“We must stand together, shoulder to shoulder”

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen debates with PES activists on “A new social Europe”

This week PES activists had the opportunity to debate the initiative “A new Social Europe” with Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, president of the PES. Activists could pose their questions to him and exchanged their views on possible strategies.

The PES president underlined the importance of adopting a programme based on 10 founding principles on social, economical and environmental issues, which will be approved at the PES Congress in Porto, this December. It shall be used as a roadmap that will bring together socialist and social-democratic governments in Europe and allow them to renew our welfare states in a common direction. Together we have to build a New Social Europe, which is capable of fighting the new challenges that arise from globalisation, demographic change, the information technology revolution, environmental sustainability and enlargement.

“The Market is our servant, not our master. We must stand together, shoulder to shoulder, or we will lose ground. Our grandfathers stood together to build and fight for welfare societies. We must follow their example across Europe’s borders to defend their achievements and renew social democracy.”

PN Rasmussen focused on questions at the heart of the European debate including unemployment, workers’ rights and the state of welfare societies around Europe. The activists were keen on giving their ideas, discussing their concerns and giving their input on common solutions.


Read the proceedings of the debate

Read also the article on PS France website, by Valérie Rabault

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