Madrid, 01/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Party of European Socialists (PES) are meeting in Madrid on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December. On Monday, by unanimous vote, they adopted their manifesto for the European elections in June 2009. Against a background of financial crisis and economic recession, European Socialists and Social Democrats highlight the “failure” of unregulated economic liberalism and point the finger of blame at the Right and the Conservatives for the problems of the financial markets and the world economy. The PES manifesto, entitled “People first: A New Direction for Europe”, calls for fundamental change in political governance in Europe and proposes a “new model” based on the values and principles of the Left. The aim is to create a social four-square, fair and environmentally sound Europe “which puts the citizen at the heart of matters”.
The leaders of the parties meeting in Madrid around PES President, Dane Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, expressed optimism that the Socialists and Social Democrats would be the big winners in the European elections. Martin Schulz, Socialist Group leader in the European Parliament, even went as far as to “guarantee” his comrades that his group would become “the largest in the EP, with around 280 members”, far more than the current 218. In the speeches before the adoption of the manifesto, many referred to the movement for “change” sparked in the United States by Barack Obama, and several ended their speeches with the words “Yes we can”.
The European elections will give European citizens a stark political choice says the manifesto, which is available on the internet (http://www.pes.org ), between the PES vision of a “progressive Europe” in which citizens, member states and institutions work together to address the “issues of greatest concern to the people of Europe” (financial crisis and economic recession, falling purchasing power, rising energy and food prices, global warming, etc.) and a “conservative Europe” in which everything is left in the “hands of the market”. On this highly ideological field, the Socialist opted to go on the attack, seeking direct confrontation with Liberals and the Centre-Right whom they criticise for their “policy of blind faith in the market”. “For the past five years, the conservatives have had a majority in Europe - in most EU member states and in the EU institutions. What have they done with it? Did they tackle the global financial crisis? Did they address rising food and energy prices? Have they fought poverty and inequalities? Is society fairer than it was five years ago? Did they support our initiatives to deliver more and better jobs? They follow the market. We follow our convictions,” says the PES in its manifesto.
The document sets out over 60 concrete proposals listed in six chapters:
1) Relaunching the economy and preventing new financial crises. It is proposed, for example to put in place a European strategy for green, intelligent growth with an aim of 10 million new jobs by 2020. The PES also calls for new regulation for the financial markets covering all the players, including hedge and capital investment funds.
2) New social Europe - giving people a fairer deal. The PES suggests, in particular, a “European Social Progress Pact” which would set objectives and standards to be met by all member states in social, health and education policies. It is also proposed to include a “social progress clause” in all new European legislation and to subject all new legislative proposals to an environmental and social impact study.
3) Transforming Europe into the leading global force against climate change. The EU is called on to lead the way in negotiations on an international agreement (at the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009) on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020.
4) Championing gender equality in Europe.
5) Developing an effective European migration policy. The PES proposes inter alia to set common standards for legal migration and to establish a “European Charter for the Integration of Migrants”. Efforts to tackle illegal immigration should also be enhanced, for example, through a common external border control policy and increased cooperation with third countries.
6) Enhancing Europe's role as a partner for peace, security and development. The EU should focus more of its efforts on conflict prevention and resolution, increase defence cooperation, and increase its ability to act in the aftermath of natural disasters. The PES also calls for increased effort in development, so that the UN Millennium Goals are reached by 2015. At least 0.7% of EU Gross National Income (GNI) should be allocated to development policy.
The leader of the Belgian Socialist Party, Elio di Rupo, said that the manifesto was “a good response to the liberal crisis”, which would get “citizens out of the impasse in which the Liberals and the Right have left them”. “With this new manifesto, we will win the elections and change balance of power in Europe,” said the leader of the Luxembourg Socialists, Alex Bodry. “The manifesto proposes new economic, social and environmental models for Europe and puts forward immediate, concrete proposals,” said newly elected Secretary General of the French Socialist Party Martine Aubry, and she called on Socialists to come together in this “joint plan for Europe”. (H.B./transl.rt)