Brussels, 17/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament has warned that the spread of extremist politics is damaging European influence in the world. Meeting in Budapest on Wednesday 17 November, the group, which has 184 MEPs, adopted a declaration calling on the EU “to act urgently and firmly against growing forces of hatred and division in society”. Group leader Martin Schulz said: “Our vision is of an open and inclusive society and a European citizenship that adds to the quality of people's lives”. Yet, “winning the support of the majority for inclusion, integration and education must be the cornerstone of a successful European Union”, the declaration states. The document identifies three key areas for European action to combat extremists: “urgent development of policies on social issues that extremists exploit, such as poverty and joblessness; full European Commission commitment to defending the EU treaty and making member states respect their obligations; and immediate adoption by the Council of the anti-discrimination directive”. To this end, the S&D Group calls on all EU institutions “to issue a joint solemn declaration of their commitment to a Europe of freedom, tolerance and justice”. (Gp/transl.rt)