Durkan joins European leaders for Socialist Summit

Six social democratic prime ministers and 11 party leaders are among senior European figures expected to join new SDLP leader Mark Durkan at a Socialist Summit organised by the Party of European Socialists on December 13 in Brussels.

Mr Durkan, said: “This is the first major European conference which I will attend as leader of the SDLP and I look forward to it. The SDLP have consistently held a strong pro-European stance, cemented by John Hume’s unrivalled record as an MEP. As the new leader of the SDLP I will continue to underline the party’s commitment to Europe and will be raising issues of interest to Northern Ireland with other European Socialist leaders. The coming year, with the introduction of the Euro in the South will be a time when the reality of the changes which it signifies will come home to people, and make a real and lasting difference to their day to day lives. The SDLP, with their strong and growing links within the EU looks forward to working towards introduction of the Euro to the North of the border.”

The socialist summit will focus on a detailed discussion of policies for employment generation and growth in the present world economic situation. It will also focus on the debate about the future of Europe and the PES Declaration on the issue to be published on December 12, and the establishment of a Convention as a forum in which to prepare a new intergovernmental conference. (CD)