Our heads of state and government, leaders, activists, and supporters from across Europe will gather in Spain this November for the 2023 Congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES).
The event – organised in cooperation with the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) – will take place in the Spanish city of Málaga on 10–11 November 2023.
The PES Congress will see our political family set out its political priorities. Alongside leadership elections, a resolution focused on key issues for the PES will be adopted by the Congress, setting the stage for the upcoming European elections.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
“In Spain, Europe finds a model for a progressive society. A strong democracy that respects women and minorities, an economy seizing the opportunities of a just green transition, and a confident and connected international player – this is the example that Spain offers, thanks to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
In PSOE, Spain has a defender against a populist right that stokes intolerance and ignores the climate crisis. As PES, we proudly stand with PSOE. We stand in defence of progressive values across Europe.
We are very grateful to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and PSOE for hosting the Congress and we look forward to welcoming our leaders, politicians, members, and activists in Málaga. Together, we will build on our vision for a progressive, fair, sustainable, feminist Europe.”
Prime Minister of Spain and Secretary-General of PSOE Pedro Sánchez said:
“I am delighted to host in Málaga the Congress of the Party of European Socialists, a crucial Congress to present our priorities for the European elections next year, which are fundamental to state very clearly which Europe we want for the future.
Because the solutions that we provide from the EU to the problems that our citizens face can go in one direction or in a very different one. The response to the economic and financial crisis of 2008, after which many of our citizens were left behind, was not the same as the solidarity measures we have implemented against the Covid crisis or currently to fight the consequences of the illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine.
Do we want, at the European level, to continue advancing along the path that the European Union traced from its origins, or do we want to return to dark times already forgotten?
The Spanish people, in the elections of July 23, made it very clear that we do not want to go backwards.
And that is what the Party of European Socialists defends.
As Secretary General of the PSOE, I am looking forward to hosting the PES Congress in Spain in November, where we will show that we are much stronger than the right-wing populism which is growing among us.”
Earlier this year, the PES Presidency – the highest decision-making body of the party, bringing together representatives of full member parties and organisations – endorsed PSOE’s bid to host the 2023 PES Congress. Further information about the event, including the registration process, will be publicly available soon.
PES member parties lead six EU governments – Germany, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Romania and Malta – and are part of the governing coalition in a further four Member States – Belgium, Slovenia, Estonia and Luxembourg. Eight European Commissioners are part of the PES family.