The Party of European Socialists (PES) has warmly welcomed the development with Achim Post, PES General Secretary saying that; “the Arab Social Democratic Forum is an example of the clear returns on the Arab Spring. The forum will consolidate the objectives of the revolutions including freedom, justice and dignity. The PES is fully invested in supporting the Forum and looks forward to it presenting progressive political choices to the people of the region”.
The Forum aims to unite social democratic parties of the Arab world and to encourage partnership, coordination and the exchange of ideas and resources. The committee is currently undertaking consultations with Arab Social Democrats parties and international sister parties to organize an international conference to be held in Cairo during the first quarter of 2013.
Since the onset of the Arab Spring, the PES has worked in synergy with progressive parties in North Africa and in the Middle East. The PES has been present in the region with two major international conferences in Tunisia and has set up a permanent Task Force on the Arab Spring. With Fatah and Ettakatol, it has also co-organised a seminar on constitutional challenges and reform. During the last PES Congress held in Brussels on 28 and 29 September, Ettakatol and Fatah became members of the PES.
The PES will be in Jordan on 13-14 November 2012 for the Conference “Middle East and North Africa: building partnerships for social and economic development” gathering political forces, civil society and trade union representatives from the region.
