SOCIALISTS took centre stage in European politics yesterday as 13 left of centre government heads and coalition members gathered in Malmo, Sweden to map out their vision of the continent's future. The Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Goran Persson, officially opened the three day Party of European Socialists (PES) congress, as Europe's Socialists currently ride the crest of a wave. The stars of the meeting were expected to be the new French Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, and his British counterpart, Mr Tony Blair.
Congress delegates will fry to harmonise their positions on a new Europe in advance of the EU summit in Amsterdam this month. At stake is whether Europe's Socialists will be able to agree a common course of action on divisive issues.
Addressing delegates at the Malmo Convention Centre, the leader of the PES parliamentary group, Ms Pauline Green, called for an "environment in which Europe is seen as supportive of its citizens, working with the governments, and at the same time encouraging business and industry".
Mr Persson called on leaders to create a social Europe, and to give top priority to "employment, environment, education and enlargement".
The other leaders at the congress are Prime Ministers Mr Antonio Guterres of Portugal, Mr Costas Simitis of Greece, Mr Viktor Klima of Austria, Mr Poul Nyrup Rasmussen of Denmark and Mr Paavo Lipponen of Finland. The Labour Prime Minister of nonEU member Norway, Mr Thorbjoern Jagland, and the head of the German opposition Social Democratic party, Mr Oskar Lafontaine, are also there.