The PES Foundation is committed to supporting the ideological discussion and training of BSP cadres after a meeting with Vigenin and Penkova with Laszlo Andor, Secretary General of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and Anya Shipek, Director of Research and Training, introduced the Socialist MEPs Christian Vigenin and Tsvetelina Penkova to the priorities for 2025, including building a stronger and more autonomous Europe, promoting social sustainability and equality, and protecting democratic values.
Among the main topics discussed were the future of social democracy, democratic representation and citizen participation. Both sides stressed the need to renew the ideological basis of socialist and social democratic parties in Europe. FEPS expressed its commitment to support research, training and initiatives aimed at strengthening the role of progressive forces in the region and in Bulgaria in particular. Strategies for countering far-right rhetoric, strengthening citizen engagement and promoting institutional reforms to strengthen democracy were discussed. FEPS is preparing a number of studies and policy recommendations, offering Bulgarian socialist MEPs opportunities for cooperation on issues of combating inequalities and improving public services.
FEPS representatives positively assessed the process of renewal and unification of the Bulgarian left, initiated by the BSP in the summer. In this regard, they committed to providing analytical resources, training opportunities and networking platforms to support socialists in their efforts to restore trust in the left in Bulgaria.
To contact the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP: https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/.