Brussels, 09/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the 9th May, Europe Day, the Party of European Socialists (PES) launched an attack into the “Conservative leadership” in power in a very large majority of member states. “Sixty-one years after the Schuman declaration in 1950, what is the state of play? A severe crisis is sweeping Europe and its current conservative leadership is unable to respond in a strong and decisive way”, PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen criticises in a press release. “When Greece was first attacked by speculators in early 2010, Conservatives dominating EU institutions watched passively as the play unfolded. When they finally decided to act, they showed the world an absence of solidarity among member states and opened the door to further speculative attacks”, he said. The feeling of solidarity, one of the basic values underpinning European construction, must be rekindled as soon as possible, Rasmussen states. “The reason we celebrate Europe Day is because 50 plus years ago people had the courage of their convictions. They had the strength to rise above short term populism and to maintain a steely focus on the long term interests. The European Union today needs to rediscover this resolve”, Rasmussen went on to say, adding: “The progressive values of the PES can provide just such a boost”. (H.B./transl.jl)