Brussels, 15/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Bureau of the Party of European Socialists is meeting in Prague on 17 May under the chairmanship of Robin Cook to discuss, among other things, the situation in the Middle East with Israeli Defence Minister Ben Elizier, for the Israeli Labour Party, and a representative of Chairman Arafat's Fatah. You may recall that many European socialists, including the PES' Vice-President Elio di Rupo and Akis Tsohatzopoulos, have strongly criticised members of Labour remaining in the Sharon Government.
The PES will, moreover, discuss the rise of the extreme-right in Europe (the Austrian Social-Democrat leader Alfred Gusebauer will present recommendations on the subject at the Socialist Summit of Seville, before the European Council), and the Vice-President of the French Socialist Party, Henri Nallet, will speak of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (on which the Bureau of the PES is to adopt a paper that will be discussed by party members). Finally, the Deputy-Chair of the European Convention, Giuliano Amato will brief them on the work of the Convention.