Summit - best you can expect from compromise

25 June 2007

Commenting on the outcome of the European Summit, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said

“Europe can now move out of its constitutional crisis and concentrate on the things that matter to people’s everyday lives: more and better jobs, a decent and fair society with high standards of social protection, public services and environmental standards. Europe has got the Treaty that it needs. Now it is about implementing the Treaty and getting on with the much more important tasks facing Europe.”

“Nobody is perfect and we have got the best you can expect from a compromise.”

“Due to the disunity of the right we have a Treaty that keeps alive hopes of a more social democratic Europe. The Party of European Socialists made its demands quite clear at our pre-Summit meeting and we got what we wanted: a Charter of Fundamental Rights that is legally-binding, a strong statement on Europe’s social objectives and a clear reference to tackling climate change.”

“The Treaty also allows the EU to have stronger foreign and political voice – making Europe a more influential player in international affairs.”

“The PES gives its full support to, and has every confidence in, the Portuguese Presidency to put into place the new Treaty. I wish José Sócrates every success in presenting Europe with the Lisbon Treaty.”

The PES welcomes the fact that the Summit agreed that the objectives of the EU would include full employment, social justice and protection, equality between women and men, combating social exclusion and discrimination. It also welcomes the wording on climate change. 

The PES and its member parties will work to make sure that there is no right-wing or nationalist back-peddling on the Summit agreement.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Julian Scola, Press Officer
Party of European Socialists, Rue du Trône, 98 B-1050 Brussels
Mobile +32 486 117 394,