07/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - The priorities of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU for the first half of next year were discussed at a meeting in Berlin on 6 and 7 November organised by the Socialist group at the European Parliament, the PES. PES President Martin Schulz explained in a press release that economic progress in Europe has to go 'hand-in-hand with social progress.' German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for an EU foreign policy based on secure energy supplies. The problem of the European Constitution was raised by Bulgarian premier Sergei Stanishev (Bulgaria has ratified the Constitutional Treaty), who rejected the arguments of people saying the constitution is dead. The constitution was also raised by SPD President Kurt Beck, who said the constitution rejected by France and the Netherlands could not be put to the vote again: 'If we are to get a solution, everyone will have to move,' he said. 'Some will have to move more than others.' He called for a new document with a preamble setting out the central goals of European politics. (mg)