PSC (PSC-PSOE) activists took part in PES second DOA "A New Social Europe-giving people a fairer deal" Socialist Catalan Party (PSC-PSOE, Spain) has participated in PES Day of Action, “A New Social Europe- giving people a fairer deal”, on May 7th, celebrating a seminar titled “Citizens’ rights in a safe Europe” in Barcelona.

 

The main speakers of the event were Laura Pelay , Joint Secretary to the General Secretariat of Trade Union UGT, Carme Figueras, Member of Catalan Parliament, Raimon Obiols, Member of European Parliament running for re-election and Maria Badia, PSC Secretary of European and International Policy and leader of list for EP elections.

 

The speakers analysed what Europe has done and represented during the last mandate concerning Citizens’ and workers rights and explained why the next European elections are so crucial to Europe’s future. Laura Pelay regretted that during the last mandate Trade Unions have been worried because of great EU attacks against workers rights, due to Right aggressive proposal. That’s why she had called workers to demonstrate against Bolkenstein Directive and Bolkenstein Directive and criticized Europe’s harmful action. However, she is convinced that these regretful policies can be overturned and that damaging attitudes to workers can be removed. Citizens are the only ones that are able to change it, by mobilizing next June 7th and vote for progressive forces, for socialists candidates.

 

Carme Figueras agreed that change has to come to Europe because it is essential to put people first by launching employment and social policies to create and consolidate a New Social Model, led by European Socialists. These social policies have to tackle important topics such as health and education, which have been key elements for Catalan Government too. In any case, the ultimate objective for European progressive forces should be to balance growth and social protection, establishing a common Deal for Progress towards a Social Europe. Both candidates to EP elections, Maria Badia and Raimon Obiols, recall that citizens are the one that can put an end to dark years of harassment and destruction of social protection and social initiatives that put people first. This is what right majority in EP has done during the last mandate. And Socialists are the one that can heal it and better recover our precious Social Europe, Delors and Felipe González’s Europe. Meanwhile, PPE claims to have the same social priorities as they are responsible of the current situation and Liberals prone that single market is the greatest solution to solve all problems.

 

According to the exchange of opinions between the speakers and the audience, current crisis should be dealt with thought MORE EUROPE AND MORE SOCIAL POLICIES, investing in solidarity and in people welfare and strengthening European values, which are progressive values. By returning to social Europe, by putting people first we can recover Europeism and pride of European citizenship. Otherwise, if right majority is renewed, Europe will walk straightforward to closeness, intolerance, lack of solidarity and loss social rights.