Last impressions from the PES Council

Last impressions from the PES Council

Published Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 20:05

by jose reis santos in European democracy & diversity (39 views and 0 comments)
I haven’t seen any news coverage of last week's PES Council in Sofia, so I don’t know what spin the media made of it. From my perspective it was a success. Everybody already knows about the weather conditions that prevented a full house plenary and the presence of more high rank officials; but, even thought, the level of the discussions and the quality time available more than compensated this unfortunate event.
The funny thing is that I’ve been told that the airport was build in that location by German engineers in World War II, exactly because of the fog condition - it would make the place easy to defend and invisible to enemy attacks.
The political contribute of this PES Council was very intense, as the Manifesto 2009 took off with attention and strength. Most of the plenary interventions were in accordance to the four main issues – Save our planet, New Social Europe, European democracy and diversity and EU in the world – with some very good ideas and interventions. The fringe meetings, most of them addressing issues of these four major points, were very interesting, at least the ones I attended. I would like to highlight the "European democracy and diversity" meeting, not only because it was the meeting that I attended, but because of the quality of the interventions, especially the ones of Carlos Moreno and Rainbow Rose, a European LGBT organization.
This kind of organization proves to be a success. People are highly motivated to participate and the quality of discourse rises to a level of excellence. Definitely, we as European Socialists, have the ideas, the project, the people and the team to build a new Europe.
A Europe with a different role in international affairs; with a strong environmentalist discourse; and with a new green Agenda. A Europe with an active and strong relation with their citizens; who embraces differences and diversity as a genetic mark of the socialist view of contemporary societies. A Europe that takes the responsibility to achieve the goals of the New Social Europe project and, with it, operates the necessary social changes that we need, in today’s Europe.
I want to be a part of this new Europe - and to see it from the beginning that is a real privilege. Now, we haven’t build anything yet, there is a lot of work to be done, and the PES manifesto project is the one where we should gather our resources. The idea is to build a strong and straight forward manifesto with a strong connection to grass roots. A manifesto in which all European socialists can recognize themselves and that points towards this New Social Europe that we talk about.
It is not only possible, but needed, that Europe turns left in the next European elections. With a strong socialist majority in the European Parliament I don’t have a doubt that the New Social Europe could be a reality.
At the PES Cogress in Porto last year we were already talking of this need, in Sofia we continue to pave the road that lays ahead. This path will have its exposure at the 2009 European election, until then, we still have a lot of construction to do. Improve our ideas, our discourse, and our speech.
The manifesto 2009 process will be a very important initiative to assure that the relation between the PES and its grassroots is a dynamic one, and a validated one. The socialist family is calling for our input, our ideas, our thoughts in Europe, in our future. PES is the first European structure to try to think as a multinational party; with a European agenda, and with an integrated and articulated project between the PES, the national parties, PES activists, NGOs and grassroots.
Now it is up to us to help and contribute. You can also take part and be listened to. Just log on to this website, or connect to your party or the PES activist movement in your county. Write down and post your ideas about the PES 2009 manifesto. Your ideas will count.
Politics is still made for and by the people. It is not just economics - it’s the social as well. And only the socialist project can bring a new social justice and equilibrium to a much too liberal Europe. I believe in that - and I want to contribute for this change.
Tags: activists, council, PES, political parties

Ainda Sofia

Ainda Sófia

Da blogosfera vão-nos chegando relatos das odisseias em redor das tentativas de viagem para o Conselho.
Destaco duas.
1. Dos franceses
Grosse déception by chourka on Friday, November 23, 2007 at 12:42Les militants de Paris sont extrêmement déçus de n'avoir pas pu participer au Conseil du PSE en raison des mauvaises conditions climatiques qui nous ont empêché d'atteindre Sofia.Pourtant, nous étions très motivés ! Pourtant, nous avions pris de nombreux documents pour présenter le travail réalisé dans la capitale française pour promouvoir le PSE en tant que parti de militants, mais aussi pour aider à la réflexion des délégués sur les 4 thèmes du Manifeste 2009.Après plus de 24 heures passées entre les aéroports de Bucarest et de Rome, c'est le coeur gros que nous avons dû nous résigner à rentrer en France.

