A PROGRAMME, A MAJORITY AND A CANDIDATE
TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
A Declaration by personalities of the Socialist and Social-Democratic family
The present crisis has opened a period of historical choices. It can lead either to a depressionwith mass unemployment coupled with economic and political entrenchment or a uniqueopportunity to bring about a new growth model with more sustainable development and socialjustice as well as reform the international order.
Socialists and social-democrats have a central responsibility in the face of these historical choices. It is up to them to present the proposals for this transformation; it is up to them to fight for leadership at national, European and international levels.
That is why the next European elections are particularly decisive. Socialists and socialdemocrats have already been capable of presenting a plan to overcome this crisis, which makes a difference and which shows why a lasting solution requires a stronger Europe, able to avoid mass unemployment, coordinate the economic recovery, reform the financial system, promote smart and green growth and emerge as a true global actor in reshaping the international order. Many national problems can only be solved if new choices are made at European level.
The socialist and social-democratic alternative is a clear one. It is now necessary to translate it into the best electoral outcomes, aiming at strengthening the presence of socialists and the social-democrats in the European institutions, not only in the European Parliament but also in the Commission and the Council.
The European Popular Party has already supported an official candidate for President of the European Commission. It is with expectation that many socialist and social-democrats and many other progressives are waiting for a candidate from the Party of European Socialists, the only European Party which disputes the leadership of the EPP. In the current economic and political situation a new majority is possible in the European Parliament, opening a real opportunity for a PES candidate.
It is with this purpose in mind that we address a call to socialists and social-democrats, on the basis of our common historical responsibility, to take this fundamental next step.
Felipe GONZΑLEZ, former Prime Minister of Spain
Lionel JOSPIN, former Prime Minister of France
Paavo LIPPONEN, former Prime Minister of Finland
Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI, former President of Republic of Poland
Gerard SCHROEDER, former Prime Minister of Germany
Constantino SIMITIS, former Prime Minister of Greece
Mαrio SOARES, former President of Republic and Prime Minister of Portugal
Franz VRANITZKY, former Prime Minister of Austria
Από τον ημερήσιο Τύπο ΤΑ ΝΕΑ της 3ης- 6-2009
ΕΚΚΛΗΣΗ για κοινό υποψήφιο του Ευρωπαϊκού Σοσιαλιστικού Κόμματος για την προεδρία της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής, ο οποίος θα μπορεί να αντιμετωπίσει τον Ζοζέ Μπαρόζο, απηύθυναν χθες οκτώ Ευρωπαίοι σοσιαλιστές πρώην ηγέτες, ανάμεσά τους και ο Κώστας Σημίτης. Τη διακήρυξη υπογράφουν ακόμη ο Γερμανός Γκέρχαρντ Σρέντερ, ο Γάλλος Λιονέλ Ζοσπέν, ο Ισπανός Φελίπε Γκονζάλες, ο Φινλανδός Πάαβο Λίπονεν, ο Αυστριακός Φρανς Βρανίτσκι και ο πρώην πρόεδρος της Πολωνίας Αλεξάντερ Κβασνιέφσκι. Οι οκτώ πρώην ηγέτες, με την πρωτοβουλία του Μάριο Σοάρες, πρώην προέδρου και πρωθυπουργού της Πορτογαλίας, επισημαίνουν ότι το Ευρωπαϊκό Λαϊκό Κόμμα έχει ήδη παρουσιάσει τον επίσημο υποψήφιό του και εκφράζουν την ελπίδα ότι ένας υποψήφιος από το Ευρωπαϊκό Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα μπορεί να κάνει τη διαφορά έναντι του κ. Μπαρόζο, ο οποίος είναι φαβορί για δεύτερη θητεία στην Κομισιόν.
Επιστροφή