Friday follow-up: Poul Nyrup Rasmussen

During the press conference Friday in Stockholm, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen presented the work being done within the PES on how to build a social Europe. Read an article about it here (in Swedish), or browse among the documents here (English, German, French). PNR also mentioned the new proposal of the Swedish Farmer’s party; to address unemployment by making it easier to fire young people. Needless to say, PNR said that the proposal should be thrown into the garbage can. He also commented on the fact the French have tried the idea, and that their Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has claimed that it is a part of the Nordic “flexicurity” model (flexibility and security). Just to make it clear to one and all: to worsen working conditions is not part of the Nordic model, which is not a “take what you want meal”, as PNR said. You can read an article about the press conference here (in Swedish).

After the press conference the board of PES-Stockholm had an informal lunch with PNR. Since it was an informal lunch I will not give away the details here, but PNR said he was very proud to meet the first local group of grass-root activists within the whole PES/EU. I am very excited about the idea of more pan-European political work within PES, which I have written about before (here in English, and here in Swedish). PNR promised that the work with PES-activism will continue, the next step is a special section on the PES website. Never forget folks, another Europe is possible. And by the way, do the European right have these kind of activities? Young Swedish conservatives having lunch with Berlusconi?