2. Dos Italianos
Chiuso per nebbiaCerto che Castagnetti è una potenza…! Aeroporto di Sofia chiuso per nebbia da ieri sera. Metà delle delegazioni al Consiglio del PSE bloccate negli aeroporti di partenza, compresi i francesi, Schulz e Papandreou. Ed ovviamente noi… Veltroni, che sarebbe arrivato oggi da Madrid, dirottato a Roma. Fassino proverà ad arrivarci domattina da Atene. Io e la Lanzillotta ripiegheremo su una chiacchierata sul Titolo V nel suo ufficio, tanto per non avere la sensazione di una giornata persa. Di perso, per me, c’è più di una giornata.
Innanzitutto, una quantità eccessiva (quasi insostenibile) di energia. Sono giorni che salto da un incontro all’altro, col mio bravo blocco degli appunti, e col cellulare che sembra un centralino, per parlare con tutti quelli con cui è bene che parli - per capire, ascoltare, prendere le misure, entrare in questo mondo “istituzionale” cercando di non fare il classico elefante nella cristalleria. E ieri la mia giornata era stata simile alle altre: qualche incontro, tante cose da leggere, tante telefonate, poi la presentazione del simbolo (a me piace. E’ semplice e nazional-popolare quanto basta). Tanto che, commentavo in ufficio prima di partire, i due giorni a Sofia mi sembravano quasi una vacanza, una piacevole parentesi – mentre fino a poche settimane fa mi sarebbe sembrato un momento di iperlavoro. Ecco, con questo spirito sono salita ieri sera sul volo per Sofia.
Partito in orario, atterrato verso le 23.00 a Bucarest perchè l’aeroporto di Sofia era chiuso per nebbia. Lì abbiamo fatto rifornimento di carburante, e siamo ripartiti per Fiumicino. La motivazione ufficiale è stata che non c’erano alberghi disponibili, ma essendo un volo di italiani il dubbio di una ritorsione da parte delle autorità aeroportuali rumene c’è stato… Arrivo a Fiumicino alle 3 del mattino, 8 ore per arrivare alla casella di partenza. A letto alle 4, di nuovo in aeroporto stamattina per tentare di prendere un altro volo – invano. Dire che sono esausta è davvero poco.
In più, sarebbe stato bello esserci. Esattamente un anno fa eravamo al congresso di Porto con una delegazione numerosa, affiatata, vivace e varia. Alcuni di quelli che erano lì, oggi sono nell’esecutivo del Pd. Quest’anno la delegazione non sarebbe stata altrettanto numerosa (è un Consiglio e non un Congresso) ma sarebbe stata altrettanto affiatata e varia. Sarebbe stata la prima delegazione del PD al PSE, ci sarebbe stato Pistelli e la Lanzillotta insieme a Fassino e Vecchi. (Non ci sarebbe stato Mussi…). Veltroni avrebbe parlato nella plenaria di domani mattina, prima delle conclusioni di Rasmussen, e poi avrebbe partecipato al pranzo dei leader. Sarebbe stato bello, importante. Non sarebbe stato un passaggio formale, questo è corretto dirlo, perchè il partito membro del PSE in assenza di una modifica della membership sono i DS, he da un punto di vista propriamente formale esistono ancora. Ma è altrettanto corretto dire che la soggettività politica, anche rispetto alle famiglie europee, è passata pienamente al PD. Per questo abbiamo pensato che la presenza del PD tra i partiti membri sarebbe stato un atto politico indispensabile. Non un dato di fatto per scavalcare una discussione interna (che dovremo fare, e che resta aperta), ma un segnale di coerenza sia a chi ha votato il 14 ottobre (e che non capirebbe il persistere dei “vecchi” partiti accanto al nuovo) sia ai nostri interlocutori in Europa. Che siano del PSE o del PDE.E invece la nebbia ha fatto slittare tutto. (Ma sarà stato Castagnetti, o piuttosto Mussi...?)

Interviews in Sofia

Balance

Balance from Sofia
Balance

The 2009 PES Council in Sofia ended. Three intense days came to an end last Friday under a powerful fog that covered Sofia. The last speeches, especially those of Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev (in a perfect English) and the one of Poul Nyrup Rasmusen were particularly brilliant and let us, European socialists, the impression that the European socialist project, and PES, is maturing every day.

The fact that it was the Bulgarian Socialist Party the ones with the responsibility of organizing this important reunion, after the Portuguese socialists in 2006, allowed Europe the opportunity to see, in two consecutive years, both ends of Europe, the western and the eastern. It allowed also experiencing the impact of Europe in a new incoming country facing one of most successful cases of European successful integration.

Bulgaria, in a sentence, reminds me Portugal before we entered the European Union: high hopes, eager to work and to be integrated, and a enthusiastic vitality that catches you. The Bulgarians, so it seemed, are humble people, honest and with a high civic sensibility. Remember that they lived under a totalitarian regime until the 90’s, and that their transitional process was not an easy one (as most of former communist countries). Even thought, they managed to maintained a certain positive civic attitude, appreciated in the fact that people in the streets, although their humility, are persecuting their regular live, with the difficulties that exists in today’s societies. They didn’t turn to crime, or begging or prostitutions, at least from what I could see in the city of Sofia. Another example can be drawn from the public transports. You don’t see any control in the trams, for example, and the tickets are supposed to be validated in some kind of manual machine, most certainly still a remembrance of soviet times. Although all this easiness, that in some European capitals would be taken as an invitation to free-ride, the Bulgarians, young and old, validated their tickets, in a prove of civism and ethics behaviour.

Even though, they still have a long way to go. They have their country to rebuild and it is very important that there is a socialist at the elm, because, as we see in other former communists countries, It is very important to maintain a strong social preoccupation in order to create a balanced society; and not that wild capitalists experiences, with high social cleavages, that we sometimes see in the eastern Europe countries.

Positive

The people, the council organization, Sofia and the weather, that allow us to have more time to talk between ourselves and to have more face time with leaders, delegates and guests. People, activists, politician, new friend, old friendships consolidated. The guys from Rainbow Rose. The Portuguese delegation and staff. Not because of my nationality, but Paulo Pisco intervention on the environment was one of the best ones the Council eared (It was recorded and showed here), and Gisela and Hugo on the PES Staff team. Hugo as a non-stop guy, always supervising and controlling; and Gisela, in the backstage, dealing with the internet, logistics and all (you can see her interview here). It was also very interesting to met most of PES Staff and be able to see Europe in the making as all these nationalities, all these young, highly motivated men and women working towards the same goal: to build in Europe a Social Experience that would transform the old continent in the best place to be, on Earth.

Negative

The weather, again, now because it didn’t allowed the Council to have the dimension we wanted, as much more than half the predicted attendance never showed up. For the activists this had a bigger impact as from the more than 100 expected, 10 turned out, 4 Bulgarians. The taxi drivers, as I explained here. I had another experiences, that I’ll talk in the next post, that sustained the impression that they are definitely a class of their own, with the necessary exceptions.

