PES newsletter n°4 - November 2005
World AIDS Day
“Only universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services will prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS” said the PES statement issued to mark World AIDS Day.
Social Europe Conference
Josep Borrell, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Jacques Delors were among those kicking off the second conference of the PES’ ‘A new Social Europe’ on 2 December in Brussels.
Socialists speak out on World Trade
A trade system at the service of sustainable development, full and quality employment and the management of globalisation for the benefit of all is the heart of the PES position for the WTO talks in Hong Kong.
Boost for PES Jobs Plan
The PES growth and investment strategy has been promised strong support from European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.
New leaders, new unity
The PES congratulates Matthias Platzeck on his election as new Leader of the German Social Democrats, and François Hollande for uniting the French Parti Socialiste at its congress at Le Mans. PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen also addressed the Flemish SpA conference when Johan vande Lanotte was elected Party Leader.
PES Women call on gender equality ministers to push ambitious agenda
On the eve of an informal summit of gender equality ministers, PES Women agreed at their meeting in Birmingham on a resolution calling for an increase in women’s employment, the reduction and eventual elimination of the gender pay gap and measures to balance work and family life.
Decent Work for EU Development Policy
The abolition of child labour and the right of workers to organise are among the principles of ‘Decent Work’ that need putting into practice in the EU’s new development policy statement said PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Swedish Development Minister Carin Jämtin.
China
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen led a small PES delegation to China that met Party and Government Ministers for discussions on issues ranging from human rights and democracy to EU-China relations and global governance.
Kiev
The PES Working Group on Eastern European Neighbours met President Yushenko and former Prime Minister Julia Timoshenko amongst others on a recent visit to Ukranian capital Kiev.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
PES Ministers
PES Social Affairs Ministers and spokespersons meet on 8 December and the Socialist Foreign Ministers meet on 11 December.
Global Progressive Forum
The Global Progressive Forum is joining the International Confederation of Free Trade unions and international ngo Solidar in putting on two public meetings on ‘Decent Work’ at the WTO Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong.
People’s Dialogue
The PES’ consultation with party supporters on ‘the future policies of Europe’ kicks off with a public consultation, and an internal PES seminar on the People’s Dialogue, in Dublin on 27 January.
Leaders Meeting
The next PES Leaders meeting will be on March 10 in Prague hosted by Czech Prime Minsiter Jiri Paroubek and Czech Social Democratic Party Leader Bohuslav Sobotka.
Finnish Elections
Presidential elections in Finland take place on January 15 and 29 2006.
EU Spring Summit
The PES ‘Lisbon Network’ has been reconvened to start exploring possible PES inputs to the EU’s annual summit on the economy and employment. A key input will be the PES priorities, especially a Growth and Investment Plan.
With the financial support of the European Parliament
