Prime Ministers, Commissioners and leaders from the progressive political family convened ahead of the Special European Council meeting on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF).
PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“Council President Charles Michel has a duty to find a route through for the MFF. If he fails, the ambitions progressives put on the European Commission’s agenda will be left in limbo. The level of financing must meet the level of these ambitions.
“We want pivotal change in Europe. We have made a strong case for this, on the climate transition, on the rebalancing of the social and economic, and on so many other issues. Now the resources are needed to realise this potential in the new mandate.
“Any outcome today which diminishes these progressive objectives would be disastrous for our collective duty to make Europe fairer and more sustainable. We cannot afford to disappoint citizens. At the end of the mandate we will need to show our promises are not only words, they count.”
The PES stands firmly for a positive change in Europe. We have been the driving force behind the European Green Deal and a just transition that leaves no one behind, proposals on minimum wages, stronger social rights, the child and youth guarantees, reform of the European semester, the gender equality strategy, and more.
Thanks to the efforts of the progressive political family, these ambitions have been adopted by the European Commission and will be overseen by Commissioners from the progressive political family. The MFF is vital for ensuring the funds exist to support these policies. It is through these measures that we demonstrate the value of the EU to citizens.
PES President Sergei Stanishev also welcomed two new progressive leaders to the PES European Council preparation meeting. The Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela, attended for the first time since taking office last month, as did Robert Biedroń MEP, Lewica’s candidate for the Polish Presidential elections taking place in May.
Discussing the Council’s current ‘negotiating box’, the meeting expressed disappointment that it departs from previous proposals on the Rule of Law mechanism. Progressives have been relentless in the defence of European values, and we do not believe the mechanism should be watered down. Equally disappointing is the slowing of the increase in Erasmus funds, which sends an unfortunate signal at a time when the EU should be supporting measures which nurture European identity.
Images from the event are available on Flickr.
The meeting was attended by:
Sergei Stanishev, President of the PES
Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland
Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark
Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain
Stefan Löfven, Prime Minister of Sweden
António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal
Robert Abela, Prime Minister of Malta
Olaf Scholz, Vice-Chancellor & Finance Minister of Germany
Jernej Pikalo, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister of Slovenia
Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission
Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight
Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for the Economy
Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms
Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights
David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament
Iratxe Garcia, President of the S&D in the European Parliament
Robert Biedroń MEP, Lewica candidate for the Polish Presidential election
Fofi Gennimata, Leader of PASOK Greece
Paul Magnette, Leader of PS Belgium
Conner Rousseau, Leader of sp.a Belgium
Alexis Tsipras, Leader of SYRIZA Greece (Observer)
