While we have a large number of thematic networks in Europe, we no longer have a common space for all the social and citizens' movements that would enable us to share our experiences and challenges and develop joint initiatives and mobilisations.

Today, throughout Europe, we have a flourishing of mobilisations and social experiments that are exciting and enriching. From Madrid to Warsaw, from Berlin to Zagreb, from Dublin to Athens individuals and collectives are taking to the street, establishing solidarity around specific issues, like the right to decent housing, the fight for climate justice, the defence of vulnerable populations and international solidarity.

Over the last two years, numerous meetings and conferences have provided an opportunity to discuss this absence and to make a modest attempt to rebuild this common space.

Following the history of international gatherings like the European Social Forum process (active 2002-2010), a number of organisations fighting for social and environmental justice are forming a coalition of groups & activists to bring together more people, from diverse origins and backgrounds, to the understanding of a caring society.

We started this process last year, around the Florence+20 initiative in November 2022, or the Future Factory in June 2023, and, between the news developments and the electoral deadlines, it has become obvious that like-minded groups should meet, and do something, together.

Today, we want to propose this new step by organising a broad encounter, in the spring of next year, in the run-up to the European Union elections in June 2024. This event will have a main topic: “ To face the far right  and the neoliberal agenda imposed on the people, we need a social, feminist, antiracist, ecological, peaceful and democratic Europe” and would be called with the acronym ECSA  (European Common Space for Alternatives).