Health for All: From a Slogan to a Reality for Europe
2024-03-15 | Cieszyn, Cieszyn, Polsko
We cordially invite you to an event „Health for All: From a Slogan to a Reality for Europe“ held on March 15, 2024, in Cieszyn.
🔴 Related to the upcoming elections in the EU and Poland, together with our partners FEPS Europe, Europe, a Patient, Krytyka Polityczna, Centrum im. Ignacego Daszyńskiego and Masaryková demokratická akademie, we will focus on European social democracy views of public mental health issues.
🔴 Participation: in-person and online
Find more info about the upcoming event here: https://bit.ly/42XVaZp
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Progressive Agenda for Mental Health 2024-2029
2024-04-16 08:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Prague) | Brusel, Rue Wiertz 60, Brusel, Belgie
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the Progressive Manifesto, in collaboration with the Progressive Analytical Centre o.p.s., led by MEPs Radka Maxová (S&D), Istvan Ujhelyi (S&D), and Mikuláš Peksa (Greens)!
📅 Save the Date: Tuesday, April 16th
📍 Venue: European Parliament, Altiero-Spinelli Building, Brussels
We’ll be delving into the crucial topic of the Mental Health agenda in the European Union, discussing strategies to address challenges impacting the well-being of our community.
Interested in participating? Register here: https://bit.ly/3VGkNfp or use the QR code
See you there!
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PAC Supervisory Board Meeting 13th August 2024
2024-08-13 17:00 - 18:30 | Praha – OPERO, Salvátorská 931, Praha, Praha, 11000, Česká republika
On Tuesday 13th August, a joint meeting of the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Board of the Progressive Analytical Centre o.p.s. took place. The meeting was also attended by two new members of both PAC boards: Mrs. Eva Pavlíková and Mr. Miroslav Dvořák.
During the meeting, the organisation’s programme priorities and development plans for the period 2024-2026 were discussed and agreed, including the following topics:
• the development of the PAC’s European activities: the expansion of its activities abroad, the creation of an international advisory board of the PAC together with foreign experts from Portugal, France, Poland, Slovenia and Hungary; and the establishment of a branch of the Progressive Centre in Brussels;
• new projects: the PAC Winter School for young progressive policy-makers in policy-making in the EU; a multi-year project focusing on mental health in the workplace; a training project for young security experts from Central Europe; and projects on social resilience in democracies.
• communication plans and expert capacity building of the PAC.
The meeting also unanimously approved PAC membership in several international platforms.
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The Hidden Alliance: Unmasking the Links Between Organized Crime and Russian Influence Operations
2024-11-20 16:00 - 17:30 | Office of IBRIS, al. Ujazdowskie 37 lok 3, Warszawa, 00-540, Poland
Aspen Institute Central Europe and Progressive Analytical Centre has the pleasure to Invite you to the roundtable discussion
„The Hidden Alliance: Unmasking the Links Between Organized Crime and Russian Influence Operations“
This roundtable addresses the often-overlooked connection between organized crime—such as drug trafficking, tobacco smuggling, and human trafficking—and Russian influence operations aimed at shaping political outcomes, spreading disinformation, and bolstering Russia’s influence across the EU and its neighborhood. While significant attention has been paid to the spread of disinformation, there has been far less focus on the illicit networks that bolster these influence campaigns. EU regulatory policies, often restrictive, can inadvertently create the conditions for a „grey zone“ in which organized crime thrives, facilitating these destabilizing efforts. To understand the full scope of this issue, a thorough mapping of both the impact of European practices on the growth of organized crime and the ties between these criminal networks and Russian influence operations is essential.
The debate will also explore potential actions for the EU and its Member States, ranging from strategies to counter disinformation and Russian hybrid tactics to addressing the root causes of organized crime. Additionally, it will consider improvements in EU regulations to curb grey zone activities and better integrate harm-reduction principles to mitigate these risks. This discussion marks the first in a series of initiatives, with the ultimate goal of establishing an interdisciplinary task force. By doing so, we aim to strengthen our collective capacity to expose and disrupt the hidden alliances between organized crime and Russian influence, ensuring a more resilient and secure Europe.
