PES Newsletter n°27 – July 2008
PES activists forum
The PES 1st ‘activist forum’ attended by over 300 socialists and social democrats from almost every EU country took place in Vienna in early July. Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Italian shadow foreign secretary Piero Fassino, PES Women President Zita Gurmai and discussed the main themes of the manifesto consultation – New Social Europe, EU in the World, Save Our Planet, and European Democracy and Diversity with grassroots party activists. Many national party representatives, who will take the final decisions on the PES manifesto, were present to hear activists’ views and answer questions.
Recruit an activist
PES activists will be a campaigning force for the European elections in June 2009 – so we need to build up PES activists above and beyond the existing 10,000+ activists and 40+ city groups. Recruit an activist today! Any individual member of a PES member party is entitled to join – and at no cost! Get your party friends and colleagues to sign up – it’s the best way to get more involved in European politics…
Socialist Leaders warn Sarkozy
PES leaders had sharp words for President Sarkozy before the EU Summit, warning “statements made by the forthcoming French Presidency of the European Union do not inspire confidence” and noting that the French Presidency “has failed to feature Social Europe as one of its top political priorities. No substantive proposals have yet been tabled, despite the pressing concerns of Europe’s citizens.”
Smash the glass ceiling
“We commit ourselves to doing all possible to increase the participation of women in the European elections, both as voters and as candidates, as back-benchers and as candidates for senior posts" declared PES party leaders at their meeting in June.
Controlling financial globalization
The PES has stepped up its efforts to bring financial globalization under control by launching a ‘Financial Markets Network’ bringing together progressive politicians, trade unionists and experts from Europe, USA and Japan, adding to the pressure mounting on conservatives to abandon opposition to financial market reform. Read the article
PES Promoting Sustainable Peace
"The EU on the international scene: Promoting sustainable peace" is the PES report – just printed - presented to the PES Council in Sofia last November, and written by Jean Asselborn, André Flahaut, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Carin Jämtin, Espen Barth Eide, Alain Richard and Luciano Vecchi.
Meet the new generation
Three PES member parties have elected new leaders under 35 - Finland’s Social Democratic Party elected a woman – 32 year old former teacher Jutta Urpilainen, the Malta Labour Party elected 34 year old Member of the European Parliament Joseph Muscat while in Poland the SLD - Democratic Left Alliance - elected 34 year old Grzegorz Napieralski.
Yourspace is still your space
The PES manifesto consultation has ended – after over 300,000 visits to Yourspace and more than 600 contributions posted! But our dialogue on ‘Yourspace’ goes on! We will continue to debate the hot issues that will shape the European elections – starting with migration - as well as getting ready for the elections: presenting PES candidates from different countries, discussing campaign activities, exposing opposition parties and candidates, drawing the dividing lines between the PES and the other European parties, and keeping you informed about the preparation of the PES manifesto.
Yourspace – migration debate
The right has dominated the debate about migration for far too long. But where should European socialists and social democrats stand? Hear former European Commissioner and Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal António Vitorino, speaking after he presented his ideas to the PES Presidency, and give us your views. Join the migration debate!
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
ECOSY Summer Camp, 25-31 July, Carpentras, France
PES Women Executive, 9 September, Brussels
Global Progressive Forum at European Social Forum, 17-21 September, Malmö, Sweden
PES Euro Med Conference, 2-3 October, Cyprus
World Day of Decent Work, 7 October
PES Women Statutory meeting, ‘What can the left offer for Women in Europe?’, 10 October, Paris
PES Presidency 16 October, 6 November
PES High Level Advisory Group on Turkey, 17-18 October, Turkey
PES Women Annual Conference, 29 November, Madrid
PES Council – and adoption of PES Manifesto – 1-2 December, Madrid
