Party of European Socialists

Party of European Socialists Sozialdemokratische Partei Europas Parti socialiste européen Partito Socialista Europeo Partido socialista europeo Ευρωπαϊκό Σοσιαλιστικό Κόμμα (Evropaïkó Sosialistikó Kómma) Partia Europejskich Socjalistów Partido socialista europeu Avrupa Sosyalistleri Partisi De Europæiske Socialdemokrater Партия на европейските социалисти (Partiya na evropeyskite sotsialisti) Páirtí Sóisialach na hEorpa Strana evropských socialistů Partidul Socialiştilor Europeni
President	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen MEP
Founded	1953 (Group) 1973 (Confederation) 1992 (Party)
Headquarters	Rue du Trône/Troonlaan, 98, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Youth wing	Ecosy
Ideology	Social democracy
International affiliation	Socialist International
European Parliament Group	Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
Official colours	Red
Website
http://www.pes.org
Politics of the European Union Political parties Elections

The Party of European Socialists (PES) is a European political party led by Poul Nyrup Rasmussen MEP comprising social-democratic parties primarily from European Union member states, as well as other nations of the European continent. The PES member parties are themselves members of the Socialist International. The PES forms the majority of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European parliament. The PES also operates in the Committee of the Regions and the European Council.

History

'60s

In 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.

'70s

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.

'80s

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]

'90s

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]

'00s

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 and for another 2.5 years at the Prague Congress in 2009.

'10s

Presidents

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the current PES President

Presidents of the Party of European Socialists and its predecessors.^[2]

President		State	National party	Term
1.	Wilhelm Dröscher	Germany	Social Democratic Party (SPD)	April 1974	January 1979
2.	Robert Pontillon	France	Socialist Party (PS)	January 1979	March 1980
3.	Joop den Uyl	Netherlands	Labour Party (PvdA)	March 1980	May 1987
4.	Vítor Constâncio	Portugal	Socialist Party (PS)	May 1987	January 1989
5.	Guy Spitaels	Belgium	Socialist Party (PS)	February 1989	May 1992
6.	Willy Claes	Belgium	Socialist Party (SP)	November 1992	October 1994
7.	Rudolf Scharping	Germany	Social Democratic Party (SPD)	March 1995	May 2001
8.	Robin Cook	United Kingdom	Labour Party	May 2001	April 2004
9.	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen	Denmark	Social Democrats (SD)	April 2004	-

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]

PES in the European institutions

Overview of the European institutions

Organisation	Institution	Number of seats
European Union	European Parliament	162 / 736
European Union	European Commission	6 / 27
European Union	European Council (Heads of Government)	5 / 27
European Union	Council of the European Union (Participation in Government)	9 / 27
Council of Europe	Parliamentary Assembly	69 / 318

European Parliament

European Commission

European 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, six of the twenty-seven Commissioners belong to PES.

Portfolio	Commissioner	State	Party	Photo
High RepresentativeFirst Vice-President; Foreign Affairs and Security Policy	AshtonCatherine Ashton	United Kingdom	Socialists National: Labour
CompetitionVice-President; Competition	AlmuniaJoaquín Almunia	Spain	Socialists National: PSOE
Inter-Institutional Relations and AdministrationVice-President; Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration	SefčovičMaroš Šefčovič	Slovakia	Socialists National: Smer
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries	DamanakiMaria Damanaki	Greece	Socialists National: ΠΑΣΟΚ
Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy	FüleŠtefan Füle	Czech Republic	Socialists National: ČSSD
Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion	AndorLászló Andor	Hungary	Socialists National: MSZP

European Council and Council of Ministers

States by the European party affiliations of their head of government^[5]

Party-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: Austria (Werner Faymann), Greece (George Papandreou), Portugal (José Sócrates), Slovenia (Borut Pahor) and Spain (José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero). 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 three countries: Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.^[6]

