News
16/03/2010
The European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Michel Barnier has received an open letter calling on him to ‘stand firm on the EU plans to regulate hedge funds’. The President of the Party of European Socialists, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen sent the letter to bolster EU resolve in the face of concerted pressure from US and UK lobbyists for the hedge fund industry.
15/03/2010
“A Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) is simple, principled and do-able”, was the clear message from Party of European Socialists President (PES) Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. Mr. Rasmussen was speaking at a high level conference organized by the Global Progressive Forum (GPF) and the FEPS political foundation. The conference, “Fighting for a financial transaction tax – how and why” saw over 100 progressive Brussels decision makers come together to generate momentum for the FTT concept.
10/03/2010
The Party of European Socialists’ (PES) President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen welcomed the European Parliament’s decision today to call for a common EU position on a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT). “The PES has long called for an FTT to curb the excesses of speculators. We are happy to see the European Parliament take this step despite resistance from Conservatives”, said Mr. Rasmussen. He praised the efforts of Udo Bullmann MEP (S&D) whose amendments have given the resolution much needed backbone.
09/03/2010
The 16 March meeting of EU Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) represents a ‘showdown’ between EU Finance Ministers and Hedge Fund Managers, according to Party of European Socialist (PES) President, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. The Finance Ministers are due to consider the Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFM), which will have a direct impact on Hedge Funds. “The economic crisis has exposed the fallacies of the ‘light-touch’ regulatory approach, stated Mr. Rasmussen, “It is now clearly established that hedge funds activities have been one of the major cause of the financial crisis. The 16 March ECOFIN must mark a definitive step in the effort to limit their destructive impact on both sides of the Atlantic’.
08/03/2010
Party of European Socialists (PES) employment and social affairs ministers, who met in Brussels today, call upon all European governments to adopt more ambitious policies to overcome the social consequences of the financial and economic crisis. They agreed that the European Commission’s proposal for a new Europe 2020 Strategy is a step in the right direction but far from sufficient to address rising unemployment and increasing social inequalities. A position paper on the Europe 2020 Strategy and a common message to the finance ministers were adopted by all ministers.
08/03/2010
“My body – My rights! In 2010 it should be an unquestioned reality for women across the world”. So said Party of European Socialist (PES) Women’s President Zita Gurmai. She added that “this should be the case, but unfortunately for too many women, in too many countries, this fundamental right is still being questioned”.
08/03/2010
PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen addresses President Barroso in open letter entitled: ‘Greece and the Euro-area need a crisis-management mechanism’
04/03/2010
Party of European Socialists say: My Body, My Rights: Together we call for Universal Maternal Health
Party of European Socialist (PES) Gender Equality Ministers, States Secretaries and delegates, gathered in New York for the UN Commission on the Status of Women, have issued a declaration on maternal health and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights. “We need to seize the opportunity of the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for action on the issue of sexual and reproductive health rights and ensure we keep the objectives and goals set out in that 1995 Declaration as the basis for further progress” said PES Women’s President, Zita Gurmai.
03/03/2010
“Unemployment remains too high, the number of working poor has increased, the number of people at risk of poverty is rising, and still President Barroso slavishly follows a stability first, growth later strategy”, said Party of European Socialists President, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.
02/03/2010
At a meeting in New York with Commissioner Viviane Reding (responsible for gender equality and women’s rights), Party of European Socialists (PES) Women’s President, Zita Gurmai, called the proposed content of the “European Women's Right Charter" in the EC declaration on the Beijing Platform for Action (BPA) a missed opportunity.
