The streamlined event – which has been organised with strictly reduced physical participation given the continuing COVID-19 health risks – will take place in Brussels, Belgium, from 08:30CET on 16 December. It will be hosted at the Square Conference Centre and will be subject to strict COVID-19 measures, and in full compliance with COVID-19 regulations.
As part of the PES’s commitment to a sustainable future for Europe, the Council will be certified as a sustainable event, meaning the CO2 emissions of the Council will be offset.
The Council will be livestreamed in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. Watch the event on the PES YouTube channel or Facebook page.
PES President Sergei Stanishev will be joined by Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister of Sweden Magdalena Andersson, Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Malta Robert Abela, European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, S&D President Iratxe García Pérez, European Commissioners Paolo Gentiloni, Nicolas Schmit and Helena Dalli, Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, Leader of PS Belgium Paul Magnette, Leader of PD Italy Enrico Letta, Leader of SPÖ Austria Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Leader of SD Slovenia Tanja Fajon MEP, the new leader of KinAl/PASOK Nikos Androulakis, and others.
The Council will see European socialists and democrats set out the progressive vision for the future of Europe and draw inspiration from recent successes in Germany, Norway, Italy, Portugal and elsewhere. From leading bold changes to improve social fairness, to championing a Just Transition, to defending European values, the Council will discuss PES priorities for the second half of the European electoral cycle.
Voting virtually, delegates of PES member parties and organisations to the Council will adopt a resolution setting out PES ambitions for the future of Europe.
Socialists want a Europe that embraces the European Green Deal, the European Pillar of Social Rights, and that provides a fair digital transition that benefits everyone. Decent wages and pensions, gender equality, reduced territorial inequalities, support for younger and older generations, a new sustainable model for the economy, and the reinvigoration and protection of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms – these are key elements for a progressive future for Europe.
Council Programme
08:30: Opening of the PES Council
Sergei Stanishev, President of the Party of European Socialists
David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament
08:40: Fairness, Sustainability, Respect: Interventions from heads of state and government
- Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany
- Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain
- António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal
- Magdalena Andersson, Prime Minister of Sweden
- Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark
- Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland
- Robert Abela, Prime Minister of Malta
09:30: Panel I: For a sustainable future
Keynote: Frans Timmermans, European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal
Followed by a panel discussion with:
- Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy
- Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris
- Enrico Letta, Leader of PD Italy
- Paul Magnette, Leader of PS Belgium
Panel II: For fair chances
Keynote: Iratxe García Pérez, President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament
Followed by a panel discussion with:
- Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights
- Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Leader of SPÖ Austria
- Alexis Tsipras, Leader of Syriza Greece
- Alicia Homs MEP, President of the Young European Socialists
Panel III: For a Europe of respect
Panel discussion with:
- Helena Dalli, European Commissioner for Equality
- Nikos Androulakis MEP, Leader of KinAl/PASOK
- Tanja Fajon MEP, Leader of SD Slovenia, Chair of the PES Democracy Network
- Katarina Barley MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament
11:20: Presentation and adoption of Council resolution
Interventions from:
- Agnes Jongerius MEP, Chair of the PES Social Europe Network
- Javi López MEP, Chair of the PES Energy and Climate Change Network
- Tanja Fajon MEP, Chair of the PES Democracy Network, Leader of SD Slovenia
- Maria João Rodrigues, Chair of the PES Financial and Economic Network, President of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies
- Enrico Rossi, Vice President of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions
- Zita Gurmai MP, President of PES Women
- Alicia Homs MEP, President of the Young European Socialists
- Jos Bertrand, President of the European Senior Organisation
- Camila Garfias, President of Rainbow Rose
