A positive future for Europe is possible – progressives will not allow extreme right-wing parties to delay, derail or destroy democracy in Europe. This was the message today as PES Common Candidate Nicolas Schmit and European Greens Spitzenkandidat Bas Eickhout signed a common statement in support of democracy.
The statement reads:
“The European Union is built on the commitment to democracy, freedom and social cohesion. It is a historic project of progress that has brought peace and shared prosperity to our continent.
“With the rise of the far-right, democratic values are under attack all over Europe. And where the far-right is in government, the right to strike and workers’ rights, press freedom and the rule of law, and women’s and LGBTI rights are at stake.
“For the Party of European Socialists and Democrats and the European Greens, there is no ambiguity. We will work hard to provide a better life to citizens and promise every voter in Europe that:
“We will never cooperate or form a coalition with the far-right. In the European Parliament, this means no cooperation with ECR or ID. Now and in the future.”
Speaking at the PES conference, PES Common Candidate Nicolas Schmit said:
“More than ever, we need a progressive front to push back the anti-democratic surge we are seeing today.
“Violence, hate speech, racism, discrimination, and intolerance cannot be normalised in a free society. We cannot cooperate with parties that are often the ideological instigators behind such violent attitudes. We cannot cooperate with politicians who idealise tyrants violating international law instead of fully supporting Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression.
“When we head to the voting booths in June, people must know that this is not just another round of European elections. This time social justice is on the ballot. The green transition is on the ballot. And democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights are on the ballot.”
We stand together – for our Europe! saw PES Common Candidate Nicolas Schmit, European Greens Spitzenkandidat Bas Eickhout, party leader GroenLinks-PvdA and former Executive Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, Secretary General of the PES Giacomo Filibeck, co-chair of the European Green Party Melanie Vogel, and other high-level progressives join supporters and activists for the conference.
Former Minister Jan Pronk opened the event, which also featured interventions from PES Executive Vice President Francisco André, PES Vice President Radmila Šekerinska, MEPs Tineke Strik, René Repasi, Thijs Reuten, and Mohammed Chahim, Ukrainian Ambassador to the Netherlands Oleksandr Karasevych, academic John Morijn, professor at Sciences Po Paris David Djaiz, representative of the Dutch Ministry of Defence Leonie Doornbos, journalist Bernice Notenboom, and Trouw columnist Emine Ugur. The event was moderated by Eveline van Rijswijk.
The PES-organised conference – building on the recent PES conferences in Bucharest and Berlin – saw European social democrats join with European Greens to discuss a progressive agenda to defend democracy and promote a social and sustainable Europe.
