Activities report of the PES
From Malmö to Milan
employment first
Article 3 of the PES statutes states that the Party shall have as its aims:
- to strengthen the socialist and social democratic movement in the Union and throughout Europe;
- to develop close working relationships between the national parties, the national parliamentary groups, the Parliamentary Group of the P.E.S. and the Party;
- to define common policies for the European Union;
- to prepare structures for an ever closer collaboration between European socialist and social-democratic parties;
- to engage parties' members in activities of the Party;
- to guarantee close cooperation with the Socialist Group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions;
- to ensure close collaboration with the Socialist International;
- to promote exchanges and contacts with European trade unions, professional organisations, associations and cooperatives;
- to adopt a common manifesto for elections to the European Parliament.
The aim of this activities report is to show how these objectives have been followed up since the last Congress.
The programme of activities adopted at Malmö set as its main political objective: “to maximize the influence of the PES on the political calendar of the European Union by concentrating on the drawing up of a social calendar: job creation, protection of the environment, implementation of EMU and enlargement of the European Union".
The two most tangible signs of the importance gained by European socialists in the EU are the extraordinary European Council held in Luxembourg, which was entirely devoted to employment policy, and the adding of "the European Pact for employment" to the agenda of the European Council in Vienna. In less than two years a visible shift has taken place in Europe towards a more determined action for employment. The members of the PES have been the driving force behind this evolution.
Alongside the successful timetable fixed for the Euro, instruments for a coordinated policy of promotion of employment have been identified.
Sustained attention has been given to the implementation of policies and the reinforcement of the coordination and role of initiative of the PES. With the preoccupation of promoting employment, a working party, chaired by Phillippe Busquin looked for ways of adapting tax instruments to reduce the burden of tax imposed on labour. Our members on the EcoFin Council are following up discussion on these subjects.
The Malmö Congress marked the reinforcement of the PES network for a European employment policy, based on the links between socialist ministers and leaders in our parties at EU level for policies on employment, tax, education and the environment.
The aim has been to maximize the support of the Union in the struggle against unemployment.
Enlargement of the European Union
Since the Malmö Congress the group of representatives of the Leaders have formed a working party especially devoted to this subject under the leadership of Antonio Vittorino and Jan Marinus Wiersma.
Our Leaders examined this subject in depth during their meeting in December 1999. The European Conference in London was preceded by a meeting of all the Leaders of the PES parties from member states of the European Union as well as from countries who have applied for membership of the European Union.
Vice Chairs Robin Cook, Heinz Fischer and Akis Tsohatzopoulos have taken a special interest in the situation in the Balkans. A particularly important conference, which brought together all the socialist and social democratic parties in the region, took place in Thessaloniki from 22-24 January 1999. Prior to this conference a meeting took place in Vienna between the Bosnian social democratic leaders. Another meeting took place in Thessaloniki beween the leaders of the Bulgarian parties of the left and centre-left.
Internal Coordination
At the highest level,
Since the Malmö Congress our Leaders have met on four occasions in order to ensure the necessary coordination on crucial political dossiers. Participants in the European Council, heads of government and ministers for foreign affairs have also met on four occasions.
Their meetings were prepared by the sherpas who represent them personally and, on occasion, meet several times in order to optimize preparation for these meetings and to ensure maximum efficiency during the meeting itself.
At the request of the Leaders, a very high level working party has been formed to study possible evolution in the European social model.
At Ministerial Level
Our ministers' meetings, which take place just before the Council meetings, have maintained a steady rhythm under the Luxembourg, British, Austrian and German presidencies. Parties in opposition or which, in the framework of a coalition government, do not have a minister for the relevant theme, are invited to send a high-level representative. These meetings are also attended by our parliamentary group and Commissioners responsible for the relevant portfolio.
The following Councils are concerned: General Affairs, Ecofin (Six meetings in 1998, prepared by meetings of experts), social affairs and employment, technology and research, transport, environment and education. First meetings were held between our ministers for Culture, Development and Ministers for Defence in the WEU countries.
Several of these groups have submitted contributions to the Manifesto drafting process by adopting discussion papers.
At party level
As well as the working parties already mentioned, a working party was formed to discuss migration problems. A meeting was organised to bring together the agriculture experts in our parties to allow them to exchange their analyses network..
