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P.A.R.T.Y. Program | About P.A.R.T.Y. partyprogram.org |
This article is about the europarty established in 1992. For its current European Parliament Group and its predecessors dating back to 1953, see the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.
The Party of European Socialists (PES) is a European political party comprising thirty-two socialist, social democratic and labour parties from each European Union member state and Norway. The PES is led by President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen MEP. Its aims include:
[edit] HistoryIn 1961, the Socialists in the European Parliament attempted to produce a common European Socialist Programme but were neglected due to the applications of Britain, Denmark, Ireland and Norway to join the European Communities. The Socialist's 1962 congress pushed for greater democratisation and powers for Parliament though it was only in 1969 that this possibility was examined by the member states. In 1973, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined the European Community bringing in new parties from these countries. The enlarged Socialist Congress met in Bonn and inaugurated the Confederation of the Socialist Parties of the European Community. The Congress also passed a resolution on social policy, including the right to decent work, social security, democracy and equality in the European economy.[1] In 1978, the Confederation of Socialist Parties approved the first common European election Manifesto. It focused on several goals among which the most important were to ensure a right to decent work, fight pollution, end discrimination, protect the consumer and promote peace, human rights and civil liberties. The Luxembourg Congress approved the first Statue of the Confederation of Socialist Parties in 1980. The accession of Greece in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986 brought in more parties. In 1984 another common Socialist election manifesto was approved at a congress in Luxembourg. The Manifesto proposed a socialist remedy for the economic crisis by establishing a link between industrial production, protection of the fundamental social benefits and the fight for an improved quality of life.[1] In 1992, with the European Communities becoming the European Union and with the Treaty of Maastricht establishing the framework for political parties at the European Level, the Confederation was able to mobilize a majority of delegates in favour of transforming the Confederation into the Party of European Socialists. The first programme of the party concentrated on job creation, democracy, gender equality, environmental and consumer protection, peace and security, regulation of immigration, discouragement of racism and fighting organised crime.[1] In 2004 Poul Nyrup Rasmussen defeated Giuliano Amato to be elected President of the PES, succeeding Robin Cook in the post. He was re-elected for a further 2.5 years at the PES Congress in Porto on 8 December 2006. [edit] PresidentsPresidents of the Party of European Socialists and its predecessors.[2]
[edit] Organisation There are thirty-two member parties from all the twenty-seven member states and Norway. There are a further five associate and six observer parties. PES is an associated organisation of the Socialist International. Ecosy is the youth organisation of PES and PES Women is the party's women's organisation, led by Zita Gurmai MEP.[3] The parties meet at the party Congress twice every five years to decide on political orientation, such as adopting manifestos ahead of elections. Every year that the Congress does not meet, the Council (a quarter Congress) shapes PES policy. The Congress also elects the party's President, Vice Presidents and the Presidency.[3] The most recent Council was held in Madrid in December 2008 and the next Congress with be held in Prague in late 2009. The President (currently former Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen) represents the party on a daily basis and chairs the Presidency, which also consists of the Secretary General, President of the PES group in Parliament (the PSE, see below) and one representative per full member party and organisation. They may also be joined by the President of the European Parliament (if a PES member), a PES European Commissioner and a representatives from associate parties and organisations.[3] The Leader's Conference brings together Prime Ministers and Party Leaders from PES parties three to four times a year to agree strategies and resolutions.[3] [edit] PES in the European institutions[edit] European ParliamentFurther information: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats [edit] European CommissionEuropean Commissioners are meant to remain independent, however there has been an increasing degree of politicisation within the Commission.[4] Although the current Barroso Commission is dominated by conservatives and liberals, five of the twenty-seven Commissioners belong to PES. These are First Vice-President Margot Wallström, Commissioner Joaquín Almunia (Economy), Commissioner Catherine Ashton (Trade), Commissioner Vladimír Špidla (Social) and Commissioner László Kovács (Taxation).[5] [edit] European CouncilParty-alignment at the European Council is often loose, but has been the basis of some intergovernmental cooperation. At present the following countries are led by a PES-affiliated leader, who represents that state at the European Council: Bulgaria (Sergey Stanishev), Hungary (Gordon Banjai)Portugal (José Sócrates), Slovakia (Robert Fico), Spain (José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero) and United Kingdom (Gordon Brown). The makeup of national delegations to the Council of Ministers is at some times subject to coalitions: for the above governments led by a PES party, that party may not be present in all Council configurations; in other governments led by non-PES parties a PES minister may be its representative for certain portfolios. PES is in coalition in a further six countries: Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg.[5] [edit] Committee of the RegionsPES has 110 members in the Committee of the Regions as of 2007.[5] [edit] Member partiesWith 32 members it is the only political party to have a member from every EU state, although not all of them have elected MEPs.[6]
[edit] Associated parties
[edit] Observer parties
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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