"I do not see the sanctions against Russia to have any positive effect. The mistrust and confrontation between us have
 reached the peak of the Cold War. This situation is not positive for the resolution of conflicts and to the common fight against the  global challenges.
That is why most of the European leaders do not support new sanctions.", declared the PES President Sergei Stanishev during the PES meeting before the European Council, 20.10.2016.

Furthermore, the PES Leaders agreed that a workable European Migration Compact must be developed as soon as possible. This compact must, on the one hand, ensure the control of the external borders of the EU through a reinforced European Border and Coast Guard and, and on the other hand, to be based on mutual solidarity. At the meeting, PES leaders agreed that European Institutions need stability in this particular moment and that it would be good for the European Union if the current presidents of the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament would hold office until the end of the term.

“We will be having difficult negotiations for the Brexit and we need people in the EU team that have experience playing together“, Stanishev said.

Stanishev highlighted that the “European Socialists and Democrats have agreed that the progressives should lead the process of further development of the EU for the best of its citizens.” The PES leaders agreed on the need to rediscover the social democratic roots of the EU.
List of participants:

  • Sergei Stanishev, PES President
  • Stefan Löfven, Prime Minister of Sweden
  • Christian Kern, Chancellor of Austria
  • Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta
  • Bohuslav Sobotka, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
  • Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia
  • Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party (UK)
  • Liviu Dragnea, President of PSD (Romania)
  • Fofi Gennimata, President of PASOK (Greece)
  • Diederik Samsom, Leader of PvdA (the Netherlands)
  • Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament
  • Gianni Pittella, President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament
  • Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security
  • Maros Sefcovic, Commissioner for Energy Union
  • Frans Timmermans, Vice President of the European Commission