Overall

It was my fist abroad experience with the PES family. I had been in Oporto, but as I am Portuguese, it was more as an internal thing… To be able to meet so many bright people, so many people with shared interests was worth wile. Then, discover a new country, with so many traditions and history; a country proud of himself, with is eyes in the future and with high hopes on the European project, was such a wonderful feeling, that I would do it again tomorrow.And Sofia is such an interesting city. I have to come back, at least to try out their slopes…

So, if not soon, I’ll see you in Madrid.

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen final intervention at 2009 Council

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen final intervention at 2009 Council- 1


Poul Nyrup Rasmussen final intervention at 2009 Council- 2


Poul Nyrup Rasmussen final intervention at 2009 Council - 3


Poul Nyrup Rasmussen final intervention at 2009 Council- 4


Poul Nyrup Rasmussen final intervention at 2009 Council- 5

Dinner

Dinner (2)
Because of this post, I closed the council venue, and left alone towards the dining place. Somebody told me that it was at the National History Museum, the new-one-not-the-old-one. It was in the city limits, and I would need a cab to get there. Fog was worse them it ever was, you didn't see anything from one side of the street to the other.
After my first taxi experience in Sofia, I wasn’t seeing a good end to this journey. Fog and a 20 km trip did not seem as a good combination. The first cab I approached didn't spoke a word English. I tried to find someone in the street who could translate the address, so I could go. I did this and the guy refused to take me, insulting me in some strange ways. Luckily there was just another one behind. I was already running late.
The taxi drivers in Bulgaria are not as the ones in Portugal, fat old man, with the classic moustache, sometimes drunk and so on... no, the ones in Bulgaria are between 30-40 years old, they all go to the gym and are big as hell... This is the picture. You definitely want to be in their good side.Anyway... I took this second taxi. The man was learning English for one year and I started to try to have something of a conversation.
After the basic exchange of words and short sentences, it evolved to a football conversation, always a classic topic to engage with a foreigner taxi driver. Euro this, Euro that, Portugal - Figo -Ronaldo - Mourinho; Bulgaria - Barbatov - Petrov - ?...; I told him I went to see Bulgaria at the Euro 2004, in Portugal (they lost 5-0 against Sweden) and the fog was deeper and deeper.
As we drove outside city limits I started to wonder:
- Deep fog, trees, no transit, strange narrowed roads, a taxi driver and a yuppie tourist (that’s what probably people would think of us)... this is not ending well...I think I’ve seen such a movie…
The football continued. Now it’s Benfica and CSKA, Rui Costa, and our shared historical background. Benfica Portugal greatest, CSKA, Bulgaria greatest. we managed to see, I am not exaggerating, 5-10 meters ahead. All of a sudden he goes out of this narrowed main road turning to a no road path. I was thinking:
- what about now? Is this it?
In a distance we saw some light. Fading. Football continued. We arrived at a gate, I saw some security and he stopped.- It’s here. There is supposed to be a big building, house to the former soviet government, but with the fog we don't see anything.
The security guys approached me, I identified myself and they showed me the way: towards the lights...The fare was 6 Lev 30 ; 3 euro 15 cents. (I paid almost 20 Lev from the airport, which was roughly the same distance) I gave him 10, we shake hands and anticipated a Benfica - CSKA next Champions League.
The reception was flawless, imperial style, big building, lots of ancient stuff (all with Bulgarian titles, with no translation whatsoever, so we didn't know what we were looking at), the traditional folk groups (15 mature women), and a very nice three string trio (young trendy girls).
Diner was a buffet, a good one, and ended around 22.30 because all the buses were leaving and we had no change of staying. Because I'm still in Portuguese time, I was leaving diner at 20.30, already eaten. The buses all had hotels as destinations, the hotels were everybody is hosted. I took one, randomly, that took me at the Council place, were I managed to get the last tram heading to the centre of Sofia, where I'm staying.
I arrived at the hotel and went to work thinking about this Benfica - CSKA in next year champions...

How do we build a strong activist network for the 2009 elections?

How do we build a strong activist network for the 2009 elections?
Published Friday, November 23, 2007 at 17:02
by Editor in European democracy & diversity (45 views and 0 comments)
Like yesterday, this afternoon offered a number of fringe meetings. One of them was devoted to PES activists and how they can take part in PES campaign for the 2009 European elections. The meeting clearly demonstrated the growing need of grassroots party members to participate in the European political debate, and expressed the necessity of a well-organized and Europe-wide activist network. Participants agreed that the PES manifesto campaign is an ideal tool to participate in the political debate and to share local experiences at the European level. Many also mentioned the initiative as an opportunity to consolidate a strong network of socialist and social democratic grassroots in Europe.
Sylvia Lacroux, from the PES activist city group in Geneva, was one of the participants in the meeting. We asked her what she thought should be the most important priority for the PES manifesto:“The PES family needs to promote a more human and social face of globalization, beginning in Europe. To achieve this it is very important for us to become active citizens, citizens that can transform in actions the political orientations given by our leaders and fight for a New Social Europe, the only true and human alternative to the existing neo-liberal model.”
Tags: activists, council, PES

PES Council: a common manifesto, yes please

PES Council: a common manifesto, yes please

Published Friday, November 23, 2007 at 16:54

by Editor in New Social Europe (32 views and 0 comments)

Towards the PES manifesto – was the dynamic title of the fourth and last plenary of this week’s PES Council. The session was a mix of live speakers and videos with PES activists giving their take on what should be in the PES manifesto. There were several topics which were mentioned again and again – by both politicians and PES activists: workers rights, employment, immigration, energy supply and climate change. Several speakers also mentioned the lack of citizen participation and the low turnout at European elections as issues that the PES should deal with.

