03/10/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 1 October, a group of nine MEPs - Guillaume Balas, S&D, France; Dimitrios Papadimoulis, GUE/NGL, Greece; Ernest Urtasun, Greens/EFA, Spain; Florent Marcellesi, Greens/EFA, Spain; Eva Joly, Greens/EFA, France; Elly Schlein, S&D, Italy; Martin Schirdewan, GUE/NGL, Germany; Sergio Cofferati, S&D, Italy; and Georgi Pirinski, S&D, Bulgaria, co-signed an open letter to EurActiv, as members of the Progressive Caucus, to create a left-wing/ecological coalition. There are two aims: to create a front against populist forces in the forthcoming European Parliament, but also against the neoliberal parties. The idea corresponds to one first floated by UdoBullmann (S&D, Germany) (see EUROPE 12107) and one by Papadimoulis (see EUROPE 12095). The next stage will be the European Forum of Progressive Forces in Bilbao on 9 and 11 November. The open letter can be consulted at: https://bit.ly/2E4N9dp. (PH)