40 European parties united against austerity, to stop militarisation and win the future [ Pronto en español ]
War and the militarisation of society, rising energy prices and industrial crisis: Europe is at a crossroads. On 17 and 18 April, Brussels hosted the congress of the European Left. 106 delegates from all over Europe came together to develop a common response to the situation and decide on guidelines for the next three years. The PVDA-PTB became a member of the European Left in 2025, and has since played an active role.
The congress decided on two clear priorities, reflected in its title "Fight austerity. Stop militarisation. Win the future".
The political document that was voted on brings together the analysis, proposals and perspectives of the European Left, which consists of 40 parties from 24 countries. It is an ambitious and rich document, counting thirteen chapters that also deal with issues such as youth struggles, support for trade union fights, feminism, the green transition and the challenges of digital technology.
It is the fruit of a year's worth of discussions between the various member parties.
The European Left is a platform for exchange and joint action, with parties from different traditions of the radical left, holding different positions on certain issues. Although the member parties do not all share the same positions, this congress has allowed for the European Left to be renewed.
At the end of the debate, the congress decided to run a joint campaign entitled "Welfare not Warfare", with a focus on action to defend a Europe of peace instead of an arms race.
Walter Baier has been re-elected president of the European Left. David Pestieau (PVDA-PTB) became vice-president alongside Marta Martín Morán (Communist Party of Spain) and Hélène Bidard (French Communist Party). The political secretariat is made up of parties from all over Europe: Die Linke (Germany), Syriza and Néa Aristerá (Greece), Rifondazione (Italy), Levice (Czechia), Izquierda Unida (Spain), Levica (Slovenia), Workers' Party of Hungary-2006 and the Communist Party of Austria. Merlin Léonard and Ianthe Ghaye were elected as PVDA-PTB representatives on the executive committee.
A congress demonstrating the ambition and diversity of the European Left
Among the speakers, Peter Mertens, secretary general of the PVDA-PTB, asserted that a Left that breaks with the past can win: "Europe must break with the United States. But this is not enough. Because the question is: what for? We don't need a European army that does exactly the same thing as the US army: intervene around the world to secure raw materials and supply routes (...). We don't just need an autonomous Europe, above all we need a different Europe. We need a socialist Europe that breaks with war and imperialism (...). Socialism is the future, and we are proud to be the forces of that future. We need to embody this confidence and pride. We have to want to win. We have to want to win the world, and show it."
· Read the full speech here
Walter Baier recalled the essence of the left-wing struggle: "All the struggles for reform must never make us forget that our aim is to build a radically different society. Starting with a European security system based not on the arms race, but on cooperation, a Europe that ends its complicity in the genocide in Gaza, by stopping the arms trade with Israel and suspending the association agreement that ensures impunity for Netanyahu and his government."
Having come all the way from the United States, Megan Romer, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, the party of the new mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani, argued that the chaos created by Trump is not inevitable: "In his view, the state doesn't have the luxury of responding to workers' needs, and must concentrate all its resources on the army and wars. Against this vision, the struggle of the people at the grassroots, the millions of people mobilised for Palestine, for their dignity and against militarism... all these struggles show that another world is possible."
Claes-Mikael Ståhl, secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, made the link between neoliberalism and the rise of the far right: "Attacks on social security, workers' rights and trade unions are the consequences of a Europe of Capital. The question today is: how to deal with this? Let us be on the offensive for workers' and trade union rights, for a Europe that meets people's needs, for a Europe of solidarity. Let us give hope, a perspective for the future. If we succeed, the far right will retreat."
The Palestinian struggle took center stage, with a speech by Amal Jadou Shakaa, Palestine's ambassador to Belgium and the European Union. She called for continued international solidarity: "What is happening in Palestine and Lebanon is not a regional issue, but a challenge for all humanity. The solidarity movement with Palestine is essential for our liberation. The millions of people mobilised around the world are proof that people refuse injustice, and they present a powerful message of hope."
Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of the British Labour Party, decades-long peace campaigner and initiator of Your Party, showed us the way to a Europe that chooses life over weapons: "In the USA and Europe, the powerful arms lobby has obtained increased budgets, which are being achieved everywhere by cutting social security. A war economy is the future they promise us. Europe does not need compulsory military service, or billions in militarisation. Europe needs international cooperation based on solidarity, to enable the development of our continent and the rest of the world. We must be the voice of peace. Let us be proud and offensive in our fight against militarisation, the war that our elites want to impose on us, let us be determined and we will win!"
Other speakers included Fabien Roussel (PCF national secretary), Janina Böttger (member of the German Bundestag for Die Linke), Simon Maljevac (Slovenian minister, member of Levica), Rena Dourou (member of the Greek Parliament for Syriza) and Rubén Pérez Correa (Spanish secretary of state for Youth and Children).
· (Re)watch the entire closing session here
Friday evening was devoted to solidarity with Cuba, with speeches by Juan Antonio Fernández Palacios, ambassador to Belgium, Elier Ramirez, director of the Fidel Castro Center, and a presentation by Marta Martín Morán (Communist Party of Spain), newly elected vice-president of the European Left.
From the congress to the streets: see you on 14 June in Brussels for the "Welfare not Warfare" protest
The congress affirmed that another Europe is possible: a Europe of peace, social justice, solidarity and international cooperation. It is the starting point for a concrete European campaign. This campaign will kick off on 14 June 2026, with the "Welfare not Warfare" protest in Brussels. Organised by the Belgian front "Stop militarisering - Stop militarisation" and the European coalition "Stop ReArm Europe", it aims to bring together thousands of young people, peace activists and trade unionists from all over Europe.
