November 25, 2021

The following is a press release:

This Friday, 26 November, the Party of European Socialists Group in the European Committee of the Regions will host a high level political debate in Seville on the perspective of progressive cities and regions for a just Green Deal.

PES Group president Christophe Rouillon and mayor of Seville and PSOE candidate for the presidency of the region of Andalusia, Juan Espadas, will be joined by the Vice-President of the Spanish Government and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera Rodrķguez, as well as European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, Spanish State Secretary for the European Union, Juan Gonzáles-Barba Pera, and many others.

President of the PES Group, Christophe Rouillon, said:

"The climate emergency is affecting everyone, but not in the same way. Our conviction and responsibility as local and regional leaders of the Socialist Group in the European Committee of the Regions is to act to make sure that the climate transition is based on solidarity and does not leave anyone behind. With the support of the EU’s recovery plan, it is at local and regional level that we will respond to this historic challenge. The host of our event, the socialist mayor of Seville Juan Espadas, leads by example showing with his will and his actions that a sustainable and fair transition is not only necessary but possible.”

Mayor of Seville and PSOE candidate for the presidency of the region of Andalusia, Juan Espadas, added:

“Cities and regions from all over the European Union are meeting in Seville. As Socialists, we are calling for local and regional authorities to be involved in the green transformation of our society. The administrations that are close to the citizens must play a leading role in decision-making at European level. The green revolution will happen from the bottom up, from the cities to the EU. Let’s use the recovery funds to accelerate the social, green and fair transformation that Europe needs.”

The event is organised by the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions, in cooperation with the S&D Group in the European Parliament, the Party of European Socialists (PES), and the Young European Socialists (YES).

More than 50 young local and regional politicians from all over the EU and beyond will take part in the event, as part of the “#ProgressivesSpeakUp: School of young local politicians”, a project by the PES Group, YES and PES, aimed at creating a network of young progressive leaders shaping the future of Europe.

The full programme is available on the PES Group website in English and in Spanish.

The event will be live-streamed via YouTube in English and in Spanish and via Facebook.

For physical attendance, please register at this link or write to monica.tiberi@cor.europa.eu.

Contact : Monica Tiberi Press and Communications Adviser

monica.tiberi@cor.europa.eu

+32 (0) 2 282 23 81

+32 479 51 74 43

@MonicaTiberi

pes.cor.europa.eu/secretariat