"GDP growth is something that has existed on paper only. And the financial crisis has shown us how quickly that paper can burn." So said the President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN.

He was speaking at the Party of European Socialists (PES) and the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR) conference on 'A fair growth model for Europe', where he underlined the role of regions and cities in the definition of fair growth and the implementation of innovative measures to achieve it. The conference participants, who numbered over 200, pledged 5 points for a new growth model: new and better jobs, a stronger industry, equality, an intact environment and stakeholders rather than shareholders.
 
The acting President of the PES in the CoR Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ, President of Belgium's German-speaking community, stressed the need for a new way of calculating growth based on the needs of ordinary people. "Growth should not be a zero-sum game", stated Mr. Lambertz.

Opening the conference, the CoR President Mercedes BRESSO stated: "We cannot say that Europe is growing if people don't benefit from decent salaries and guaranteed pensions, as well as high-quality public services, such as childcare, healthcare facilities. We cannot let people feel that they are removed from recovery".

The results of the conference will feed into the PES preparation for its 'Progressive Society Convention', to be held in Brussels this November.