The Party of European Socialists - the PES - is made up of the Socialist and Social Democratic parties of the member states of the European Union, Norway and Cyprus, all of which are full members, as well as associated parties and those that already have observer status.
Arising from the previous Confederation of Socialist Parties of the European Community, founded in 1974, the PES was set up in the Hague in November 1992.
The process of European Integration meant that ever closer links were needed between their national political parties. European Socialists and Social Democrats responded to this need. Gathered together in the PES they are maximising their influence over the development of the European Union.
| The Socialists and Social Democrats make up the largest political family in Europe. |
| In the European Parliament | In the Commission | In the Council |
| With its 217 members (out of a total of 626) the Parliamentary Group of the PES is the largest political group in the EP and the only one to have elected members from each Member State. The PES works in close collaboration with the Parliamentary Group. | 9 Commissioners (out of 21) belong to the Socialist and Social Democratic family. Ritt BjERREGAARD (Denmark), Edith CRESSON (France), Anita GRADIN (Sweden), Neil KINNOCK (United Kingdom), Erkd Antem LIIKA-NEN (Finland), Manuel MARIN (Spain), Christos PAPOUTSIS (Greece), Karel VAN MIERT (Belgium), Monika WULF-MATHIES (Austria). | PES parties are in government in II (out of 15) Member States in the Union: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden. |
| The Presidency of the PES is held by Rudolf Scharping (SPD). |
| The Secretary General is Jean-Francois Vallin (PS-F). |
| There are 8 Vice-Presidents |
| The Congress | The Leaders' Meetings | The Bureau |
| The supreme body, meets every two years and is made up of delegates from every member party, the associated parties and observers. An extrodianary congress is held a few months before the elections to the EP (next June 1999) to adopt the electoral manifesto. The next PES congress will be held in the first half of 1997 in Malmo, Sweden | The Party Leaders meet to adopt a common Socialist / Social Democratic position for all major European meetings. | The Bureau of the PES meets about four times a year and sets the activities and political direction of the PES between Congresses. |
| For Political Objectives see Political Programmes of the PES |
| Main | Party Politics | Basic information |