05/03/2021 PES welcomes declaration on the Conference on the Future of Europe

The Party of European Socialists strongly welcomes the approval, by European Parliament leaders, of the Conference on the Future of Europe's founding declaration.

Progressives have been central to brokering this agreement, led by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Socialists and Democrats Group in the Parliament.

PES President Sergei Stanishev said:

'Through much hard work we now have the foundation for the Conference on the Future of Europe. We reached this final stage thanks to Prime Minister Antonio Costa and the Portuguese Presidency, building on the work of the SPD during the German Presidency in previous months. They have found compromise among all the stakeholders, with the help of Iraxte Garcia and the S&D Group who have stood firmly behind the Conference. This commitment to Europe's future must be applauded.

'After months of deadlock, we must seize the momentum and start making progress on the Conference. It is now the duty of all of Europe's political families to deliver a Conference which reflects citizens' ambitions. We need an approach which excludes no one. All our citizens in all their diversity - young and old, rural and urban, rich and poor, men and women - must have their say. Their voices must direct the EU we build for the future, as we implement a recovery with the European Green Deal and Social Pillar at its heart.'

The PES backs the statement by the European Parliament's Conference of Presidents which calls for the work of the Conference on the Future of Europe to begin as soon as possible. Progressives are committed to the Conference as a moment to transform the EU for the benefit of all citizens.