25 years of Silver Rose: Advancing a just transition in the face of political challenges
On Wednesday 3 December 2025, SOLIDAR came together with members, partners and allies to celebrate a very special edition of the Silver Rose Awards. With the support of the S&D, PES, FEPS and in collaboration with ETUC, PES Women and YES, we were proud to present the 25th anniversary celebration of Silver Rose!
Mikale Leyi, Secretary-General of SOLIDAR welcomed us as our moderator for the evening. The night kicked off with some inspiring words from our distinguished speaker about the history of Silver Rose, and the future of our movement. We were honoured to be joined by MEP Iratxe García Pérez, President of the S&D, who opened the ceremony by giving her reflections on the significance of 25 years of Silver Rose, and sharing a powerful call to action for the progressive movement. She was followed by Giacomo Filibeck, Secretary-General of PES, who emphasised the importance of people power in creating positive change and challenging harmful political trends. SOLIDAR’s President, Anne Van Lancker, finished the welcoming remarks, reflecting on the history of Silver Rose, and the courage and inspiration we must take in the current moment from the activists, human rights defenders and civil society organisations who have been awarded over the years.
Then, we turned to our awardees. First, MEP Gaby Bischoff presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Agnes Jongerius. Throughout her career, from trade unions to the European Parliament, Agnes has shown a remarkable dedication to securing fair working conditions and advancing the rights of workers across Europe. She has also made outstanding contributions to alliance-building within the movement, showing that when we work together we can made positive change happen. In her acceptance speech, Agnes emphasised the importance of delivering for people and the planet, even in a moment when these imperatives are slipping off the agenda.
We were also honoured to present the Just Transition Award to La Via Campesina. Ludovic Voet, Confederal Secretary of ETUC presented the award to Morgan Ody, General Coordinator of La Via Campesina. Since 1993, La Via Campesina has been uniting peasants, indigenous people, pastoralists, rural women and youth. The organisation has achieved remarkable success in bringing local struggles to an international level, and amplifying the voices of people around the world. Most importantly, they show the power of unity and solidarity in action. In her acceptance speech, Morgan highlighted the need for all workers to come together to tackle challenges to their rights collectively.
László Andor, Secretary-General of FEPS, led an exchange between the winners, highlighting the links between their missions and opportunities for collaboration among those fighting for a just transition that works for people and the planet.
Finally, the closing remarks were delivered by Zita Gurmai, President of PES Women, and Irja Vaateri, Secretary-General of YES. Together, they delivered a powerful message for the future of the progressive movement – a future in which we recognise the leadership of women and young people, and where we turn our values into concrete action.
For the last 25 years, the Silver Rose Awards has been a space to honour and recognise those within our movement who speak up in defence of equality and justice, even when faced with risks. Over the coming 25 years, we plan to do the same, spotlighting those who serve as an inspiration for us all and forging alliances within our movement. Together, we are always stronger.
