PES activists forum Vienna: A strong voice for European social democracy

Over 300 socialists and social democrats from all over Europe took part in the first ever Party of European Socialists ‘activists forum’ in Vienna from 4 to 6 July. It marked the end of the PES’ consultation on what should be in its manifesto for the 2009 European elections, and the start of preparations for the 2009 European election campaign.



One unique aspect of the event was the participation of high profile leaders – PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, Italian shadow foreign secretary Piero Fassino – and so many grassroots party members from all over Europe. Together they discussed the main themes of the manifesto consultation – New Social Europe, EU in the World, Save Our Planet, and European Democracy and Diversity. So the leaders, plus many party representatives who will take the final decisions on the PES manifesto, were present to hear the views of the activists and answer questions from the activists.

Another important aspect was that it shows the PES is really serious about consulting widely on its manifesto. It also showed that PES activists, the initiative by which individual members of our different socialist and social democratic parties can get more involved in European politics, is really becoming a living, campaigning success.

Speaking at the end of the PES activists forum Secretary General Philip Cordery said “At the PES we often speak about Europe as the fourth house of democracy after the local, the regional and the national. It takes time for a family to feel at home in a new house. In Vienna our European family of socialist, social democrat and labour parties has made a great step forward in making this new European house our home.”    

This weekend of debate on the manifesto and campaigning was organized the PES with the support of the new Foundation for European Progressive Studies, the Karl Renner Institute and the Austrian Social Democratic Party SPO. It was so successful the PES has already committed to have another forum next year in the run up to the European elections. The next major event for PES activists will be the PES Council in Madrid on December 1-2 when the PES manifesto will be adopted and there will also be a full programme of fringe meetings for PES activists. This gives us over 6 months to spread the word about our manifesto through every corner of Europe!

Now our challenge is to build up PES activists and gear up in our parties for the European elections.

For more information about the Vienna PES activists forum see http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en/tag/forum

For pictures and links about Vienna PES activists forum see
http://www.manifesto2009.pes.org/en/in-the-spotlight/post/616

For more information about the manifesto and consultation see http://manifesto2009.pes.org/en

For more information about PES activists see http://activists.pes.org