Marek Siwiec, Vice-President of the European Parliament and from Poland, was among the plenary’s live speakers. He brought up the gap between rich and poor parts of Europe as an important priority for the PES manifesto:“New Social Europe sounds very different in rich and poor Europe. In poor Europe access to quality education is the number one issue right now. There are great differences between the villages and the cities when it comes to the possibilities for education.”These were just a few of the opinions put forward during the debate today – you can watch the full session, including all speeches. Next to what is mentioned here – what do you think should be in the PES manifesto?
Tags: council, education, employment, equality, immigration, women

PES Council: It's time to act

PES Council: It's time to act

Published Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 18:00

by Editor in Save our planet (75 views and 0 comments)

Who should lead the fight against climate change, if not Europe’s socialists and social democrats?
This question, posed by Stephan Singer, of WWF European Climate and Energy Policy Unit, was answered by speakers and delegates at the PES Council today. They want to turn the planetary emergency into a global opportunity. The PES adopted a resolution which offers a roadmap for combating global warming.
Speakers in the debate underlined that we know enough about the threat, and we already have many of the solutions. “It’s time to act”, said Linda McAvan, Vice-President of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament. To keep the rise in average global temperatures below 2°C, the PES calls for binding targets for the reduction of green house gas emissions in all industrialised countries and for the limitation of CO2 emission increases in emerging economies. The aim for 2050 is a reduction of global CO2 emissions by at least 50%. This is only possible with effective global, regional and national policies and an effective system international emissions trading system.
New, sustainable energy resources are the key for a low carbon economy. This requires massive investment in research, development and innovation, not least in Europe, as well as a global partnership to help developing economies get eh latest green technology to fight climate change and to cope with climate changes. Without our solidarity poorer countries cannot shoulder the rising costs of fighting and coping with climate change
A roundtable debate on the ‘Save our planet’ manifesto theme concluded the first day of PES Council. Hans Eichel, chair of the PES Lisbon Network, and Herbert Schmalstieg, President of the Union of Socialist Local and Regional Representatives in Europe, discussed what they believed were essential elements of the PES manifesto for the European elections in 2009: an effective green growth policy, citizens’ involvement, sustainable energy resources, smarter forms of urban transport, and a truly European framework for climate change policies.Watch the entire plenary debate and view more photos from the PES Council here.
Tags: citizens, council, environment, global warming, green growth

Vox pop: delegates on 'Save our planet'

Vox pop: delegates on 'Save our planet'

Published Friday, November 23, 2007 at 09:25by Editor in Save our planet (36 views and 0 comments)
After yesterday's plenary on combating climate change we asked a couple of delegates what they think should be the most important priority for the PES manifesto:
Robert Goebbels, Member of the Euopean Parliament, Luxembourg:"Humanity will always need energy and there is no silver bullet to resolve the problem. I think the PES manifesto should suggest investments in research into all kinds of energy."
Petroula Nteledimou, Vice-President, ECOSY:
"I think it is very important that the PES manifesto presents an integrated and whole strategy to environmental issues. These problems are not isolated from other issues such as social problems and foreign and security policy."
Tags: council, energy efficiency, environment

Portugal intervention in Sofia

Portugal intervention in Sofia

European democracy and diversity

European democracy and diversity
There were actually two fringe meeting dedicated to European democracy and diversity, one o the diversity subject, another on democracy. Zita Gurmai chaired both sessions.With a good audience, the first hour was dedicated to the diversity problems that Europe is feeling today, mainly the ones regarding minority rights. The main idea was that if all the known laws were attended, the minority rights problem would never exists. It is a matter of enforcing policies that already are written.

On this topic we call your attention to the contribution delivered by the Rainbow Rose organization, a guest at the Council.Another topic was the value fight that we, socialists, are losing to the right wing parties, mainly because of its strategy to create think tanks, focus groups and so on dedicated to the construction of a political discourse. This articulated move, going on for the past 30 years, have already create an intellectual and political elite without the socialist counterpart. The idea of a European Foundation came in support if this undisputable need.

The second sessions was dedicated to «democracy», and I liked very much the intervention of a Spanish MEP, Carlos Carnero, who spoke about the necessity of creating an European party, to bring more Europe to the common citizen. He gave also the idea of presenting a Commission President candidate, supported by PES in 2009, as well as the candidate exchange experience that could exist in the next European elections.

With a lively and participated debate (where I also intervened) the session was closed and people were send to their hotels to freshen up to be presentable at the reception that will take place in 15 minutes.Needless to say that yours truly is not going to the hotel, will not change or freshen up or anything else, and if he doesn’t finish this text soon he will miss the reception.

So… from Sofia we close the report for the day.

Democracy, diversity, LGBT fundamental rights and Bulgaria

Democracy, diversity, LGBT fundamental rights and Bulgaria

Published Friday, November 23, 2007 at 08:31

by joelld in European democracy & diversity (62 views and 2 comments)
The first day of the PES Council in Sofia went well, despite the climate conditions, with rich debates and conferences. Rainbow Rose LGBT was well represented by Rodrigo Martín Galán during the debate on European democracy and diversity yesterday afternoon. As many speakers remarked, article 13 of the EC treaty, and other binding European laws such as anti-discrimination directives 2000/78 and 2000/43, are already implemented in all member States, improving the conditions of LGBT persons, women or disabled persons in all areas of social life. Still, it also appears clearly that EU treaties and regulations, being no magic solutions, had not eliminated racism, sexism, homophobia or transphobia in our societies. As socialist activists and NGOs report daily, discriminations in employment and work conditions, hate crimes, intolerant speeches in day-to-day life, are a reality we must face.
Rainbow Rose met at lunch time, outside the Council, with Bulgarian LGBT activists who could explain us what kind of exactions they live with in their country – and Bulgaria is not an exception. As European socialists are talking, these days in Sofia, of the ways to make diversity the very blood of our “New Social Europe”, we must in no case forget what our social democratic values stand for. That is, meeting high social standards in justice and social protection, for all European citizens that must be treated as equals. This can become reality only if Human Rights are binding obligations, as binding as economic, monetary and budgetary policies such as settled in the EU since the Maastricht treaty. This is the only way to the inclusive society we stand for. Rainbow Rose, for what is about LGBT equality matters, was glad, in this first Council day, to meet with some members of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and its Youth Movement (BSY). It is only fighting all together that we will be able to get rid of intolerance in the whole EU.
Tags: activists, council, democracy, discrimination, diversity, fundamental rights, LGBT, PES

