News & press releases

PES Task Force on the Arab Spring supports progressives forces across the Arab world

On 6 June the PES held a meeting of its Task Force on the Arab Spring in the PES Headquarters in Brussels. The meeting was an opportunity for progressive parties from the region and PES member parties to meet and discuss the current state of play of the revolutions and what our future actions together will be. In attendance was FFS Algeria, ESDP Egypt, USFP Morocco, Fatah Palestine, FDTL Tunisia, PS Belgium, spa Belgium, PS France, PD Italy, PSOE Spain, SAP Sweden, PS Switzerland and LP UK, the European for Democracy and Solidarity and Solidar.

PES President Sergei Stanishev states “Constitutional Reform in the Arab Spring countries open new era for citizens”

Today in the European Parliament a joint seminar on Constitutional Reform between the PES, S&D Group, GPF, FEPS and sister parties from the region Ettakatol (Tunisia) and Fatah (Palestine) was organized.

The seminar was attended by PES PresidentSergei Stanishev and Hannes Swoboda leader of the S&D Group in the European Parliament and tackled very important topics on Constitutional affairs with Members of the European Parliament, member parties from Europe and the region and constitutional experts. Issues such as the separation of powers, ensuring social rights and women’s rights in a Constitution, protection of fundamental rights and the role of religion in the Constitution were discussed extensively.

PES Secretary General Philip Cordery meets with Mustapha Ben Jaafar, President of Tunisian National Constituent Assembly

On 5 June PES Secretary General Philip Cordery met with Mustapha Ben Jaafar President of the Tunisian Constituent Assembly in Brussels. They discussed the current political situation in Tunisia, the drafting of the Tunisian Constitution and the economic situation in Tunisia. Mr Cordery welcomed the important work of Ettakatol and its leader Mustapha Ben Jaafar in the democratic transition and crucial period for the future of Tunisia.

PES President Sergei Stanishev calls for a Renewed EU-Turkey Agenda

Twelve years after granting candidate status and six years after the start of accession negotiations, EU-Turkey relations are today at a virtual standstill. It is in the interest of Turkey and the EU that this process is reinvigorated. The goal is Turkish membership in the European Union. Accession must be an open-ended process with conditions, yes, but not with political vetoes. The European Socialist family is the political family most committed to EU integration and the enlargement process. Therefore the PES believes that it is crucial to launch a new EU-Turkey Agenda.

PES Secretary General Philip Cordery met with Mr Faruk Loğoğlu, Deputy Chairman of the CHP, Turkey.

Today the PES Secretary General Philip Cordery met with Deputy Chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Mr. Faruk Loğoğlu. During the meeting the current political situation and struggles in Turkey were discussed. The PES is concerned about the continuing repressions of freedom of speech and assembly in Turkey. This ominous situation has recently escalated with the case against CHP leader Mr. Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The PES criticizes the politically motivated actions of the State Prosecutor in this case.

PES against the withdrawal of Hatip Dicle’s mandate and other Turkish MPs

The Turkish Supreme Electoral Board decided on June 21th to take away the mandate of Hatip Dicle in the Turkey Great National Assembly. The board determined that he could not hold office while being imprisoned, whereas before he was allowed to be a candidate. Hatip Dicle is not the only candidate elected who was removed from his mandate during the last weeks.