Philippe CLOSE, Secretary General of PES Local (photo Nicolas Lobet)
In its video conference on 17 September 2026 the Bureau unanimously elected Philippe CLOSE, Mayor of the City of Brussels, Vice-President of the Socialist Party (PS), as Secretary General of PES Local.
The video conference of the PES Local Bureau again focused on the topic of "The Future of EU Cohesion Policy". Pascal SMET, PES Coordinator for the COTER Commission of the European Committee of the Regions, reported on the state of play. The Bureau reafirmed the positions of PES Local on the future of EU cohesion Policy as set out in its Resolution of 2 December 2025.
Resolution “An effective EU cohesion policy for citizens – only with the municipalities and regions of Europe!”