It started

It started

The 2007 Council began, despite weather conditions. Fog in Sofia led to the closing of the Airport and to the impossibility of 2/3 arriving. There are stories of delegates, activists and guests spread all over Eastern Europe, from Romania to other Bulgarian small Aero ports.Well, the show must go on, so some say…

It’s with a 1/3 house that the works started, and it was with joy that I saw one of the panels be dedicated to the Childcare initiative. As you probably know, we in Portugal organized a very interesting session with Viera da Silva, Jorge Lacão, Zita Gurmai, and Edite Estrela, late April.

But we are not here to report on our initiatives, so, back to Sofia…It was a very interesting session, in a very informal format, with Poul on stage interviewing Zita Gurmai, Ania Skrypeck, Claudette Baldacchino and Harlem Désir.

All of them had a strong message to share. I’ve already knew Zita and Ania speech; both of them top level, but to see more and more people talking about the importance of the Childcare programme is very ensuring and gives hope in the socialist project for Europe, Poul usually gives his grandson, age 6, as example of what Europe can and should be, and the Childcare campaign is no more then another opportunity to put the next generation together, with the common goal of building a New Social Europe, lead by socialists, towards a better tomorrow for the unprivileged and marginalized.

You can see the video of the session here.

Starting the day in Sofia

Starting the day in Sofia

Published Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 18:15

by jose reis santos in Hub Only (44 views and 2 comments)
The 2007 PES Council began, despite weather conditions. Fog in Sofia led to the closing of the airport and to the impossibility of 2/3 of participants arriving. There are stories of delegates, activists and guests spread all over Eastern Europe, from Romania to other Bulgarian small aeroports.
Find more reports from the PES Council here and here.
Here is my video of the first hours:

Zdravei from Sofia!

Zdravei from Sofia!
Hello European campaigners,

Zdravei from Sofia!

I am - together with the rest of the Yourspace campaigning team - in Bulgaria for the PES Council. Right now a lot of socialists and social democrats from all over Europe are gathered in the National Palace of Culture to discuss the PES manifesto for the 2009 European elections.

During today and tomorrow there will be lots of possibilities for following the Council online:

Live-blogging on Yourspace!

The Yourspace crew and a team of PES activist bloggers will post hourly updates on the meetings and events on Yourspace. Log in with your usual username and password and you'll be able to give your comments in real time.Watch PES TV!Many of the Council's sessions are streamed 'near-live' on http://www.pes.org.

The Council's opening and closing, the plenary debates and press conferences will be just a mouse click away!

I hope you’ll enjoy the PES Council!

Greetings from Bulgaria,

Rikke

PES Council: unhealthy investment – no thanks!

PES Council: unhealthy investment – no thanks!

Published Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 17:32

by Editor in New Social Europe (36 views and 0 comments)
There are plenty of examples of the negative impact on society of certain kinds of hedge and private equity funds. These funds, many financed with investments from pension funds, are on a hunt for short-term profit – something which too often is at the expense of worker’s rights and the long-term development of the company invested in. Many hedge and private equity funds also pay very little tax and, because they finance company buy outs with huge accumulated debts, they pose a threat to financial stability.
This type of ‘unhealthy investment’ was the topic of today’s second plenary at the PES Council. There was broad agreement among the speakers at the podium that the unregulated behaviour of hedge and private equity funds are a serious problem which urgently needs to be dealt with – for the sake of both workers and companies.
One of the speakers, Democratic Congressman Barney Frank (Chairman of the US House Committee on Financial Services), had taken the trip during the American thanksgiving holiday, across the Atlantic to urge collaboration between the US and Europe.
"If the US and Europe do not coordinate our efforts we will never be able to tackle the problem of hedge and private equity funds. The funds will then move and the problem is the same."
The necessity of coordination across the Atlantic was echoed by the European speakers - among these PES president Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.
Other European speakers were: Pervenche Berès (PS, France), Member of the European Parliament and Ruairi Quinn (LP, Ireland), Gyorgi Kadiev (Bulgaria), Minister of Finance and Hristo Hrishev, Vice-President of ECOSY.
Watch the entire plenary debate and view more photos from the PES Council here.
Tags: council, equality, growth, investment, social model, wages

PES Council: How do we best promote sustainable peace?

PES Council: How do we best promote sustainable peace?

Published Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 17:09by Editor in EU in the world (33 views and 0 comments)
The first plenary debate, right after the opening of the PES Council, was dedicated to international politics. The debate entitled "The EU on the international scene; Promoting sustainable peace’" was chaired by the Katrin Saks, Member of the European Parliament from Estonia, and was filled with lively interventions and contributions."It’s an important challenge for us as socialists and social democrats to apply our values in the 21st century," said Espen Barth Eide, Secretary of State for Defense in Norway, when he presented a recent report by the PES on the international scene and sustainable peace.

