PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“Socialists and democrats stand by European values and we stand for action now to help Member States get through this crisis. Europe cannot afford to be in a position where it must choose between its principles and its citizens.
“European socialists and democrats have always made a clear commitment to promoting solidarity and the defence of the Rule of Law in that process. It is our duty to maintain the pressure against any signs of democratic deficiencies in the Union, and the PES remains as always entirely committed to this. At the same time, the PES also wants a quick conclusion of the budget negotiations so we can fund a recovery for Europe.
“I urge all members of the European Council to do the right thing. Europe must never compromise on its values. Europe must never choose deferral or delay when it could be helping citizens. The European Council must not row back from the agreement reached in July: neither in its commitment to support recovery, not in its commitment to uphold the Rule of Law.
“We socialists and social democrats played a crucial role in creating the right conditions for a more green, social and equal future for all Europeans. The EU must now be the driving force behind a recovery which supports jobs and seizes the opportunities of the digital transition and the European Green Deal.”