PES Newsletter n°17 – March 2007
Leaders declaration on the future of Europe
A new social Europe must be the political ambition of the European Union said PES party leaders in a declaration to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. Meeting in Berlin before the special EU Summit, the Leaders of our political family also agreed that “We cannot do it without a better treaty.”
The New Social Europe
‘The New Social Europe’ report by Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Jacques Delors is now available on-line in English and French following highly successful and well-attended launches and book signings in Brussels and Paris. Joining Delors and Rasmussen for the Paris launch were Ségolène Royal and François Hollande while John Monks was among the special guests in Brussels. The report, the movie of the launch, speeches and plenty more are available on the PES website – it’s essential viewing and reading!
PES extracts child care promise from Commission
The European Commission has promised a report on implementing the EU child care targets and a change of rules to allow EU funds to be used for child care following a declaration by PES Ministers and a European Parliamentary debate requested by the PES Group.
Socialist Prime Ministers meet before Climate Summit
PES Prime Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers met in Brussels just before the annual EU Spring Summit which this year focused on climate change. In a press conference afterwards with the new Chancellor of Austria Alfred Gusenbauer and the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Sergei Stanishev, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen pointed out that many of the measures agreed at the Summit had already been proposed by the PES in its common energy policy agreed at Congress in Porto.
New woman Leader for Swedish Social Democrats
Congratulations to Mona Sahlin for being elected new Leader of the Swedish Social Democrats SAP. “There is a need for change in Sweden today and Mona Sahlin is the person who will lead that change” said PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. Commiserations to Eero Heinaluoma and the Finnish Social Democrats for disappointing elections results in the EU’s most northerly state.
We’re making history with PES activists
PES activists was set up to enable grassroots party members to become active in European politics – and how active they have become. It’s a phenomenon! Read all about the development of PES activists. Latest activist interview is with Romanian social democratic Leader Mircea Geoana.
New Chair for Global Progressive Forum
Congratulations to Josep Borrell, former President of the European Parliament and prominent member of Spanish socialists PSOE, for becoming Chair of the Global Progressive Forum – set up by the PES, Socialist Group in the European Parliament and the Socialist International to provide a forum for socialist parties to debate globalisation with NGOs, trade unions and other progressive organisations.
PES Women rally for Ségolene and child care
PES Women President Zita Gurmai, together with PES Women Executive Members Anna Karamanou, Marianne Mikko, Teresa Riera and PES Women Member Maria Badia joined Ségolène Royal at a rally in Dijon and met local Deputy Mayor Françoise Tenenbaum to discuss child care. The Socialist-run local authority in Dijon aims to create an extra 1000 child care places in the city.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
PES/Fatah Seminar
A day-long meeting between PES member parties and a high level delegation from Fatah will take place in Brussels on 11 April.
Balkan Conference
The second PES conference of social democratic parties in the Balkans will take place on 16 May in Belgrade. Building strong social democratic parties with good links with the rest of our political family in the region and throughout Europe is vital for a bright future for the Balkans!
Delegation – Washington DC!
A PES delegation – including PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Romanian Social Democratic Leader Mircea Geoana and Norwegian Secretary of State for Defence Espen Eide – will visit Washington on 17-18 April for a series of meetings with leading Democratic politicians and organizations to discuss amongst other things EU/US relations, climate change, the Middle East, globalization and decent work.
Child care Campaign
There are regional meetings to discuss and promote child care in Bucharest on 21 April, in Sofia in the second week of April, in Vilnius on 31 May and in Berlin on 12-13 June.
The Socialist Group in the Committee of the Regions will host a conference on child care in Brussels on 8 May with speakers including European Commissioner Vladimir Spidla, Alex Bodry (leader of LSAP, Luxembourg) and Anna Serafini (President of the Italian Parliamentary Committee on Childhood)
PES activists are putting on activities in support of the PES child care campaign including in Poznan on 31 March, Lisbon on 2 April and in Detmold, Germany on 9 April as well as in London and Paris (dates to be confirmed).
ECOSY Congress
ECOSY - The Young European Socialists and the youth organization of the PES - will have its congress in Warsaw on March 30 to April 1. Speakers include PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Pascal Lamy and there will be resolutions on issues from child care to right-wing extremism to a social treaty for Europe.
