Time is running out. That’s why I am urging him again to lay out a concrete social action plan, including vital measures to fight poverty, promote equality, improve young people’s prospects and ensure that all workers benefit from social protections, even in the digital economy.

Instead of contemplating a multi-speed Europe to divide us further, we must seek solutions to citizens’ real problems – solutions that work for everyone.

Read the full text of the letter:

https://www.pes.eu/en/news-events/news/detail/PES-president-Junckers-State-of-the-Union-must-prioritise-social-Europe/

“I think a conversation about a progressive candidate for the presidency of the European Council should be initiated among our prime ministers and heads of state“, add Stanishev. He said he would propose the start of such a debate at a meeting of Socialist leaders due to take place next week in Malta, just before an EU summit on Feb. 3.

The European Council, which groups the 28 EU heads of state and government, must decide by May whether to give Tusk a second, 30-month mandate. They will prefer a consensus choice, though if need be can take a majority vote. Nine EU countries are currently led by the center-left.

“It is not about personality. It is a matter of political balance,” told Stanishev, adding that the center-right’s stranglehold on top EU posts could also help fuel the rise of Eurosceptic, far-right parties across the continent.

Following the latest tragedy in the Mediterranean where hundreds of refugees lost their lives in an attempt to reach the Italian shores, European socialists demand urgent action from EU Member states. President of the French Republic Francois Hollande, Prime Ministers of Italy Matteo Renzi, of Malta Joseph Muscat and of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt as well as European Parliament President Martin Schulz, EU HR/VP Federica Mogherini, among others, attended the meeting.

Earlier today PES adopted a declaration with concrete proposals for urgent measures. Sergei Stanishev explained that PES’ top priority is saving human lives and preventing further such tragedies. In his view the flow of refugees must be shared between EU Member states on the basis of solidarity and the EU should finally have a truly common migration policy.

‘It’s high time for the Bulgarian parliament to unambiguously support the efforts of politicians, institutions and the national campaign ‘Bulgaria in Schengen. It’s time!’ stated Stanishev on his Facebook page.

‘There will be a European Council meeting in June when we can again raise the issue of Bulgaria joining the Schengen area. I think that the time is right for the National Assembly, following a report by the government on the fulfilment of the criteria, to come up with a national position on this in the coming weeks. The voice of Bulgaria will be heard when we stand united on a national cause, society, media, politicians, institutions alike.

The adoption of a political declaration by the National Assembly would be a strong signal which will strengthen trust in Bulgaria. It would be a sign of a untied position and of the readiness of Bulgaria to take its place as a full-fledged member of the EU’.

Sergei Stanishev reminded of the Bulgarian support for Macedonia in 2008 when Greece vetoed Macedonia’s NATO accession because of the unresolved name dispute. ‘It was indeed due to position of Bulgaria that the NATO summit conclusions explicitly stated that as soon as the name issue is resolved, Macedonia will become a NATO member’. Stanishev also underlined that the Bulgarian demand for a bilateral treaty on good neighbourly relations with Macedonia is based on good will and friendly intentions towards our western neighbour, that it is the policy of several consecutive governments and that this is an important criterion for EU membership for every country willing to join. Stanishev, who is also Vice-president of the EU-FYROM Joint Parliamentary Committee, added that the society in Bulgaria expects a good will on the side of our western neighbour for signing of the treaty.

Sergei Stanishev highlighted that this year’s EP resolution pays special attention not only on numerous policy recommendations of the functioning of the state but also on the serious political crisis in the country. ‘Ever since May 2014 when the last parliamentary elections took place, the opposition does not participate in the work of the Parliament. This has a negative effect also on the EU-FYROM JPC, as the Macedonian Parliament is not fully represented and in this way is not speaking on behalf of the whole country. ‘Alas, instead of seeing improvement in relations between government and opposition in the last few months, we see growing confrontation’, Stanishev stated.

PES President Stanishev pointed out that the 2014 Commission progress report expresses serious concern over issues like selective justice, pressure exercised by the ruling power on media as well as the way elections are conducted. ‘These are all issues covered by Copenhagen criteria for EU membership. Prolongation of the status-quo may seriously hamper Macedonian EU integration’.

Stanishev added that the EU integration of the Western Balkans is of particular importance to the Party of European Socialists. In his words, the EU project would not be complete until the process of EU accession of the Western Balkans countries is completed. ‘As a EU member it is in our best interest that our western neighbours also become EU members, this is of key importance also for the whole region’ Stanishev concluded.

In his speech, Stanishev stressed the important role of young people in politics, stating that “We cannot go forward while looking backwards. We must face the challenges by offering bold solutions for changing social and economic environment in Europe. Young people often deny politics, but it needs them. They are the most affected by the unprecedented crisis provoked by the neoliberal model in Europe. The result of it in some countries is over 50% of youth unemployment. We run the risk of a lost generation, which will fail to realize on the labour market. Their voice must be heard. The Youth Guarantee was introduced as a result of our efforts. Now it is necessary to increase the funds in it and to extend its reach to all young people under the age of 30, in order to give them a better start on the labour market”.

