Tuesday, November 27 representatives of the S&D Group, the Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL came together in the European Parliament to discuss and address the challenges Europe faces, and the role the left, progressive, democratic and ecological forces need to engage. The event was organised by the “Progressive Caucus”, in which MEPs from the three political groups engage in an open dialogue.
“I am very much looking forward to the discussion with our colleagues from the Greens and the GUE. We all have to give answers to the questions that globalisation, climate change and digitisation pose. It is important for us to work out the similarities in our approaches, not least for the work in the European Parliament, as well as the differences. In view of the right-wing populist attacks on Europe and the disunity of the conservatives, it is of utmost importance that the pro-European forces in Europe stand together. However, being pro-European will not be enough to tackle the challenges we face,” said ahead of the event, S&D Group president Udo Bullmann.
“We have to implement genuinely progressive policies that fight inequalities, foster good jobs and stop the exploitation of our planet at the same time. We are convinced that, if we succeed in providing these answers, people will turn away from the hatred spread by the extreme right. We Socialists and Democrats fight for a radically new economic and social model that works for the many, not just the few. With the report of our Independent Commission for Sustainable Equality, we have presented a concrete roadmap on how we want to pursue this goal. We invite all democratic forces to support us in this project for a better Europe. The discussion of the Progressive Caucus is an ideal prelude for this,” he added.
