch

Esther Lynch

Deputy Secretary General of ETUC
Kata Tüttő

Kata Tüttő

Deputy Mayor of Budapest, Member of the PES Group in the CoR
Kati Piri

Kati Piri

Member of the Dutch Parliament, PvdA
Sergei Stanishev

Sergei Stanishev

PES President
Stefan Löfven

Stefan Löfven

PES President candidate and former Prime Minister of Sweden
Olaf Scholz

Olaf Scholz

Chancellor of Germany
Sanna Marin

Sanna Marin

Leader of SDP and Prime Minister of Finland.
Pedro Sánchez

Pedro Sánchez

Leader of PSOE and Prime Minister of Spain.
António Costa

António Costa

Leader of the Socialist Party and Prime Minister of Portugal.
Magdalena Andersson

Magdalena Andersson

Leader of Swedish Socialdemokraterna and Prime Minister of Sweden.
Robert Abela

Robert Abela

Leader of Labour Party (Malta) and Prime Minister of Malta.
Edi_Rama

Edi Rama

Leader of PS Albanian and Prime Minister of Albania.
Frans Timmermans

Frans Timmermans

European Commission Executive Vice-President.
Josep Borrell Fontelles

Josep Borrell Fontelles

European Union High Representative/ European Commission Vice-President.
Elisa Ferreira

Elisa Ferreira

European Commisioner for Cohesion and Reforms.
Nicolas Schmit

Nicolas Schmit

European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights.
Ylva Johansson

Ylva Johansson

European Commissioner for Home Affairs.
Tanja Fajon

Tanja Fajon

Leader of the Social Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia.


Lars Klingbeil

Lars Klingbeil

Co-leader of SPD Germany.
Iratxe Garcia

Iratxe García Pérez

1st Vice-President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) and President of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament.
Vasco Cordeiro

Vasco Cordeiro

President of the European Committee of the Regions
Enrico Letta

Enrico Letta

Leader of the Democratic Party Italy.
Attje Kuiken

Attje Kuiken

Leader of the PvdA and leader of the PvdA in the House of Representatives.
Pamela Rendi-Wagner

Pamela Rendi-Wagner

Leader of SPOE Austria.
Paul-Magnette

Paul Magnette

Leader of Socialist Party Belgium.
Robert Biedron

Robert Biedron

Co-leader of Lewica, Poland
Conner Rousseau

Conner Rousseau

Leader of Vooruit Belgium.
Ivana Bacik

Ivana Bacik

Ivana Bacik is the leader of the Irish Labour Party.
Pedja Grbin

Pedja Grbin

Leader of SDP Croatia.
Franziska Giffey

Franziska Giffey

Mayor of Berlin
Katarina Barley

Katarina Barley

Vice-President of the European Parliament
Anneliese Dodds

Anneliese Dodds

Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities and Chair of the Labour Party.
Christophe Clergeau

Christophe Clergeau

Member of the European Committee of the Regions, PES Group (PS France)
Achim Post PES Secretary General

Achim Post

Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists (PES).
Zita Gurmai

Zita Gurmai

PES Women President
Alicia Homs

Alicia Homs

President of YES (Young European Socialists), MEP
Maria João Rodrigues

Maria João Rodrigues

President of FEPS (Foundation for European Progressive Studies)
Agnes Jongerius

Agnes Jongerius

Chair of the PES Social Europe Network, MEP
Ester Lynch

Esther Lynch

Deputy Secretary General of ETUC
Kata Tüttő

Kata Tüttő

Deputy Mayor of Budapest, Member of the PES Group in the CoR
Kati Piri

Kati Piri

Member of the Dutch Parliament, PvdA

Congress Programme

Programme in German

13 October

15:00 - 18:30

PES Women Annual Conference – “#MakeHerCount in times of crisis – progressive answers to gender blindness”

Zita Gurmai
Willy-Brandt House
17:00 - 18:30

ESO fringe meeting – “Peace, international solidarity and development in the changing world”

Willy-Brandt House

14 October

08:45 - 12:00

Debate and study visit of the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions Berlin in Europe

Berlin Rotes Rathaus (Townhouse)
09:30 - 11:30

S&D Group fringe meeting – “Progressive policies to end the energy crisis”

Willy-Brandt House - Atrium
10:00 - 11:00

FES fringe meeting – “Zeitenwende: Navigating the Disarray of European Security”

Willy-Brandt House - Kasino
11:00 - 12:00

European Forum for Democracy fringe meeting – “What’s Left in Eastern Europe?”

