PES Newsletter n°6 - February 2006
People’s Dialogue
The PES kicked off its ‘People’s Dialogue’ initiative in Ireland with a public meeting in Dublin’s Mansion House attended by some 100 people.
Our aim is to take the concerns of the citizens as our point of departure for a new direction for Europe, a direction, in line with our socialist and social-democratic values, that people can unite around.
We wish to hear what you have to say on Europe! Participate in the debate and share your experience on our online fora. The main subjects tackled are:
Conferences, seminars and debates will take place throughout Europe in the forthcoming months. Check our website regularly !
Madam President
The PES congratulates two socialist women on their election to the post of national President - Tarja Hanonen, re-elected as President of Finland and Michelle Bachelet, the first woman President of Chile.
PES in print
A new leaflet presenting the PES – its priorities, initiatives, member parties – is available on-line in four languages English, French, German and Spanish. Should you wish to order hard copies get in touch with
Socialist International on the move
The election of Greek Socialist Leader George Papandreou as President of the Socialist International will bring new vigour to international efforts for peace and democracy said PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.
Decent Work in Bamako
The Global Progressive Forum together with the international trade unions ICFTU & WCL and Solidar put on a meeting on Decent Work – from an African perspective – at the World Social Forum in Bamako.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Social Europe Initiative
The ambitious PES initiative to define a new political direction for the renewal of our welfare states to meet the challenges of globalisation and an ageing society now has a busy schedule of discussions under its 3 forums – the active society (February 3, Stockholm), the inclusive society (February 17, London; April 28, Spain) and the European dimension (March 3, Slovenia) with an additional seminar on Central and Eastern European States in Romania on March 23. Further dates will be announced including for a final conference for the new Social Europe Initiative in June in Paris.
Growth & Investment Strategy
Getting the PES growth & investment strategy implemented will be top of the agenda at meetings of PES Finance Ministers and Shadow Ministers on February 14 in Brussels, and PES Party Leaders on March 10 in Prague.
Services Directive
There will be a discussion on the hotly contested Services Directive at the next meeting of the PES Presidency on February 9 in Brussels.
International Women’s Day
On March 8 PES Women will launch an e-campaign ‘crime alert’ to draw attention to the need to prevent the mass trafficking of women to work as prostitutes during the World Cup in Germany this summer. It is feared that an estimated 40,000 women could be trafficked and forced into sexual slavery if European authorities do not work together to stop this terrible crime.
PES Women meet on February 23 in Brussels to discuss this and preparation for the EU Spring Summit.
PES ministers (& Shadows)
Finance ministers on February 14 in Brussels and in April in Vienna
Foreign ministers on February 26
Environment ministers on March 3
Development ministers in April
Social Affairs ministers on June 1.
With the financial support of the European Parliament