According to him effective multilateralism is a fundamental tool and has to be focused on the creation of other instruments for changes. The main objective of socialists and social democrats should be to bring the advantages of an interdependent world to citizens in many different parts of the world. For example through the European Security Defense Policy, or via humanitarian aid and health policies, trade policy or external relations with countries such as China and India.

The discussion tackled how socialists and social democrats can reach their objectives - to this read more
Tags: aid, China, cooperation, council, peace, trade

Putting the Show

Putting the Show
Usually when I arrive at congresses and important venues everything is set, ready to go. TV and media, at their coverage, show us a done deal, a scenario prepared to be broadcast. I arrived one day before the Council starts, yesterday, which was a good thing because today the airport is closed due to weather conditions (what explains the few people at the council, the limited number of activists and the numbers of some delegations), and what I had the opportunity to see this backstage that allows the Show to exist.

Of course I helped.People here, I must say, are so nice and kind, always helping and interested in trying to understand what you are trying to communicate. I think this Council will be a very good experience.

Arriving

Arriving

I arrived today at Sofia. It is a Big journey from Lisbon, reminding me that we, in Portugal, are really at the end of Europe.I left home at 4.40 am, and arrived at 16 pm, local time, after a 3 hour stop at Munich. There I had a strange experience. Stepping out of the bus that took us to the Airport (from the plane), a policemen came to me, introduce himself, said he was from costumes, and ask me to carry a bag with me. I look at him, I look at his badge and I wondered:– is this for real???

He then came to explain that they were training costume dogs to catch drugs, and that this will be a test.

Since I was in Germany, and he was doing it in open air, were everybody was seeing, I thought:

- It’s probably real. This is Munich, after all. I’ll have a go at it.

So, he gave me a bag, with the drugs (cocaine he said), and as, I was passing through costumes, this big German Sheppard, after smelling the bag, jumped at me. He was a big fella, and the god thing was that he was soon controlled by his keeper. What an original way to enter a country, I must say. The German Sheppard passed the test.

After this adventure, and another plane trip, I arrived in Sofia. Freezing. Snow all over the place, showing me that the all the time summer weather we have in Portugal is not shared with the rest of Europe. We are still wearing shorts at home...I went to the hotel, after being sightseeing with the taxi driver (all the taxi drivers are alike, aren’t they?...), took a shower and went straight to the Council venue.

After asking directions to a non English speaking population (most of the old people don’t speak English), and trying to read the Cyrillic-base signs, I managed to took the tram to the venue, but it the wrong way. Instead of a 5 minutes trip, it took me an hour through traffic, a bus change and a wonderful experience in Sofia transport system at rush hour.

I arrived.

The Council has opened!

The Council has opened!

Published Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 11:07

by Editor in Hub Only (29 views and 0 comments)

Red roses and the PES logo everywhere – there is not doubt that the plenary room at the National Palace of Culture is a meeting place for socialists! The stage is decorated with banners printed with the four manifesto themes: save our planet, New Social Europe, European democracy and diversity and EU in the world.Despite fog, snow and delayed airplanes the opening was inspiring:- Even the weather cannot stop us from coming to the PES Council in Sofia! said PES president Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and continued:- When the right wing talks about modernizing it’s about deregulation and people taking care of themselves. When we talk about modernizing it’s about creating better futures, combating global warming, making sure competition takes place on human conditions and education for everyone.With these remarks the PES President kicked off the debate about the PES 2009 manifesto. Also Sergei Stanishev, prime minister of Bulgaria, and Alfred Gusenbauer, Chancellor of Austria, spoke at the opening ceremony.Watch the entire opening ceremony including speeches or view more photos from the PES Council here.read more
Tags: citizens, council, democracy, PES, president

Watch the PES Council online – as good as live!

Watch the PES Council online – as good as live!

Published Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 15:21

by Editor in Hub Only (97 views and 1 comments)

When European party leaders, delegates and PES activists gather tomorrow morning you will be able to watch their debates online. The plenary debates and the two press conferences will be brought to you as near-live streaming via the PES main homepage. Here’s what to view – please keep in mind that the sessions will be broadcasted with a delay of approximately one hour. All indications of time are GMT+2.

Thursday 22 November

09.00 Press conference

09.30 Opening of Council

10.15 Debate 1: The EU on the international scene: Promoting sustainable peace

11:30 Debate 2: Social market economy comes first: A new strategy for hedge funds and private equity

15.30: Debate 3: Combating climate change: From a planetary emergency to a global opportunity

Friday 23 November

09.00 General debate:Towards the PES manifesto

11.30 Closing of the Council

15.15 Press conference

The programme is in Sofia time – which means that you will be able to watch the opening of the Council online approximately 09.00 Brussels time (GMT+1 hour) and 08.00 London time (GMT). read more
Tags: citizens, council, democracy, PES, political parties

PES Council: Live-blogging from Sofia

PES Council: Live-blogging from Sofia

Published Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 14:35by Editor in European democracy & diversity (27 views and 0 comments)
When the PES Council starts tomorrow in Sofia, Bulgaria, you will be able to follow the year’s biggest PES event on Yourspace. There will be hourly blog posts updating you on what goes on in the National Palace of Culture in Sofia. The Yourspace crew and a team of PES activist bloggers will work hard to report on all the major event and debates – right from the beginning tomorrow morning!
From hedge funds to climate change – find the programme for the PES Council here.
Tags: citizens, council, democracy, PES, political parties

The people are what the manifesto consultation should be all about

The people are what the manifesto consultation should be all about

Published Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 12:22

by Editor in European democracy & diversity (34 views and 0 comments)
This Saturday the PES manifesto buzz reached Wielkopolska in Poland! At a meeting of the Local Government Academy – that gathers councillors of the region’s cities and counties – Elwira Bowers, co-worker of Marek Siwiec, presented Yourspace and the PES manifesto campaign.
The Wielkopolska councillors and Elwira Bowers have prepared a video statement for this week’s PES Council. View it right below!

