(14 January 2009, Brussels) In a ringing endorsement of EPSU positions, the Party of European Socialists (PES) has signed up to the EPSU Public Service Pledge. The 215 MEP’s in the group have been asked to ‘actively support’ the pledge. A circular from Vice President of the PES Group, Harlem Desir MEP, reiterated to the Socialists Members their recent decision to call for a European framework for public services and urged them to coordinate with EPSU affiliates in their own member state (...)

(5 December, Brussels, 2008) The leaders of Europe’s social democratic and socialist parties have made the adoption of a European Framework for public services a key demand of their manifesto for the European elections 2009 (link: http://www.pes.org/downloads/PES_ma... ). The PES manifesto “People first: A new direction for Europe”, was adopted in Madrid this week. EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel stated that this was a decision that will; “give hope to public service workers (...)

(19 November 2008) This article first appeared in Social Europe Journal, vol.4, issue1, Autumn 2008. Christophe Rouillon, Mayor of Coulaignes (France), Vice President of the French Mayors Association and member of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions. He writes on behalf of the European Socialists (PES Group) in the Committee of the Regions This autumn of 2008 sees public services hit head on by the current financial crisis at a time when an assessment has to be made of the (...)