Parti socialiste (PS)
The French-speaking Socialist Party (PS) is member of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament (PSE) as well as the Party of European Socialists. The socialists’ main objective is to redefine European socio-economic policies in order to create employment and reduce instability.
The state should play a proper redistributive role by encouraging innovation, SMEs and new enterprises while promoting further harmonisation of taxation. The socialists argue that these socio-economic policies should go hand in hand with the protection of environment and energy issues. In terms of social affairs, a common minimum salary and other common minimum social standards should be established. Education, culture, audiovisual and health-related services must remain out of competition and national specificities must be recognised.
Finally, the Constitutional Treaty should not be thrown out but modified. Indeed, the EU needs institutional reforms if it plans on further widening and deepening. The socialists would welcome the creation of a European Minister of Foreign Affairs, the establishment of a European seat in the UN Security Council and any further reinforcement of the neighbourhood policy.