PES Council: PES activists have their say

PES Council: PES activists have their say
Published Monday, November 19, 2007 at 14:39by Editor in European democracy & diversity (24 views and 0 comments)
Last week we invited PES activists to send in video statements for the PES Council on the 22nd and 23rd of November. Below you'll find one, but we suggest to check out all the videos at the PES manifesto YouTube group:
Tags: activists, citizens, council, democracy

Speak in front of PES Council – via Youtube

Speak in front of PES Council – via Youtube

Published Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 17:25
by Editor in European democracy & diversity (109 views and 1 comments)
What would you say if you got the chance to speak in front of PES Council? PES activists are invited to send us statements for the PES Council in Sofia which will then be shown during debates.
Make a video of yourself, stating what you think should be in the PES manifesto for the 2009 European elections and put it out on YouTube – and have the chance to be shown in Sofia! For inspiration, have a look at the questions on the manifesto theme papers. For constraints of time – many activists would like a say – we cannot accept videos that are longer than 30 seconds. Please record your video in a quiet place, since it is impossible for us to show it if the sound quality is poor.Once you're done add your videos to our YouTube group or write a comment to this post. We will need to receive your video latest Monday the 19th of November to be able to show it in Sofia.
Tags: citizens, council, democracy, PES, political parties

Rainbow Rose looks forward to the PES Council!

Rainbow Rose looks forward to the PES Council!

Published Friday, November 16, 2007 at 10:07

by joelld in New Social Europe (90 views and 0 comments)
As an observer organisation, Rainbow Rose will be present at the PES Council. This year, Rodrigo Martin Galan, from the "Grupo LGTB del PSOE" (Spain), will be our delegate. Other Rainbow Rose activists coming from the Netherlands, Estonia and France will be present in Sofia. PES activists, MEPs, and party leaders will be welcome at our stand.
Rainbow Rose will use this opportunity to communicate on our contribution to the consultation on the PES 2009 Manifesto. To this day, the contribution has already received the support of several MEPs. We will also explain our networking activities and our political positions at a fringe meeting on Friday, November 23. We believe it's important to convince all socialists that equality, diversity and secularism, as they have always been at the heart of the social-democratic movements, justify total commitment from our national and European parties.
Last, but not least, Rainbow Rose aims at maintaining a contact with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists in Europe. That's the reason why intend to meet, on the one hand, with members of the ruling Bulgarian socialist... read more
Tags: council, diversity, equality, gay, LGBT, PES

Welcome to the PES Council

Welcome to the PES Council

Published Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 09:40

by Editor in Hub Only (84 views and 0 comments)

Next week will be exciting. It will be time for the PES Council - a major gathering of European socialist and social democrats. The Council will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria on the 22nd and 23rd of November and bring together more than 350 people from all over Europe. The participants will be delegates from the PES member parties but also numerous guests and PES activists.The Council is a great opportunity to debate the PES manifesto – and you will be able to follow the discussion online!

Via the main PES website you will have access to near-live streaming of the four major plenary debates - EU’s role in promoting world peace, hedge funds, climate change and PES manifesto - and here on Yourspace there will be plenty of interviews with both politicians and activists. We will work hard to keep you updated and answer your comments!If you’re PES activist and would like to travel to Sofia to attend the Council you still have time to register. Please log in to your PES activist account and read more

Changing address

In the next days we will be posting from here,

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at the Manifesto 2009 website

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All the personal blogs will follow

Les canards libertaires
Palavra Aberta
viagens no meu partido
PS Lumiar
Jornal d'un Chou
Luso PES
PS Belem
Loja de Ideias
Scratching the Surface

Impressions and desires

Answering Rikke’s request, I’ll post a few words about myself, before arriving in Sofia.
My name is Jose Reis Santos, I’m from Portugal, and I’m a researcher in the field od Social Sciences. My main work develops in Contemporary Portuguese History; Political Science and International Relations.
As you can see, politics is one of my main areas of interest, as well as civic participation. I’m a member of the Portuguese Socialist Party, who is spreading his good work from my country to Europe, and the leader of PES Activist Portugal.
I have several blogs. The political ones are connected to my political work in the party (Luso PES – the PES Activists Portugal blog - , PS Belem – the local PS branch blog); while the Loja de Ideias is a more general blog, related with a political club I’ve created a couple of years ago.
I still participate in a collective blog, Les Cannards Libertaires, closely connected to the new left; and am coordinating a professional blog related with a Portuguese contemporary history course.
As you see, I strongly believe in all new ways to communicate. And I haven’t told you the Second Live projects I had developed in the political world.
I have high hopes in this Council, as it will launch, I hope, the Manifesto 2009 consultation with stronger resources as until now. You have to understand that I am a strong believer in the European project, and in the Idea of Europe. Thus, is I want Europe to flourish, politically, I have to support the creation of political projects at an European level; and the PES project is essential in the development of a more social orientated Europe.
I’ll stop now.
I’ll be at Sofia the next days, as an Activist, and as a guest at Rikke’s blog; so, you’ll ear from me soon…
If you have any questions, regarding myself or the Council, don’t hesitate to ask.
I Know that in Portugal there will be some blogs watching this meeting, let me just say hi:

Ao pessoal da terra, um grande abraço da Bulgária. Se quiseram fazer perguntas ou colocar alguma observação relativamente ao que se vai passar por aqui nos próximos dias, apitem. Eu vou ver regularmente (acho) os vossos blogues, por isso… (aqui vou, em principio, escrever em inglês, se puderem faze-lo nos vossos blogues facilitava o encontro com o pessoal que aqui se vai reunir).
Deixem-me citar-vos
Loja de Ideias
Les Cannards Libertaires
Viagens no meu Partido
PS Lumiar
PS Belém
Palavra Aberta

Luso PES

Introducing R.

