16/09/2009
The PES insists on one of the three key EU posts
Commenting on the confirmation of José Manuel Barroso’s appointment as President of the European Commission by the European Parliament, PES President Poul Rasmussen said:
“As expected the European Parliament’s conservative majority, including eurosceptics, have voted Barroso back in.”
“Now the PES will focus on obtaining maximum influence in upcoming negotiations. The PES is still Europe’s second largest political family. For the coherence of Europe, we insist on having the post of High Representative, or if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified, the European Council President. We have several excellent candidates for these positions. We will also push for high level PES representation in the European Commission.”
Rasmussen added: “The PES wants to focus on the matters of real concern for our citizens: on how to ensure we do not have 30 million unemployed in Europe by 2011. We will be a force for proposition of a better way forward for Europe and its people.”
