ESW - Esri

Europe remains a unique project — grounded in freedom, democracy, solidarity and the common good. It brought us prosperity, justice and solidarity. And it has proven that economic progress and social welfare can reinforce one another. That is why the European Social Week 2027 places democracy and economy at the heart of its programme. The core question is simple and urgent:

Where can democracy and economy become levers for hope, shared wellbeing and future confidence?

How can we succeed in a global economy and a new democracy taking into account our core human values as integrity, connection, trust and responsibility? Let this be the voice of Europe in a changed world order. Let this be the challenge in the transformation of our continent. Let us be a vibrant community of values and tangible change. And this change does not begin in policy papers alone. It grows from lived experience. It starts in everyday workplaces.

The ESW ’27 is not about defending what no longer works. It is about designing what comes next: a democracy that invites participation, an economy that is fair and resilient, a Europe that delivers perspective and trust. During our seminar we give participants the oppoutunity to access what’s needed on a level of the worker’s organisations and civil society, on an institutional level and on a personal level. Speakers will offer insight and analysis, but the real strength lies in dialogue and building a network of the willing.

Willing to try, to act, to change. From insight to action. From voice to taking responsibility.
Because Europe’s strength has always been its capacity to learn and to care.

You can make the difference.
Let’s make it together.

FEBRUARY 11

THURSDAY

12:30	Lunch
14:00	Opening of the Secretariat Registrations & Signatures
15:00	Opening - Plenary
15:15	Setting the scene Presenting the framework & narrative of this conference.
15:45	Keynote Europe in the World: Multicrisis, Challenge or Opportunity?
16:30	Q&A
16:45	Break
17:00	Keynote Workers' organisations of the future & How to adress the changes in the heart of our movements
17:45	Q&A
18:00	Friendship Reception
18:45	Dinner

FEBRUARY 12

FRIDAY

9:00	Welcome
9:15	Keynote Democracy: A new beginning for a never-ending story?
10:00	Q&A
10:15	Democracy - inspiration cases (1) Challenging new ideas and inspiring real life cases on the nexts steps in democracy. 20’ pitch + 10’ Q&A per initiative.
11:00	Break
11:30	Democracy - inspiration cases (2) Challenging new ideas and inspiring real life cases on the nexts steps in democracy. 20’ pitch + 10’ Q&A per initiative.
12:30	Lunch
14:00	Keynote Economy: Towards a symbiosis between competiveness, growth with a human dimension
14:45	Q&A
15:00	Economy - inspiration cases (1) Challenging new ideas and inspiring real life cases on the nexts steps in erconomy. 20’ pitch + 10’ Q&A per initiative.
15:30	Break Hartmut Rosa
16:00	Economy - inspiration cases (2) Challenging new ideas and inspiring real life cases on the nexts steps in erconomy. 20’ pitch + 10’ Q&A per initiative.
17:00	Plenary round-up
18:15	Inspiring network activity and dinner Surprise activity

FEBRUARY 13

SATURDAY

9:00	Welcome
9:15	Debate Let's face the future. Changes to be made.
10:15	Q&A
10:30	Break Presenting the framework & narrative of this conference.
11:00	Discussion and creative decision-making in plenary Round-up of the whole seminar. Adressing the three levels of change: personal, in workers’ organisations & civil society and on the European politcial level. What’s next: in my working context, in our working & thinking together, our advice to policy
12:00	Closing
12:30	Lunch