◉ PLENARY – FUTURE OF EU: SOCIAL EUROPE
◉ In the push for a green future, social justice and climate are two sides of the same coin. By drawing on the expertise and lived experiences of social actors across Europe, this interactive plenary invites social actors to lead the conversation on Social Europe and foster a meaningful dialogue with green policymakers.
From the Green Deal to cyber security, and from youth-led movements to migrant advocacy, the session will highlight the voices of social actors across sectors—migrants, youth, farmers, digital and more. Together, we’ll explore questions like: How are diverse communities experiencing the impact of Europe’s polycrisis? What are the biggest challenges to building a green and social Europe? And most importantly, what bold, shared visions can we create for a Europe where both people and the planet can thrive?
Speakers:
Jelena Miloš, Member of Parliament, Možemo
Jelena Miloš is one of the founders and an executive board member of Možemo!, a progressive green-left political platform in Croatia. As a current member of the Croatian Parliament, she also serves as the chairperson of the Committee for European Affairs. She has extensive experience in strategic organizing, having worked in both Croatian and international trade union federations. As one of the founding members of Možemo!, she has helped shape and develop the platform since its inception. Her work focuses on key issues such as just transition, labor and social rights, housing, and fostering social and economic convergence.
Sara Matthieu, MEP, Green Group European Parliament
Sara Matthieu is a Belgian Member of the European Parliament since 2020. She is coordinator of the Environment Committee, and an active member in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. She has been active in politics for the past 22 years, holding positions at Natuurpunt and the cabinet of Brussels Mobility Minister Bruno De Lille. In addition, she is an active member of the Belgian women’s movement. As of 2013, she has been a city councillor in Ghent, where the Greens are in the majority. Sara has been active in European politics since 2002, within FYEG, and as a delegate and later board member within EGP and the global greens.
Benedetta Scuderi, MEP, Green Group European Parliament
Benedetta Scuderi is an Italian MEP from Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra, part of the Greens/EFA group. She holds a master’s degree in Sustainability and Energy and a master’s degree in Public Policy. In her professional life, she is a sustainability consultant for businesses. She joined Europa Verde in 2019 and co-founded Giovani Europeisti Verdi, the youth wing of the Italian Greens. She served as co-spokesperson of the Federation of Young European Greens from 2022 to 2024.
Catarina Scarrott, Activist, Associação Unidos em Defesa de Covas do Barroso
Catarina is a teacher in London where she first became aware of the interest in mining lithium in the village she comes from in Portugal. She was amazed by the plans being made while the community first remained ignorant and later questioned the extensive and aggressive prospection campaign close to their homes, done without prior warning and the notable absence and silence of local government, the mining licensing office, the Environment Protection Agency or any other government office. They were alarmed and outraged by what transpired about the permissive Portuguese licensing process and the complete disregard for the people affected by potential mining projects. In 2018, the community decided to unite as UDCB to get their voice heard. As time went by their understanding of what was being asked of them evolved and today more than ever they question not just the fairness of the Green Deal but also its purpose and impact. She feels it is her duty to carry the voice of her community to the outside world and to support them in facing the challenges brought about by the mining project. We are ordinary people in an extraordinary situation.
Fruzsina Schermann, Hungarian youth movement leader
Fruzsina Schermann is 22 years old and has been an active member of the ADOM student movement for almost 5 years, who is fighting for a more student centered, modern and egalitarian education system by organizing protests and writing education programs and proposals. She also acknowledges that green and sustainable policies are essential for a liveable future, and looks forward to learn more about them.
Kayle Giroud, Director, Common Good Cyber
Kayle is a project management professional based in Brussels, Belgium. With a rich international background and several years of experience in international cooperation working for the United Nations, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and various organizations, Kayle has developed an expertise on cybersecurity and a passion about the impact of emerging technologies on society and fundamental rights. Currently, she serves as the Director for the Common Good Initiatives at the Global Cyber Alliance. Kayle is a Ph.D Candidate at the University of Bordeaux. She holds an Advanced Master in Interdisciplinary Analysis of European Construction and a B.A. in Political Science from UCLouvain Saint-Louis-Brussels, an MSc in Defense, Development and Diplomacy from Durham University, a PMI PMP® Certification, and a ISC2 Cybersecurity Certification®.
Enrico Somaglia, Deputy Secretary General, EFFAT
Enrico Somaglia is Deputy General Secretary of EFFAT, the European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Trade Unions. EFFAT is the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions, also representing domestic workers. As an European Trade Union Federation with 2.6 million members, representing 120 national trade unions from 35 European countries. EFFAT is a recognized EU Social Partner, a member organisation of the ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation) and the European regional organisation of the IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations). Enrico coordinates EFFAT work in multinational companies as well as EFFAT political agenda with the European Institutions.
Moderator:
Michalis Goudis, Director, Heinrich Boll Stiftung Thessaloniki
Michalis was born in Thessaloniki, Greece. His Journalism and Mass Communication studies at Aristotle University were followed up by Radio & Data Journalism training at LfM in Düsseldorf and at DJS in Munich. As a journalist in Greece, he has reported, published and broadcasted for several magazines, online media and radio stations, while freelancing- especially at peak of the Eurozone crisis- for numerous European Media, including among others DIE ZEIT, ZDF, Songlines and Nieuwsuur. Moving to Brussels, after a valuable learning experience at the Press Unit of the European Parliament, starting in July 2013 and over a period of 7 years he’s been leading the communications work of Housing Europe, while being actively involved in the International Social Housing Festival. In the meantime, his persistent interest in cities gave a twist to his professional and educational path with a Master’s degree in Human Geography & Spatial Planning. Summer 2020 includes an exciting professional turning point that brings him back to his hometown to head the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Office in Greece with its talented team working closely with a wide range of partners on democracy, ecology and social solidarity economy.
