PES President Sergei Stanishev said after the meeting: “We are delighted to welcome the PD into our progressive family. This is a beautiful moment for us and we look forward to celebrating it tomorrow with new Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who will address 2000 people at our PES Election Congress.”
The PD is the leading progressive force in Italy, and their membership further strengthens the PES for the election campaign ahead.
Representing her party at the Presidency meeting, new Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini thanked PES for the warm welcome and looked ahead to a successful election in May: “We have a historic opportunity to set a new path in Europe. The PD is delighted to bring its strength and support to the PES for this campaign and for the future.”
Presidency members also had a chance to discuss with Candidate-designate Martin Schulz about the elections. Schulz received invitations and encouragement from his colleagues for his European election tour, which will take him all over Europe from East to West and North to South.
This Presidency comes in the middle of the PES Election Congress which will also see the adoption of the PES Manifesto for the 2014 European elections. The PES will present a ten-point plan which breaks with five years of austerity measures in Europe and takes European decision making closer to local communities.
