Statement following the terrorist attacks in Belgium.

We are shocked by the horrific terrorist attacks in Brussels and in the National Airport of Zaventem that took many innocent lives on the 22nd of March. These barbaric and inhumane acts cannot be justified by any cause or any ideology.

The Party of European Socialists condemns in the strongest possible terms the bomb attacks in Brussels.

The PES president Sergei Stanishev said: “This brutal attacks against civilians are despicable, barbaric and inhumane. They seek to terrorize ordinary people, to alter our lifestyle and to challenge the peaceful coexistence in our societies. They will never achieve that objective. We have to stand more united than ever in this difficult moments. Our thoughts are with the dead, the wounded and their families”.

The Party of European Socialists and its member parties stand firmly against terrorism and in favour of freedom, democracy and human rights. The PES extends its condolences to the families of all the victims in this moment of mourning. 

Ahead of a decisive European Council summit in Brussels, Prime Ministers and leaders of the Party of European Socialists (PES) met to discuss the EU-Turkey plan and the refugee issue.

Our principal concern is the safety and security of refugees, the integrity of Schengen and the future of our common European dream. The Leaders agreed that any agreement reached at the summit on the EU-Turkey plan must not compromise these redlines.

Progressive forces today held a demonstration beside the EU Council to draw attention to the fate of men, women and children fleeing war, and to call on European heads of states and governments to show solidarity and responsibility to save lives, save Schengen and save Europe.

The Europe Ministers of the Socialist and Democratic political family discussed ways of boosting investment and addressing the current refugee crisis, ahead of the General Affairs Council. The ministers built up on the Progressive Leaders’ Summit hosted in Paris on the invitation of President François Hollande to call for a new drive to investment in Europe. The progressive ministers agreed that the current European Fund for Strategic Investment – also called Juncker Plan – is a first positive initiative that has to be brought further in order to address the problem of mass unemployment, a conclusion also reached by the Heads of State and Government in Paris last Saturday. They agreed that support for more public and private investment is urgently needed at the European level.