News & press releases
PES welcomes the agreement with the UK, worried about workers’ rights
The European progressives welcome the attainment of an agreement for a revised relationship with the UK. The deal can provide firm ground to pursue our common policies and we now look forward to knowing the verdict of the British people, based on a final fixed document that will constitute the basis for a deep national debate in the UK ahead of the referendum.
However, after examining the final deal, the Party of European Socialists is concerned that the free movement of people has been challenged and that, furthermore, the equality of all EU citizens in front of the law has been hurt. The intention of the UK government to cut the rights of migrant workers of other EU countries and of their families remains disturbing. The negotiated period of 7 years is arbitrary, unjust and it doesn’t respond to the UK’s economic reality.
The President of the Party of European Socialists, Sergei Stanishev, said: “Non-discrimination is not only a core value of the EU, it is also a precondition for democracy. I am glad that arguments made by the Labour Party and Trade Unions ensured that hard won rights under the social chapter were not bartered away but I am concerned that the European workers have been taken hostage by the UK government during these negotiations. We believe that no such discrimination is to be tolerated, regardless of our support to the UK remaining in the EU.”
The European Union is an alliance that has brought peace and prosperity to our continent for over half a century. We, the European Socialists and Democrats, want to see the British people continue to be part of a modernised European Union, but we are not ready to trade off our core principles.
We want a Europe that creates growth and jobs and solves the problems of its people, one that allows Europeans move freely from Paris to Berlin or London, from Prague to Warsaw or Budapest; one that treats its citizens equally, without discrimination, a Europe that projects solidarity within its borders and towards the rest of the world.
Further divisions will not lead us out of the current crises, only unity and a common purpose will. We encourage the British public to have an extensive debate ahead of the referendum, as they decide on the kind of relationship they want to have with the rest of Europe for the following generation.”
A Social Europe is where the UK should stay; Schengen area is vital
The UK should stay, but EU must not be eroded in the process. This was agreed at todays meeting of the European Council meeting Prime Ministers and leaders from the Socialists and Democrats family were adamant of the necessity for the UK to stay in the EU, and were just as keen to stress that the negotiations should not precipitate a ‘slippery slope’ towards less European convergence and integration.
Progressive Europe Ministers Working for a fair solution to Keep UK in the EU
Socialists and Democrats Europe Ministers met today in Brussels in order to coordinate prior to the General Affairs Council. Ahead of the 18 and 19th of February European Council that will mainly focus on a new settlement for the United Kingdom within the EU, they reaffirmed their determination to preserve the integrity of the Union and their willingness to see the UK stay in European Union.
Keep Schengen to Preserve Our Union
Reacting to recent speculations about a possible exclusion of Greece from the Schengen area, PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“Over 850,000 refugees crossed the sea to reach Greece in the last year, landing on handful of small islands. The task of managing the number of people arriving is gigantic, particularly across a maritime border. No one country can be expected to manage these numbers on its own, and can certainly not be called to engage in illegally pushing refugees back.
PES Leaders stand together for inclusive Europe
Protecting the European project in context of the rise of the far right and eurosceptism was the principle topic of discussion between social democratic Prime Ministers and leaders at a meeting in Brussels ahead of the EU Council today. At a far ranging meeting they discussed:
– The current EU context and the threat of populism and the far right
– The refugee crisis
– How to tackle terrorism in the EU
– The upcoming UK EU referendum
Training, Exchange, Progress – The 3rd PES Training Academy
From the 3 to the 6 December 2015 the Party of European Socialists (PES) organized its third European Training Academy together with the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ). The training academy brings together PES member party staff and activists to share, train and exchange best practices of political campaigning, organization and communications.
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