Willy-Brandt House, Room 1.38
11:00 - 12:30

FEPS fringe meeting – “The future of the European project: enlargement versus deepening?”

Willy-Brandt House - Kasino
14:30 - 15:05

PES Congress Opening

Achim Post, Katarina Barley, Sergei Stanishev, Giacomo Filibeck, Saar Van Bueren
Verti Music Hall - Plenary
15:05 - 15:20

Presentation and speech from PES President Candidate: Stefan Löfven Speech

Stefan Löfven
Verti Music Hall - Plenary
15:20

Congress Election Procedures and Opening of votes

Achim Post
Verti Music Hall - Plenary
15:35 - 15:45

Intervention of SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil

Lars Klingbeil
Verti Music Hall - Plenary
15:45 - 16:15

Panel I: “Our Europe: Next to its citizens”

Elisa Ferreira, Attje Kuiken, Vasco Cordeiro, Ivana Bacik, Pedja Grbin, Kata Tüttő
Verti Music Hall - Plenary
16:20 - 16:50

Panel II: “Our Europe: Respect for the people”

Zita Gurmai, Esther Lynch, Maria João Rodrigues, Robert Biedron, Christophe Clergeau, Agnes Jongerius
Verti Music Hall - Plenary
16:50 - 16:55

One-to-one with Franziska Giffey

Franziska Giffey
Verti Music Hall - Plenary
16:55 - 17:25

Panel III: “Our Europe: Respect in the world”

Edi Rama, Alicia Homs, Conner Rousseau, Anneliese Dodds, Kati Piri
Verti Music Hall - Plenary
17:25 - 18:30

Discussion on amendments to the PES Congress resolution and adoption of the Resolution

Yonnec Polet
Verti Music Hall - Plenary
18:30 - 18:40

Announcement of the Election of the PES President

Stefan Löfven, Giacomo Filibeck, Saar Van Bueren
Verti Music Hall - Plenary
18:30

Closing of Friday’s plenary session

Achim Post
Verti Music Hall

15 October

10:00 - 10:05

Opening of second day Plenary

Giacomo Filibeck, Saar Van Bueren
Verti Music Hall
10:05 - 10:15

Opening speech by new PES President

Stefan Löfven
Verti Music Hall
10:15 - 11:00

Panel I: “Leading Europe through change”

Pedro Sánchez, Magdalena Andersson, António Costa, Robert Abela, Giacomo Filibeck, Saar Van Bueren
Verti Music Hall
11:10 - 11:15

Keynote speech by Frans Timmermans

Frans Timmermans
Verti Music Hall
11:15 - 12:00

Panel II: “Our Europe: Respect for the planet”

Iratxe García Pérez, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Nicolas Schmit, Paul Magnette, Giacomo Filibeck
Verti Music Hall
12:00 - 12:05

Side Talk with PES Activists

Saar Van Bueren
Verti Music Hall
12:05 - 12:50

Panel III: “A new European Momentum”

Enrico Letta, Tanja Fajon, Ylva Johansson, Marcel Ciolacu, Josep Borrell Fontelles, Lars Klingbeil, Yonnec Polet
Verti Music Hall
13:15

Speech by Germany’s Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Olaf Scholz
Verti Music Hall
13:40 - 13:45

Closing of the PES Congress

Stefan Löfven
Verti Music Hall

Sustainability is one of the main pillars of PES policies. We have taken steps to promote and push for sustainable actions not only in our policies but also in our work and the organisation of the PES Congress.

In setting up the event, we have taken into consideration the impact we are making on the environment, by taking into account the design and management of the event, its location and its impact on the city it is taking place in. The PES Congress event is reducing to the maximum the usage of paper, has its branding in a predominantly digital format and for its printed branding materials we have chosen to use water-based printing on environmentally friendly materials. The PES goal is to reduce as much as possible the carbon footprint of its Congress.  


With Courage. For Europe.
is organised by the Party of European Socialists.

The PES brings together the socialist, social democratic, labour and democratic parties from all over the European Union, the UK and Norway. Together with 33 full member parties and 12 associate and 12 observer parties, we fight for a better and more progressive Europe.