Statement in advance of PES leaders meeting Athens 4-5 March 2011
by PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen

The Party of European Socialists (PES) Leaders will meet in Athens this Friday and Saturday. The agenda is of profound importance. The central topic is how we wish the European Union to discuss, define and implement its economic governance. Our priority in the PES, is to advocate in as strong a way as possible, that this is done in an economically credible, and socially responsible way.

A harmonised framework for low emission zones (LEZs) is needed at EU level, with a single information window for travellers and businesses, in order to meet ambitious objectives in sustainable mobility.

The European Commission issued today a second detailed opinion against the Romanian reform on online gaming and betting (see link). This second detailed opinion implies that the Commission confirms its serious concerns about the compatibility of the Romanian legislation with EU law.

Addressing the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee earlier today, Simon Busuttil MEP called on EU countries to stand up and be counted in the face of the tumultuous events taking place in Libya and their likely consequences on Europe's frontiers.

The extraordinary meeting was addressed by the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom, Frontex Executive Director Ilkka Laitenen, Pierre Vimont, Secretary General of the EEAS, and Ambassador Gyorgus on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency.

Six journalists from four countries have been selected for the practical phase of a pilot ‘EU Journalism Fellowship’ scheme. They will spend up to eight weeks in EurActiv’s Brussels Network Office as fellows in a pilot training programme for journalists, devised by Fondation EurActiv PoliTech and supported by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. They will be mentored by experienced colleagues in Brussels, where they will gain an insight into EU politics while at the same time report for their home media.