Overview

State	Ruling party/coalition	Affiliated EU party/parties	Population	Votes
Spain	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party	Party of European Socialists	&000000004608717000000046,087,170	27
Netherlands	Christian Democratic Appeal Dutch Labour Party ChristianUnion[7]	European People's Party Party of European Socialists Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists	&000000001657680000000016,576,800	13
Belgium	Christian Democratic and Flemish Flemish Liberals and Democrats Reformist Movement Socialists Party Humanist Democratic Centre[7]	European People's Party European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Party of European Socialists	&000000001082751900000010,827,519	12
Greece	Panhellenic Socialist Movement	Party of European Socialists	&000000001112517900000011,125,179	12
Portugal	Socialist Party	Party of European Socialists	&000000001063688800000010,636,888	12
Austria	Austrian People's Party Social Democratic Party of Austria	European People's Party Party of European Socialists	&00000000083729300000008,372,930	10
Luxembourg	Christian Social People's Party Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party	European People's Party Party of European Socialists	&0000000000502207000000502,207	4
Slovenia	Social Democrats For Real Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia Liberal Democracy of Slovenia	Party of European Socialists European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party	&00000000020541190000002,054,119	4

Committee of the Regions

PES has 110 members in the Committee of the Regions as of 2007.^[6]

Member parties

With 32 members it is the only political party to have a member from every EU state, although not all of them have elected MEPs.^[8]

State	Name (national language)	Name (English)	abbr.	MEPs
Austria	Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs	Social Democratic Party of Austria	SPÖ	5
Belgium (Flemish Community)	Socialistische Partij Anders	Socialist Party Different	SPa	2
Belgium (French Community)	Parti Socialiste	Socialist Party	PS	3
Bulgaria	Българска социалистическа партия Bălgarska Socialističeska Partija	Bulgarian Socialist Party	BSP	5
Cyprus	Κίνημα Σοσιαλδημοκρατών Kínima Sosialdimokratón	Movement for Social Democracy	EDEK	1[9]
Czech Republic	Česká strana sociálně demokratická	Czech Social Democratic Party	ČSSD	2
Denmark	Socialdemokraterne	Social Democrats	SD	5
Estonia	Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond	Social Democratic Party	SDE	1
Finland	Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue	Social Democratic Party of Finland	SDP	3
France	Parti Socialiste	Socialist Party	PS	14
Germany	Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands	Social Democratic Party of Germany	SPD	24[10]
Greece	Πανελλήνιο Σοσιαλιστικό Κίνημα Panellínio Sosialistikó Kínima	Panhellenic Socialist Movement	PASOK	8
Hungary	Magyar Szocialista Párt	Hungarian Socialist Party	MSZP	4
	Magyarországi Szociáldemokrata Párt	Hungarian Social Democratic Party	MSZDP	0
Ireland	Páirtí an Lucht Oibre / Labour Party	Labour Party	PLO	3
Italy	Partito Socialista Italiano	Italian Socialist Party	PSI	4
Latvia	Latvijas Sociāldemokrātiskā Strādnieku Partija	Social Democratic Workers' Party of Latvia	LSDSP	0
Lithuania	Lietuvos Socialdemokratų Partija	Social Democratic Party of Lithuania	LSDP	2
Luxembourg	Lëtzebuerger Sozialistesch Arbechterpartei	Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party	LSAP	1
Malta	Partit Laburista	Labour Party	PL	3
Netherlands	Partij van de Arbeid	Labour Party	PvdA	3
Norway	Det norske Arbeiderparti	Norwegian Labour Party	DNA	N/A[11]
Poland	Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej	Democratic Left Alliance	SLD	5
	Unia Pracy	Labour Union	UP	0
Portugal	Partido Socialista	Socialist Party	PS	12
Romania	Partidul Social Democrat	Social Democratic Party	PSD	10
Scotland	Pàrtaidh Làbarach na h-Alba	Scottish Labour Party	PLA	2
Slovakia	Smer – sociálna demokracia[12]	Direction - social democracy	Smer	5
Slovenia	Socialni demokrati	Social Democrats	SD	1
Spain	Partido Socialista Obrero Español	Spanish Socialist Workers' Party	PSOE	24
Sweden	Sveriges socialdemokratiska arbetareparti	Social Democratic Workers' Party of Sweden	SAP	5
Wales	Llafur Cymru	Welsh Labour	LC	1
United Kingdom (Great Britain)	Labour Party	Labour Party	LP	19
United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)	Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre	Social Democratic and Labour Party	SDLP	0