The Bureau, meeting four times a year, has pursued its task of political and organisational development of the PES by concentrating on important political questions for the future of Europe as well as the future of our party.
The tangible sign of the Bureau's ability to achieve consensus between socialists, social democrats and Labour parties in the European Union, is the adoption of a common Manifesto, preparations for which were entrusted to Vice Chairs Robin Cook and Henri Nallet.
In the Bureau, the Vice Chairs, whose tasks are shared, have played a particularly active role, and the Treasurer has ensured the balance between our expenditure and our revenue.
The use of Internet has permitted the reinforcement of links between the party members, in particular by the creation of non-public forums allowing exchanges of points of view within a realistic time frame.
Certain parties, both within and independently of the PES, have pursued their regional coordination. (Samak and Forum in the "Visegrad" countries) .
At party activist level
Since Malmö two Summer Universities have been held, in the Netherlands and in Greece with the aim of making the PES better known to young party members.
The PES receives students who are party activists for traineeship periods in Brussels. These trainees have the opportunity of deepening their knowledge of the working of the PES whilst at the same time helping out in the secretariat.
With the Socialist International and the "Forum"
Coordination with the SI and the "Forum for Democracy and Solidarity" has been consolidated by a reinforcing of the spirit of fraternity and friendship. The work of each has been seen in the sense of its complementarity and rational division of responsibilities. Coordination is made with the objective of making the agendas mutually complementary.
With the Parliamentary Group
Osmosis between the Party and its Parliamentary Group is such that outside observers sometimes have difficulty in making a distinction between the two. Concrete help, material as much a human (parliamentarians and secretariat) proves decisive. The Parliamentary Group is always associated with all party activities.
At the same time, regular contacts have been maintained with the Socialist Group in the Committee of the Regions.
Externally
The activities programme adopted by our Malmö Congress decided on the following as a main organisation a line : "to pass form the role of internal coordination to external representation, promoting the public role of the PES; to prepare the June 1999 European elections, together with the member parties and the parliamentary group."
PES FAX-INFO
Rapid and at regular intervals, instrument for information both internal and external, our newsletter by fax has allowed us to publicise the intense activity of the PES and to attract attention to the more complete information available on our Internet site.
Internet
In June 1996 the PES was the first European political party to have its own Internet site. At the end of 1997 we decided to update and enhance its presentation and content.
Our Internet site has become a veritable window to the world for us. Its quality was awarded with the title "best political site" by an American Institute. More and more visitors come to look for information on it, especially on the eve of European Council meetings. Numerous researchers, journalists and students use this means to ask us for complementary information to learn more about the PES.
In order to reinforce the link between the PES and its Parliamentary Group, it has been decided to launch a common access to our websites during the Milan Congress, entitled "eurosocialists.org" .
Round Tables
It was possible for internet surfers to follow events 'live' on Internet for several of our "Round Table" meetings which tok place between June and November, organised jointly by the PES, the Parliamentary Group and the member parties. These meetings took place in almost all the member states on topics of interest to the citizens.
These events were, in general, received very favourably by the press and often given very wide media coverage. This was especially the case when they were attended by Leaders from other countries or well-know personalities.
Our public conference on the Balkans also received a lot of media attention. The working paper adopted by the Ecofin Minsiters received a very high level of press attention.
European Campaigns
A structure a has been set up under the responsibility of the Leader of the Parliamentary Group and Jan Marinus Wiersma, Vice Chair representing the President to bring a European " added value" to the member parties.
In a similar way our working party "Information-communication" which brings together the colleagues in our parties responsible for "campaigns", continued its work (three meetings since Malmö). These meetings particularly studied the victorious campaigns carried out in Britain, France, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Furthermore, a meeting was held between media experts from our parties as well as journalists who write on Europe in our party newspapers. They exchanged their addresses and telephone numbers so that they may work together and exchange information and analyses.
This same period saw the first steps towards the setting up of a working party bringing together our party experts on opinion polls.
Electoral Manifesto
The Manifesto for elections to the European Parliament is the most important document presented to the electorate which expresses the political basis common to the PES parties.
It received wide media attention, even before its adoption.
The Congress
The Congress is a very important moment for making the PES known. More than 500 journalists followed the Malmö Congress. All possible measures have been taken to ensure that Milan will be an even greater success.
In conclusion, it is possible to say that the existence of the PES and the work it carries out are beginning to be known.