Maybe I should say a few words about myself, so people know who'll be reporting on the PES Council?

I am Danish blogger who have been blogging about politics since October 2005 (that's a long time, actually!). I have a degree in international journalism - but I doubt that says a whole lot about my online life. Let me try to portray myself in another way...

If you browse through Scratching the Surface you'll notice that I've become increasing interested in three things during my time as a blogger:

The first is gender issues. Ever since my first introduction to feminist media studies I've been addicted to the gender perspective! From parental leave for fathers to sex computer games for women - I write about it when I have a free minute!

Secondly, I am a Euro-optimist. I honestly believe there's a lot of problems which we can only solve by working together. This is also why I am a PES activist. Among other things I'm collecting Europe-wide petitions - and if you know of any don't hesitate to send them to me.

Lastly, I'm into new media. Blogger, Facebook, YouTube - you name it, I have a profile there. The only exception is MySpace, being owned by Rupert Murdoch, it sends me some bad vibes. I occasionally write about new media, but not as often and as in-depth as I would like.

That's pretty much it!

Finally, allow me to encourage the other contributors to this blog to introduce themselves. Who are you and why are you blogging?

Giving the feminist perspective!

Here's news from Scratching the Surface:

Next week this blog will be on the road! Together with other PES activists I will be blogging from the PES Council in Sofia. You'll be able to read my reports here and on the special 'PES in Sofia' blog. The design is still under development, so stay tuned!

For those of you who doesn't know the PES, maybe a few words on the party would be appropriate. 'PES' is short for 'Party of European Socialists' (or 'De Europæiske Socialdemokrater' in Danish), it's a European-level party which gathers Europe's socialist and social democratic parties. More than 150 delegates from the national parties will take part in this year's Council (party leaders, members of national parties, international secretaries, members of the European Parliament...) - and a lot of PES activists! And, oh yes, the Danes reading this might now the PES president, it's our former prime minister, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen!

The big topic of the Council will be the party's manifesto ('valgprogram' in Danish) for the 2009 European elections. As the first European party the PES has taken a button-up approach to writing its manifesto: right now the party is asking people in Europe what they think should be its priorities for the years to come. I really think this is an exciting project.

In Sofia there will be a number of sessions devoted to gender equality. One is a debate on women and leadership and I look very much forward to discussing what socialists and social democrats can do to ensure more women leaders - in all parts of Europe. My current stand is that a quota system (like in Norway) is desireable, but I will be open to other views. Given the Norwegian experiences I am convinced this model can work in Scandinavian countries, but I am curious to know what politicians and women rights activists from other parts of Europe think about this. Could it, for example, work in Italy or Bulgaria?

Without doubt the Council days will be busy, but I'm eager to spend some time on posting. Now I have a team of PES activist bloggers to motivate me, and I'm sure they'll keep me up on my promise.

Programme PES Council meeting

Programme PES Council meeting
Sofia, Bulgaria, 21-23 November 2007

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21st November 2007
Arrival of participants
16:00 – 18:30 Presidency meeting

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22nd November 2007
09:30 – 10.15 Opening of the Council
Report of the Childcare campaign

10.15 – 11.30 Debate 1: The EU on the international scene: Promoting sustainable peace
Adoption of resolution

11.30– 13.00 Debate 2: Social market economy comes first: A new strategy for hedge funds and private equity
Adoption of resolution

13.15 – 15.15 Fringe meetings – including buffet lunch

15:30 – 16:45 Debate 3: Combating Climate Change: From a planetary emergency to a global
opportunity
Adoption of resolution

16:45 – 17:00 Presentation on the manifesto 2009 consultation

17:00 – 19:00 4 parallel debates on manifesto 2009 consultation
- New Social Europe (5th floor - Hall 7)
- European Democracy and Diversity (5th floor - Hall 8)
- Save our Planet (5th floor - Hall 9)
- Europe in the World (7th floor – Plenary room)

20:30 Reception hosted by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament

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23rd November 2007
09:00 – 11:30 General Debate: Towards the PES manifesto
Adoption of resolution

11.30 – 12.15 Closing of the Council

12.30 – 15:00 Leaders’ lunch

12.30 – 15.00 Fringe meetings – including buffet lunch

PES Council Sofia 22-23 November 2007

PES Council Sofia 22-23 November 2007
PES Council is a major gathering of European socialist and social-democrats. It will bring together more than 150 delegates from the PES member parties and numerous guests and PES activists. The Council will take place on 22-23 November 2007 in the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria.The Council will be the floor to debate a new consultation process about PES manifesto for 2009 European elections. During the Council, plenary sessions will also be dedicated to international matters, without forgetting some of the most pressing issues in the political agenda: the regulation of hedge funds and tackling climate change.Following the success of the PES Congress in Porto 2006, where PES activists were a lively presence that marked a new way of integrating grassroots into European politics, we welcome once again activists to this important socialist gathering.

Register to the Council
As a delegate or a guest
As a PES activist (if you are already logged in as an activist)
As a journalist

Documents
Programme
Practical information
Accommodation - reserve your hotel
Budget hotels
Check the location of the Council venue and the hotels on the city map

E-Council
During the Council you will be able to follow the plenary sessions and press conferences as they will be broadcasted in near-live streaming in our website in original version, English and French. More news will be available soon