Associated parties

State	Name (original language)	Name (English)	abbr.	Status
Albania	Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë	Socialist Party	PSS	Associate
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Socijaldemokratska Partija BiH	Social Democratic Party	SDP	Associate
Bulgaria	Партия Български социалдемократи Partija Balgarski socialdemokrati	Party of Bulgarian Social Democrats	PBS	Associate
Croatia	Socijaldemokratska Partija Hrvatske	Social Democratic Party of Croatia	SDP	Associate
Iceland	Samfylkingin	Social Democrat Alliance	S	Associate
Macedonia	Социјалдемократски сојуз на Македонија Socijaldemokratski sojuz na Makedonija	Social Democratic Union of Macedonia	SDSM	Associate
Montenegro	Demokratska Partija Socijalista Crne Gore	Democratic Party of Socialists	DPS	Associate
Montenegro	Socijaldemokratska Partija Crne Gore	Social Democratic Party	SDP	Associate
Serbia	Демократска странка Demokratska stranka	Democratic Party	DS	Associate
Switzerland	Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz / Parti socialiste suisse	Social Democratic Party of Switzerland	SP/PS	Associate
Turkey	Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi	Republican People's Party	CHP	Associate
	Barış ve Demokrasi Partisi	Peace and Democracy Party	BDP	Associate

Observer parties

State	Name (original language)	Name (English)	abbr.	Status
Andorra	Partit Socialdemòcrata	Social Democratic Party	PS	Observer
Israel	העבודה Ha'Avoda	Labour Party	LP	Observer
	מרצ Meretz-Yachad	Vitality - Together	MY	Observer
San Marino	Partito dei Socialisti e dei Democratici	Party of Socialists and Democrats	PSD	Observer
Cyprus	Cumhuriyetçi Türk Partisi	Republican Turkish Party	CTP	Observer

References

External links

• Party of European Socialists, official website
• Parliamentary Group of the Party of European Socialists, official website
• 2009 Manifesto consultation, PES website
• PES Manifesto, PES blog
• PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, official website

Party of European Socialists (PES) European Parliament group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Parties Member parties Social Democratic Party of Austria · Different Socialist Party · Socialist Party · Bulgarian Socialist Party · Movement for Social Democracy · Czech Social Democratic Party · Social Democrats · Social Democratic Party · Social Democratic Party of Finland · Socialist Party · Social Democratic Party of Germany · Panhellenic Socialist Movement · Hungarian Socialist Party · Hungarian Social Democratic Party · Labour Party · Italian Socialist Party · Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party · Social Democratic Party of Lithuania · Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party · Labour Party · Social Democratic Party · Labour Party · Norwegian Labour Party · Democratic Left Alliance · Labour Union · Socialist Party · Social Democratic Party · Direction - social democracy · Social Democrats · Spanish Socialist Workers' Party · Social Democratic Workers' Party of Sweden · Labour Party (UK) · Labour Party (Ireland) · Social Democratic and Labour Party Associated parties Socialist Party of Albania · Social Democratic Party · Party of Bulgarian Social Democrats · Social Democratic Party of Croatia · Social Democratic Alliance · Social Democratic Union of Macedonia · Republican Popular Party · Democratic Party of Socialists · Democratic Party · Social Democratic Party of Switzerland · Peace and Democracy Party · Republican People's Party Observer parties Social Democratic Party · Israeli Labor Party · New Movement-Meretz · Party of Socialists and Democrats · Republican Turkish Party Presidents Wilhelm Dröscher · Robert Pontillon · Joop den Uyl · Vítor Constâncio · Guy Spitaels · Willy Claes · Rudolf Scharping · Robin Cook · Poul Nyrup Rasmussen Group Presidents EP Guy Mollet · Hendrik Fayat · Pierre Lapie · Willi Birkelbach · Käte Strobel · Francis Vals · Georges Spénale · Ludwig Spénale · Ernest Glinne · Rudi Arndt · Jean-Pierre Cot · Pauline Green · Enrique Barón Crespo · Martin Schulz Barroso II Commission Catherine Ashton · Joaquín Almunia · Maroš Šefčovič · María Damanáki · Štefan Füle · László Andor European Council Werner Faymann · George Papandreou · José Sócrates · Borut Pahor · José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero Eurofoundation: Foundation for European Progressive Studies

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