Foundation for European Progressive Studies
{{short description|European political foundation affiliated to the Party of European Socialists}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox organization
| image = FEPS Logo.svg
| full_name = Foundation for European Progressive Studies
| abbreviation = FEPS
| formation = {{start date and age|df=yes|2008}}
| type = European political foundation
| headquarters = Brussels, Belgium
| location = Europe
| leader_title = President
| leader_name = Maria João Rodrigues (PT)
| budget =
| website = {{URL|https://feps-europe.eu}}
}}
File:MariaJoaoRodrigues.jpg, president of the FEPS since 2017]]
The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) is a Brussels-based think tank and European political foundation affiliated, but independent of the Party of European Socialists (PES). Established in 2008, FEPS currently includes 76 member organisations throughout Europe.
FEPS's president since 2017 is Maria João Rodrigues from Portugal, former Vice President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and former Portuguese Minister for Employment and Training in the Guterres government.{{Cite web |title=President Archives |url=https://feps-europe.eu/people_category/president/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}} Its current Secretary General is former EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, László Andor from Hungary.{{Cite web |title=AGENCE EUROPE - László Andor is appointed Secretary-General of Foundat... |url=https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/article/12271/29 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=agenceurope.eu}}
FEPS also runs a political magazine Progressive Post,{{Cite web |title=The Progressive Post |url=https://feps-europe.eu/progressive-post/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}} together with various online publications, like the FEPS Talks podcast.{{Cite web |title=Podcast |url=https://feps-europe.eu/podcasts/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}}
History
FEPS was founded in 2008 as a result of the revision of the EU Regulation on European political parties, which allowed the creation of European political foundations and think tanks affiliated to them. It is mainly funded by the European Parliament.
Since its foundation, leading political figures like Massimo D’Alema,{{Cite web |title=D'Alema eletto primo presidente della Foundation of European Progressive Studies - Massimo D'alema |url=http://www.massimodalema.it/doc/17078/dalema-eletto-primo-presidente-della-foundation-of-european-progressive-studies.htm |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.massimodalema.it}} Pascal Lamy,{{Cite web |title=Pascal Lamy {{!}} Conférencier {{!}} London Speaker Bureau France |url=https://londonspeakerbureau.fr/conferenciers/pascal-lamy/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=London Speaker Bureau |language=fr-FR}} Josep Borrell{{Cite web |date=2017-06-28 |title=El ex presidente del Parlamento Europeo Josep Borrell es elegido como vicepresidente de la FEPS |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20170628/ex-presidente-parlamento-europeo-josep-6135397 |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.elperiodico.com |language=es}} and Sergey Stanishev{{Cite web |title=Sergei STANISHEV |url=https://feps-europe.eu/person/sergei-stanishev/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}} played a role in the governance of FEPS. The list of contributors to FEPS events and research projects includes economists Joseph Stiglitz,{{Cite web |title=Joseph STIGLITZ |url=https://feps-europe.eu/person/joseph-stiglitz/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}} Peter Bofinger and Stephany Griffith-Jones,{{Cite web |title=Stephany GRIFFITH-JONES |url=https://feps-europe.eu/person/stephany-griffith-jones/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}} political scientists: Gesine Schwan{{Cite web |title=Gesine SCHWAN |url=https://feps-europe.eu/person/gesine-schwan/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}} and André Krouwel, as well as sociologists Manuel Castells and Colin Crouch.{{Cite web |title=Colin CROUCH |url=https://feps-europe.eu/person/colin-crouch/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}}
Mission and activities
FEPS's mission is to foster innovative research, policy development, training, and debates to inspire and inform socialist and social democratic politics across Europe. It collaborates closely with a network of 76 member organizations, including national political foundations, think tanks, and other entities aligned with progressive values.{{Cite web |title=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |url=https://feps-europe.eu/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}}
Key publications and initiatives
FEPS engages in a variety of research areas and publishes several influential reports and policy briefs. Notable among these are:
- A Progressive Politics of Work for the Age of Unpeace: This study explores the complexities of contemporary challenges such as geopolitical tensions, climate crises, and deglobalization, offering recommendations for social democratic movements in Europe.{{Cite web |title=A progressive politics of work for the age of unpeace |url=https://feps-europe.eu/publication/a-progressive-politics-of-work-for-the-age-of-unpeace/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}}
- Towards a Fairer, Care-Focused Europe: In collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, FEPS emphasizes the role of care work and jobs in achieving gender equality, advocating for policies that recognize and reward care responsibilities.{{Cite web |title=Towards a fairer, care-focused Europe |url=https://feps-europe.eu/publication/787-towards-a-fairer-care-focused-europe/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}}
- European Defence for Security and Peace: This policy brief addresses the EU's role in enhancing its defense capabilities, recommending reforms such as removing unanimity in foreign and security decision-making and establishing a dual defense model.{{Cite web |title=European defence for security and peace |url=https://feps-europe.eu/publication/european-defence-for-security-and-peace/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}}
Awards and recognition
In 2019, FEPS ranked fourth among party-affiliated think tanks worldwide in the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report by the University of Pennsylvania, following its member organizations, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Germany) and the Fabian Society (United Kingdom).{{Cite web |date=2019-03-22 |title=Think Tank Index — Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322130224/https://www.gotothinktank.com/global-goto-think-tank-index |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=web.archive.org}}
Additionally, since 2019 FEPS holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), enabling it to participate in and influence UN activities.
Member organizations
FEPS benefits from a network of 76 member organisations. Among these, 40 are full members, 31 have observer status and 5 are ex-officio members.{{Cite web |title=Members |url=https://feps-europe.eu/memberfoundations/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Foundation for European Progressive Studies |language=en-US}}
Full members
- Karl Renner Institute, Austria
- Institute Emile Vandervelde (IEV), Belgium
- Institute for Social Integration, Bulgaria
- Masaryk Democratic Academy (MDA), Czech Republic
- Economic Council of the Labour Movement (ECLM), Denmark
- Johannes Mihkelson Centre, Estonia
- Solidar, EU
- Kalevi Sorsa Foundation, Finland
- Fondation Jean-Jaurès, France
- Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Germany
- The Progressive Center (DPZ), Germany
- Berlin Governance Platform, Germany
- Diktio, Greece
- Institute for Social Democracy (ISD), Hungary
- Táncsics Mihály Alapítvány, Hungary
- Policy Solutions, Hungary
- TASC, Ireland
- Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale (CeSPI), Italy
- Fondazione Socialismo ETS, Italy
- Fondazione Pietro Nenni, Italy
- Fondazione Italianieuropei, Italy
- Fondazione Gramsci, Italy
- Fondation Robert Krieps, Luxembourg
- IDEAT, Malta
- Wiardi Beckman Stichting, Netherlands
- Foundation Max van der Stoel (FMS), Netherlands
- Samak, Nordic Council
- Tankesmien Agenda, Norway
- Amicus Europæ, Poland
- Mário Soares e Maria Barroso, Portugal
- Fundação Res Publica, Portugal
- Fundația Stânga Democratică, Romania
- Progresiva, Slovenia
- Fundació Rafael Campalans, Spain
- Fundación Pablo Iglesias, Spain
- Fundación Felipe Gonzalez, Spain
- Tankesmedja Tiden, Sweden
- Olof Palmes Internationella Center, Sweden
- Progressive Britain, United Kingdom
- Fabian Society, United Kingdom
References
{{Reflist}}
{{European political foundations}}
{{Party of European Socialists}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2008 establishments in Belgium
Category:Think tanks established in 2008
Category:Think tanks based in Belgium
Category:Party of European Socialists
Category:Think tanks based in Europe