The roundtable will be moderated by Tomáš Petříček, Ph.D.,
director of Progressive Analytical Centre
and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
Date: 20th November 2024
Time: 16:00 – 17:30
Venue: Office of IBRIS,
al. Ujazdowskie 37 lok 3, 00-540 Warszawa
Please confirm your participation by 19th November to info@progresivnicentrum.eu.
We are looking for your contribution to the debate.
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The workshop with the PAC in Brussels next week!
2024-12-04 16:00 - 17:15
We would like to invite you to our workshop “Mental Health and Addictions: Challenges from the Perspective of the Young Generation”.
👉 The debate aims to explore how addiction risks impact youth mental health and address number of questions. How do young people perceive new challenges for their mental health? Are traditional approaches to mental health and addictions out of touch with the realities of the digital age and new mental health challenges? Can the EU foster more innovative, inclusive mental health policies?
📆 Date: 4 December 2024, 16:00-17:15
📍Venue: Martin´s Brussels EU, Boulevard Charlemagne 80
💬 Speakers:

Mikuláš Peksa, former Member of the European Parliament
Sara Bojaczuk, Research Assistant Professor, University of Warsaw
Tomáš Petříček, Director of Progressive Analytical Centre (PAC), Former Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
Lukáš Drobec, Analysist, Progressive Analytical Centre
Helena Gherasim, Institute for Rational Addiction Policy

🖋️ Please confirm your participation by Tuesday, December 3rd, at info@progresivnicentrum.eu.
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Towards Competitive European Water Resilience
2025-03-26 13:45 - 15:30
Progressive Analytical Centre (PAC) and Association of Waterworks Companies (AVS) would like to invite you for a policy roundtable
Towards Competitive European Water Resilience
Organized under the auspices of Members of the European Parliament
Nils Ušakovs (Committee on Budgets) and
Monika Beňová (Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Committee on Public Health)
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, Spinelli 5G305, BRUSSELS
26 MARCH 2025, 13:45 – 15:30
A comprehensive report released by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in October 2024 reveals that nearly two thirds of EU surface waters are in poor ecological condition, with water scarcity affecting a third of the population annually. Groundwater, supplying two-thirds of EU drinking water, is threatened by pesticides, persistent pollutants like PFAS or pharmaceuticals. The report calls for immediate action to protect ecosystems, address pollution, water scarcity, drought, and flood risks.
The new European Commission (2024-2029) prioritizes water security and tasks the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, with working on the “European Water Resilience Strategy”. This strategy, expected in Q2 2025 should address water scarcity and pollution while enhancing the competitiveness of the water industry. In this context, the event “Toward Competitive European Water Resilience” aims to discuss the upcoming strategy and offer concrete recommendations to the European Commission based on the insight of both the private and public sectors as well experience coming from the Member State level.
13:45 – 14:00 Registration & Welcome Coffee
14:00 – 14:15 Opening Speech
MEP Nils Ušakovs, Member in BUDG, substitute in TRAN, S&D, Latvia
MEP Monika Beňová, Member in ENVI and SANT, NI, Slovakia
14:15 – 14:30 Keynote Speech – EU Water Resilience Strategy
Veronica Manfredi, Director for Zero Pollution, DG ENV, European Commission (tbc)
14:30 – 15:20 Panel Discussion – Towards Competitive European Water Resilience Environment Attaché, Permanent Representation of Poland to the European Union (tbc)
Milena Angelova, EESC Employers’ Group Vice-President, Rapporteur for the EESC opinion on Water efficient consumption and consumer awareness of their water footprint, Bulgaria
Vazil Hudak, Former Vice-President of European Investment Bank
Ing. Ivana Mahríková, PhD., EUR ING., Head of Office, Association of Waterwork Companies (AVS), Slovakia, Member of EurEau
Denis Bonvillain, Head of EU Affairs at Veolia
Sara Johansson, Senior Policy Officer for Water Pollution Prevention, European Environmental Bureau
15:20 – 15:30 Q&A Session and Closing Remarks by the Moderator
The roundtable will be moderated by Tomáš Petříček, Director of Progressive Analytical Centre and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
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World No Tobacco Day 2025: Progressive Analytical Centre (PAC) Champions Harm Reduction for a Healthy Europe
2025-06-02 13:30 - 15:00 | Bruxelles, Silversquare Europe, Sq. de Meeûs 35, Bruxelles, Belgium
Progressive Analytical Centre (PAC) is proud to announce its commitment to fostering evidence-based, pragmatic and progressive solutions for tobacco addiction control. In recognition of World No Tobacco Day 2025, PAC is organizing an Interactive Roundtable in Brussels on Monday, June 2, 2025, to address the urgent need for harm reduction strategies in achieving a smoke-free Europe.
