Vice-president Victor Boştinaru represented the S&D Group in the 7th congress of Fatah in Ramallah, and said in his speech at the opening session on Tuesday evening:

"Our participation in today's congress is the expression of our continued support for Fatah and for president Mahmoud Abbas and his peaceful struggle for an independent Palestinian state free of occupation.

"This week's congress is not only a unique opportunity for Fatah to renew its leadership and its political programme, but also for promoting Palestinian reconciliation and unity.

"The S&D Group, on the basis of our partnership agreement with our Palestinian sister party, will continue to support Fatah in its struggle for Palestinian statehood and for peace in the Middle East.

"At the same time, we will continue to play a leading role in the European Parliament to turn the two-state solution into reality, with the states of Palestine and Israel living side-by-side in peace, security and mutual recognition along the 1967 borders with mutually agreed land swaps and Jerusalem as the capital of both states. In this spirit, we will continue to give our full support to the Arab Peace Initiative."