Brussels, 14/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - "The challenge for Laeken is to agree a declaration that launches Europe a renewal of public support for Europe by, demonstrating that closer political union is the best root to meeting the anxieties of the public and fulfil their hopes for the future", declare the European Socialists in a declaration adopted on the eve of the Laeken Summit. The Summit of European Socialists brought together Thursday evening six Prime Ministers, the leaders of the Socialist Parties of nine EU countries plus Norway and Cyprus, as well as different prominent people such as Javier Solana (EU High Representative for Cfsp). EUROPE will soon publish the declaration of the PES, which has as main thrust the need to base Europe on popular legitimacy, and recalls the achievements of Europe, before stressing that the need to respond to the "challenges to the era of globalisation" demands greater integration in Europe, which must take account of the concerns raised by this globalisation.
The Party of European Socialists did not choose "its" candidate for the Chair of the Convention, but insists that the Chair of the Convention should be a Socialist: as all other members or nearly of the Convention's Presidium will be members of the EPP (the representative of the Spanish Presidency of the Council, Commissioner Barnier …), it would only be right that the Socialists should also be represented, PES sources stress. Before the meeting, some European Socialists nominated their favourites: For Belgium's Elio di Rupo "Jacques Delors and Wim Kok seem to be the best candidates". Quite logically, Italy's Pierro Fassimo defended the candidacy of Giuliano Amato. For Enrique Baron Crespo, "we need above all people who have been members of the European Council, who have a political project, but I believe we have the right to demand that he or she be a Socialist".