Stanishev commented on the challenges facing the social democrats in Europe. In his words, after the neoliberal model’s crash, it is time for a strong social and investment policy, to which the socialists must be the driving force.

“For years the conservative parties claimed that the market is fair and can regulate itself. It is clear to all that this is not the case, and more policies aimed towards the people are needed. Here comes the role of the socialists, as we have always argued for more investments in new jobs. The Juncker investment plan is a fact thanks to us. It is important now to stand up for more investment in education and innovation, access to finance for the small and medium sized enterprises, keeping the regional principle, in order for the plan to have a macroeconomic effect, which is necessary to overcome the crisis” – said the MEP.

Joining the Schengen area will make our EU membership complete. It has been a long time since Bulgaria fulfilled the criteria and it is absolutely unfair that we are still kept out of the visa-free area. This is what PES President Sergei Stanishev said last night when he made a guest appearance in a prominent evening entertainment programme on Bulgarian TV channel bTV.

His host, Slavi Trifonov, agreed that the cause is very important for Bulgaria and that he and his team support the campaign launched by Stanishev. Stanishev in turn presented him with a special badge with the logo of the campaign.

Recent opinion polls show that more than 65% of Bulgarian people think that Europe applies double standards towards our country. This is already a European problem, Stanishev said. In his view, those who are respected in Europe are those who stand up for their interests. Bulgarian politicians must unite behind the Schengen cause and leave aside their political differences. Our voice in Europe is stronger when we speak together, Stanishev explained. However, he pointed out that the efforts of politicians and institutions would not be enough: in order to achieve this goal, we also need the energy and efforts of the people, he said.

Schengen will make the life of every Bulgarian citizen easier. Hundreds of thousands of our countrymen travelling to EU countries have to go through passport control and additional security checks. They feel the double standards. Schengen means more security for our country, more trust by the investors, more opportunities for tourism as in many Asian countries there are package holiday offers for several Schengen countries which makes the travel of tourists between Schengen countries easier, Stanishev explained.

Sergei Stanishev also thanked Prime Minister Boyko Borissov as well as all political and public figures who have joined and supported the campaign so far.

Stanishev expressed deep concerns of the socialist family regarding the deteriorating political situation in the country. He pointed out that until the government takes the initiative to restore the political dialogue, the mediation of European institutions will not solve the internal issue of Macedonia.

“It is no longer about the dialogue between the parties, it is about upholding the basic democratic standards and principles, which are an integral part of the negotiation process. The attacks against the opposition leader only raise the question whether we can really trust the judicial system, which is already criticized for selective administration of justice under the influence of the ruling party” added the MEP.

“Otherwise, the prospects of starting negotiations for Macedonia’s membership in the EU will recede even more” Stanishev said in his conclusion, who is also deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee EU-Macedonia

The Group of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament took a formal position on Greece’s debt crisis during the plenary session in Strasbourg. The topic will be one of the main of the preparatory meeting of the Heads of States and Prime Ministers from PES before the European Council meeting on the 12^th of February.

The position states: “The Group of Socialists and Democrats and the PES family have a unique opportunity and obligation to help in finding a fair and progressive political solution to the crisis in Greece. Common plan for reform and stabilization of the country is needed, which will replace the current plan for debt repayment, made by the Troika. The plan should be made by the European Commission and the Council under the supervision of the European Parliament, and to meet the expectations of the Greek people, while being acceptable to all Member States. Urgent measures to stabilize the market and prevent a deepening of the financial crisis are needed. We call on the European Central Bank to provide additional liquidity to the Greek banks”

“At the elections in Greece the people voted against policies imposed by the Troika, with which the socialists have fought for years. It is necessary an urgent plan to tackle the crisis in Greece, whose deb is more than 170% of the GDP” said on the topic the MEP Sergei Stanishev.

According to the Group of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament, the plan must contain a list of progressive reforms and measures to increase investments which will contribute to the economic growth of the country. To stimulate investments, they propose to maximize the potential of the new European fund for strategic investments, as well as the Youth Guarantee to cope with the over 50% unemployment among the young people in the country.

The socialists insist the scheme for the repayment of the Greek government debt to be renegotiated and seek optimal version that does not jeopardize the integrity of the Eurozone. According to hem, the Investment plan for Europe and the introduction of flexibility in the rules of the Pact for Stability and Growth are great achievements of the left family, and are an important step for economic recovery, but not sufficient to ensure the sustainability of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMIU) for future crises. The socialists in the European Parliament see the completion of EMU as a key priority for 2015