PES President Sergei Stanishev underlined that; “thanks to the efforts of the PES family, the European Investment Plan is now at the top of the political agenda, a proof of what we progressives can achieve together – but it is too early to pat ourselves on the back. Now we must keep the pressure on to ensure that the Commission’s proposal has strong and immediate measures. If we want to reignite sustainable growth, decent jobs and social justice across Europe, we need to allow Member States to invest more and better without compromising social standards. With more than 24 million unemployed people in Europe, this Investment Plan needs to become, as soon as possible, a reality”.
The PES has been fighting for the implementation of a progressive investment strategy since the onset of the crisis. The PES Presidency recently adopted a common declaration on the European Investment Plan with clear and concrete commitments, highlighting the importance of including fresh money and targeting both private and public investment with a strong social dimension.
The next PES leaders meeting will take place next year in Madrid on the 21 February.