Progressive, left, socialist and ecology activists from across Europe are set to gather in Vienna this February for a major conference aimed at strengthening grassroots organising. The three-day "Peoples' Platform Europe" event, running 14-16 February, will bring together some 700 delegates representing over 160 organisations, groups, movements, networks and associations from more than 30 European countries.

The platform, organised under the banner "Reclaim the Initiative" marks the culmination of nearly a year of planning led by the Academy of Democratic Modernity (ADM). Participating groups include environmental advocates, youth movements, women's rights organisations, and various social justice collectives.

Organisers say the conference aims to develop strategic responses to current social and economic challenges while building stronger networks among European activist communities. The gathering represents one of the largest progressive organising conference in Europe this year.

160 organisations and 700 delegates from over 30 countries

The platform will draw participants from Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Basque Country, Catalonia, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, France, Scotland, Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania, North Macedonia, Portugal, Serbia, Hungary, Albania, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Netherlands, Spain, England, Germany, Turkey and Kurdistan. Over the three-day gathering, delegates will engage in nine intensive workshops, focusing on developing new strategies and perspectives for grassroots organising across Europe.

The extensive roster of participating organisations includes "Non Una Di Meno" and "Potere al Popolo" from Italy, "Solidaires Union Syindicale" and "Les Soulèvements de la Terre" from France, "Askapena" from the Basque Country, "Endavant OSAN" from Catalonia, and "Confederación General del Trabajo" from Spain. Also joining are "Rouvikonas" from Greece, "Dunja Social Center" from North Macedonia, "Interventionistische Linke" from Germany, and "Women's International League for Peace and Freedom" from Austria.

Additional participating organisations include "Partija Radikalne Levice – PRL" from Serbia, "Rede de Apoio Mútuo" from Portugal, "Slí Eile - Action for a Planet Beyond Capitalism" from Ireland, and "Union of Cypriots" from Cyprus. International networks will be represented by the "Transnational Institute of Social Ecology (TRISE)", "Network for an Alternative Quest", "Jineolojî Europe", "International League of Peoples Struggle (ILPS)", and "Ronahi - Youth Centre". Notable among the delegates will be Greta Thunberg, representing the European "Fridays for Future" ecological movement.

Opening and ‘Reclaim the Initiative’ panel

The Peoples' Platform Europe will begin on Friday, 14 February 2025, with an opening speech and cultural performances before noon. This will be followed by a panel discussion on "Reclaim the Initiative". The panel will feature talks by American professor William I. Robinson on "The Epochal Crisis of Global Capitalism - Challenges for Popular Resistance from Below," by Mireille Fanon, President of the Franz Fanon Foundation, on "The 100th Anniversary of Franz Fanon: Between Race and Class" by Italian-American philosopher Silvia Federici on "For an International Feminist Movement Against Capitalist Patriarchy and its Ongoing War on Social Reproduction" and by Irish-Mexican professor John Holloway on "Perspectives in the Storm".

Workshops

Participants will be divided into nine workshops, which they have prepared in advance, and will hold political, ideological and organisational discussions for a day.

The topics of the nine workshops that constitute the main agenda of the platform are as follows: "War and Peace", "Anti-fascism", "Ecological Resistance", "Democratic Women's Confederalism", "Youth Identity and Resistance", "Building Autonomy", "Activism and Organisation", "Opposing the Genocidal Politics" and "Democratic Media".

The results of the discussions held in the workshops will be conveyed to the platform in the form of presentations. On Sunday, 16 February, long-term and joint strategic plans will be discussed, and decisions will be reached with the participating components under the title of "Roadmap of the Peoples' Platform Europe".

The Peoples' Platform Europe will end with a special session and the establishment of a coordination network.

Inspired by Abdullah Öcalan's "World Democratic Confederalism" perspective

ADM spokesperson Ali Çiçek highlighted how left and progressive organisations and segments of society have been more defensive in politics throughout Europe in recent years, stating, "The idea of the platform emerged as a result of the discussions we held based on the perspective of the 'Global Democracy Movement' put forward by Abdullah Öcalan, the architect of the theory of democratic modernity".

Çiçek emphasised that they engaged in discussions with anti-system movements to implement the "World Democratic Confederalism" perspective, adding, "Within the scope of the platform, we will evaluate major social crises such as climate collapse, the rise of authoritarian regimes, the spread of fascist parties, and wars experienced around the world. It is the capitalist system that has created these crises, and struggles are needed to counter this grave picture and develop social responsibility. We aim to reveal common struggle perspectives and strategies as a result of the discussions we will hold with grassroots organisations that do not target parliamentary system politics and are based on radical democracy."

Powerful Women's Participation

Oona Elvers, one of the spokespeople for the Network Women Weaving the Future, which is involved in the Platform's preparatory work, highlighted the significant participation of women, saying, "The range of participants will be very diverse. There will be representatives from ecological and cultural groups and networks, primarily from left, socialist, women's movements, feminist organisations. There will also be activists and representatives from various union members, left academic collectives, student organisations, democratic media and diaspora organisations of various peoples." Elvers noted that women will make up half of the participants, emphasising that this will contribute significantly to both the Platform discussions and the preparatory work.