Interactive Roundtable Invitation
Date: Monday, June 2, 2025
Time: 13:30 – 15:00
Venue: Silversquare Europe, Sq. de Meeûs 35, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
The roundtable will feature a keynote address on „Towards a Smoke-Free Europe: Integrating Harm Reduction into Youth-Centered Public Health Policy.“ This session will:

Highlight the importance of inclusive dialogue and policy innovation.
Advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration to create effective, future-proof health policies.
Address the balance between long-term health outcomes and immediate risk mitigation, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Special Guests
We are honored to welcome distinguished participants, including MEP Marc Angel and former MEP Mikuláš Peksa, who will share their perspectives on youth engagement and innovative harm reduction strategies within the European Union.
PAC’s Stance on Harm Reduction
PAC has long supported harm reduction—a public health approach that prioritizes minimizing the negative impacts of substance use. By advocating for policies grounded in science, human rights, and pragmatism, we aim to complement prevention and regulation efforts.
Harm reduction, endorsed also by organizations such as the Progressive Housing Society, represents a balanced and compassionate strategy. It acknowledges the complex realities of tobacco use and the need for tailored interventions, particularly for young people and at-risk populations. PAC’s previous studies have underscored the necessity of these approaches in achieving sustainable public health outcomes.
A Call to Action: Why Restriction Alone Is Not Enough?
While tobacco control regulations are essential, restriction alone cannot address the multifaceted challenges of smoking. PAC advocates for a paradigm shift towards proactive harm reduction measures that engage youth as active stakeholders and embrace technological and behavioral innovations. Furthermore, the EU policy should duly take into account the conclusions in the European Parliament’s work in the field of health protection, namely the Report on the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the Report on Non-communicable diseases.
„We believe the path to a healthier Europe lies in integrating harm reduction into comprehensive public health strategies,“ Tomas Petricek (PAC Director) said. „By fostering inclusive dialogue and equipping policymakers with evidence-based solutions, we can co-create a smoke-free generation.“
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Healthy and Resilient Europe. A Progressive Networking Evening
2025-12-01 18:30 - 21:30 | Bohemian Art Space, Rue Wiertz 33, Brussels, Rue Wiertz 33, Brussel, Belgium
About the Event
Join young progressives from across Brussels for an inspiring and informal evening of
ideas, dialogue, and connection. The Progressive Analytical Centre (PAC) invites
progressive MEPS and their team members, youth organisation representatives, think-tank
researchers, and professionals from European institutions to gather around the theme:
“Progressive Networking for a Healthier and More Resilient Europe.”
Let’s celebrate achievements, share ideas, and shape a fair, sustainable, and inclusive
European future — together.
Programme Highlights
• 18:30 – 19:00 | Welcome & Arrival Drink
Informal networking with music and visuals on the theme
Healthy and Resilient Europe
• 19:00 – 19:20 | Opening Remarks
PAC, Guest of Honour: Progressive MEPs
• 19:20 – 21:30 | Networking & Showcases
Walking buffet & wine bar,
Idea Corners from progressive organisations,
Conversation Starters for creative dialogue,
Music & Art for a convivial atmosphere
Who Will Be There
People interested in progressive ideas and policies — all ready for intergenerational
exchange and inspiration.
✨
Let’s connect the next generation of progressives for a healthier, fairer, and resilient
Europe!
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