The transformative power of economic democracy

The current economic system has resulted in a significant concentration of power in the hands of a few and created record inequality. There is a need for a new paradigm — one that provides both a fair outcome and secures a democratic process. Economic democracy offers a solution by giving people agency over their economic activities, both at the individual and collective levels.

The conference will start with a keynote presentation by Dr. Andrew Cumbers, Dr. Karen Bilsland and Dr. Robert McMaster, the research team from the University of Glasgow, on the results of the policy study within the ongoing Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) - Open Society Foundations (OSF) project. This will be followed by several panel discussions among practitioners and policymakers on diverse aspects of economic democracy including:

• Democracy in public spending: Spending for people's well-being
• Democracy at the workplace: Sharing power through employee participation and ownership
• Democratising public services and urban planning: How to make public ownership democratic

Among our confirmed speakers are:

• Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
• László Andor, Secretary General, Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS)
• Graça Fonseca, former Minister of Culture and former State Secretary for Administrative Modernization of Portugal, Co-founder and CEO of Because Impact
• Maria Luisa Cabral, Director for Working Conditions and Social Dialogue at DG EMPL, European Commission
• Matthew Brown, Senior Fellow, The Democracy Collaborative, Preston (UK) City Council Leader, former advisor to the Labour Party’s Community Wealth Building Unit
• Anne Le Strat, Consultant and Lecturer, former Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of the water policy
• Stefan Gran, Senior Advisor, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)

• Kosta Marco Juri, Head of Research and Policy at the Institute for Economic Democracy

The goal of these discussions is to develop successful strategies for implementing and scaling up democracy in the economic domain and to determine what kind of policy support is needed at the local and EU levels.

Discover how giving power to the people can shape a more inclusive and just society. Learn from experts in the field and engage in thought-provoking discussions. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired and empowered!

More information and the programme is available on FEPS webpage: https://feps-europe.eu/event/the-transformative-power-of-economic-democracy/

For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Anna Kolesnichenko, FEPS Policy Analyst on Economy ([email protected]), and Vanessa Zwisele, FEPS Project Officer ([email protected]).

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), 2 Rue Van Maerlant, Bruxelles, Belgium