News
29/05/2013 New Bulgarian Government will be one with an irreproachable sense of integrity, responsibility and urgency, says Sergei Stanishev
The Party of European Socialists (PES) congratulates the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) for its central role in the formation of a new government in Bulgaria today (29 May). The Government will be headed by BSP nomineePlamen Oresharski. Mr. Oresharski and his cabinet were voted with 120 votes in favour. The BSP will be joined in Government by the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) party.
29/05/2013 PES meets with BDP leadership to discuss about Kurdish peace process
Today (29 May) PES Deputy Secretary General Yonnec Polet and PES Head of the International Unit, Ann Linde met with Selahattin Demirtaş co-chair of Barış ve Demokrasi Partisi (BDP) and Eyyup Doru, BDP’s representative to the European Union.
23/04/2013 PES Balkan Conference declaration calls for “a new momentum for EU membership”
At the conclusion of the PES Balkan Conference, socialist and social democratic leaders from the European Union and the Western Balkans signed a declaration between the representatives that called for “a new momentum of EU membership (and) a process back on track”. This renewed focus on accession to the EU aims to create strong and wealthy economies in the region. The PES family is committed to supporting the Western Balkans in “its steady progress on the path to EU membership”.
22/04/2013 PES welcomes agreement between PSS and LSI on the next Albanian general elections
Today at the PES Balkan Conference in Shkodra, Albania a new agreement of cooperation was signed between Edi Rama, the leader of the Albanian Socialist Party and Ilir Meta, leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration – LSI. The agreement allows the parties to campaign together for the upcoming parliamentary elections on 23 June 2013.
25/03/2013 PES welcomes calls for a ceasefire in Turkey
In a statement from his prison cell, Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, Thursday 21 March called for an immediate ceasefire with Turkey. During the 30-year fight more than 40,000 people have died. Last year saw some of the heaviest fighting in decades.
05/03/2013 Skopje breakthrough on FYROM deadlock welcomed by PES
The Party of European Socialists (PES) has welcomed an agreement to end political deadlock in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The deal was reached in Skopje after talks between EU Commissioner Stefan Füle, European Parliament Rapporteur and S&D Member Richard Howitt and former European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, SDSM Leader Branko Crvenkovski and DUI Leader Ali Ahmeti.
19/02/2013 PES holds Task Force meeting at second anniversary of Arab Revolutions
On 19 February 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 both sides of the Mediterranean to meet and discuss the current state of play two years after the revolutions and to develop a common agenda for the upcoming period. Among the topics discussed were the strengthening of cooperation among progressive forces to respond effectively and in a coordinated way to the common challenges in the region as well as the question of political Islam in the Middle East and North Africa.
18/02/2013 Egyptian Social Democratic Party (ESDP) welcomed into PES family
The Presidency of the Party of European Socialists (PES) unanimously accepted today the membership application of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party (ESDP). The decision grants membership status to the ESDP. It follows on from membership being granted to Tunisian Ettakatol and Palestinian Fatah parties in late 2012. The PES decision comes at a crucial time for progressive forces in Egypt and the Arab World: it reiterates the commitment of the PES to North Africa and the Middle East and gives renewed impetus to the calls for hope, dignity and progress.
10/02/2013 Social Dimension of EMU paper a ‘belated and weakened’ attempt to redress neglect of social policy by Barroso Commission
Andor praised for rearguard action to save employment and social developments ‘scoreboard’ The Communication on the strengthening of the social dimension of Economic and Monetary Union is a “belated but weakened attempt to address the imbalance of this Commission’s neglect of European social policy”, says Party of European Socialists President (PES), Sergei Stanishev. “While it is welcome that the Communication has been published at all, the contents will need serious concrete follow up if the proposal is to have any meaningful impact on the lives of ordinary Europeans”, said Mr. Stanishev.
24/01/2013 PES calls on outgoing Prime Minister Netanyahu to acknowledge major setback of conservative policies
Held on the 22nd of January, the Israeli parliamentary elections ended in a close tie between right and left blocs with both winning 60 seats each. This result shakes the conservative status quo of the government and widens the political debate in the country.