German MEP Udo Bullmann is calling on Europe's progressive leaders to promote "the values and principles" of their political family with a view to the campaign for the European elections in May 2019.
"To protect the European project and change it, we progressives need to say loud and clear who we are and who we represent, standing together to reassert our historic values and principles", Bullmann, who is leader of the European Parliament's S&D Group, stated in a two page letter sent to progressive leaders on Thursday 27 September and seen by EUROPE.
The goal is not to give a free hand to the centrist forces mobilising around a pro-European agenda at a time when France's President Emmanuel Macron is multiplying his calls for a platform of progressives. And when Macron's right hand man, the general delegate of La République en marche, Christophe Castaner, has just co-signed an opinion article with the leader of the European Parliament's ALDE Group, Guy Verhofstadt from Belgium, in favour of reinventing Europe (see EUROPE 12105).
Against this backdrop, Bullmann reiterates seven key principles that are dear to progressives – including gender equality and the freedom of worship. He notably says that "our development cannot be measured by GDP alone" and that "our land, water and soil belong to all citizens". He finishes by stating the need "to re-build social alliances". (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)