19/06/2009
No to parliament vote on Barroso in July
PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Socialist Group leader Martin Schulz today issued a joint statement on the decision of the Council regarding the President of the Commission. The statement reads
“We understand that the Council are asking the European Parliament to vote on 15 July. As we have said before, our answer is no. We will not bend to pressure from certain Council members for a hasty vote. We agreed with our Prime Ministers and Party Leaders yesterday that the European Parliament needs time for a full consultation. We will plan intensive hearings once the Parliament is properly constituted.”
“We need a thorough debate on the programme and policies of the next Commission, concrete proposals not spin. We know Mr Barroso and our experience is not positive. His record on managing the crisis, on social protection, on providing leadership, is poor but he tries to impress to talking it up. We Socialists know what we want for Europe, and will judge Barroso and his programme on that basis.”
“Our priorities are clear, and we want to hear what Mr Barroso has to say about them. What we want from the European Commission is a new recovery plan for jobs and green growth, a European Employment Pact to safeguard jobs and strengthen workers rights including a social clause, a new Women’s Rights Charter, effective regulation of and supervision of financial markets, a new solidarity between member states and a European commitment for a global new deal.”
“It’s about the future of Europe, not lip service and spin.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Julian Scola, Communications Advisor - Media & Campaigns
Party of European Socialists, Rue du Trône, 98, B-1050 Brussels
Mobile +32 486 117 394
julian.scola@pes.org
