PES Prime Ministers back new Treaty
18 October 2007
Following a meeting of socialist and social democratic Prime Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers in Lisbon ahead of the EU Informal Summit, PES president Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said
“The PES believes the Reform Treaty provides better organisation and progressive political objectives for the European Union.
“The Reform Treaty is not a conservative text. It is infused with social democratic values and progressive goals. The Charter of Fundamental Rights, full employment, equality between women and men, the fight against poverty, social protection, the means to protect public services are all part of the treaty. The Treaty is a platform for a better quality of life for its citizens.
“The Reform Treaty provides a solid basis for Europe to work more effectively for its citizens and to tackle common challenges. Europe can move on, and focus on the real issues – more and better jobs, climate change and sustainable energy, making globalisation work for people in Europe and beyond. Gordon Brown’s call for an inclusive globalisation, with Europe helping its people and countries to flourish under globalisation was very positively received.”
“The PES remains strongly committed to the so-called Lisbon agenda of social and economic reform. We believe its implementation has to be stepped up, and note that it is social democratic governments that have carried out some fundamental reforms in the UK, in Germany, in Portugal and elsewhere. There is a need for the strategy to put more emphasis on climate change and investments to kick start a green revolution, to boost skills and innovation, to increase new forms of social protection such as child care and education and training.”
The meeting was attended by Gordon Brown, Romano Prodi, José Sócrates, Alfred Gusenbauer, Ferenc Gyurcsany, Gediminas Kerkilas, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Massimo D’Alema, Luis Amado, Jean Asselborn, Frans Timmermans, Commissioner Margot Wallström, Martin Schulz and Enrique Baron Crespo.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Julian Scola, Communications Advisor - Media & Campaigns
Party of European Socialists, Rue du Trône, 98, B-1050 Brussels
Mobile +32 486 117 394,
