In March 2014 following the congress in Rome, the PES added thetagline "Socialists and Democrats" to its name following the admission of Italy'sDemocratic Party into the organisation.[9]
In 1961, the Socialists in the European Parliament attempted to produce a common 'European Socialist Programme' but this was neglected due to the applications of Britain, Denmark, Ireland and Norway to join theEuropean Community. The Socialists' 1962 congress pushed for greater democratisation and powers for Parliament, though it was only in 1969 that this possibility was examined by the member states.[10]
In 1973, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined theEuropean Community, bringing in new parties from these countries. The enlarged Socialist Congress met inBonn and inaugurated theConfederation of the Socialist Parties of the European Community. The Congress also passed a resolution onsocial policy, including the right to decent work,social security, democracy andequality in the European economy.[11] In 1978, the Confederation of Socialist Parties approved the first common European election Manifesto. It focused on several goals among which the most important were to ensure a right todecent work, fight pollution, end discrimination, protect the consumer and promote peace, human rights and civil liberties.
At its Luxembourg Congress in 1980, the Confederation of Socialist Parties approved its first Statute. The accession of Greece to the EU in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986, brought in more parties.
In 1984, a common Socialist election manifesto proposed a socialist remedy for the economic crisis of the time by establishing a link between industrial production, protection of fundamental social benefits, and the fight for an improvedquality of life.[11]
In 1992, with the European Community becoming theEuropean Union and with theTreaty of Maastricht establishing the framework for political parties at a European level, the Confederation of Socialist Parties voted to transform itself into the Party of European Socialists. The party's first programme concentrated on job creation, democracy,gender equality, environmental and consumer protection, peace and security, regulation of immigration, discouragement of racism and fighting organised crime.[11]
In 2004,Poul Nyrup Rasmussen defeatedGiuliano Amato to be elected President of the PES, succeedingRobin Cook in the post. He was re-elected for a further 2.5 years at the PES Congress in Porto on 8 December 2006 and again at the Prague Congress in 2009.
Mr Rasmussen stood down at the PES Progressive Convention in Brussels on 24 November 2011. He was replaced as interim president bySergey Stanishev, at the time chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and former prime minister of Bulgaria.
On 28–29 September 2012, the PES Congress inBrussels[13] Congress elected interim presidentSergey Stanishev as full President, as well as four deputies: Jean-Christophe Cambadélis (1st Vice-President –PS),Elena Valenciano (PSOE),Jan Royall (Labour) andKatarína Neveďalová (Smer-SD). The same Congress elected Achim Post (SPD) as its new secretary general, and adopted a process which it described as "democratic and transparent" for electing its next candidate for Commission President in 2014.[14]Sergey Stanishev was re-elected PES President on 22–23 June 2015 in Budapest. The Congress also approved Achim Post (SPD) as the Secretary-General as well as the four Vice-Presidents: Jean-Christophe Cambadélis (PS), Carin Jämtin (Swedish Social Democratic Party),Katarína Neveďalová (Smer-SD) andJan Royall (Labour).
On 22–23 February 2019, the PES held its Election Congress inMadrid to endorse a Common Candidate and adopt its manifesto for the2019 European Parliament election. The Election Congress acclaimed European Commission First Vice-PresidentFrans Timmermans and adopted its manifesto: A New Social Contract for Europe.[15]
On 16 December 2021, the PES held its Council inBrussels, adopting the resolution: Fairness, Sustainability, Respect: a progressive vision for the future of Europe.[16]
On 2 March 2024, the PES held its Election Congress inRome and acclaimed European CommissionerNicolas Schmit as presidential candidate and adopted its election programme.[21]
The PES has thirty-three full member parties from each of the twenty-seven EU member states, Norway and the UK. There are a further twelve associate and twelve observer parties from other European countries.[22]
Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party Lëtzebuerger Sozialistesch Aarbechterpartei Parti ouvrier socialiste luxembourgeois Luxemburger Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz Parti socialiste suisse Partito Socialista Svizzero Partida Socialdemocrata de la Svizra
Socialist Union of Popular Forces الاتحاد الاشتراكي للقوات الشعبية Al-Ittihad Al-Ishtirakiy Lilqawat Al-Sha'abiyah Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires
Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties التكتل الديمقراطي من أجل العمل والحريات at-Takattul ad-Dīmuqrāṭī min ajl il-‘Amal wal-Ḥurriyyāt Forum démocratique pour le travail et les libertés
The PES also includes a number of individual members, although, as most other European parties, it has not sought to develop mass individual membership.[24]
Below is the evolution of individual membership of the PES since 2019.[25]
The President (currently formerPrime Minister of SwedenStefan Löfven) represents the party on a daily basis and chairs the Presidency, which also consists of the Secretary General, President of the S&D group in Parliament and one representative per full/associate member party and organisation. They may also be joined by thePresident of the European Parliament (if a PES member), a PESEuropean Commissioner and a representative from associate parties and organisations.[26]
As of 19 November 2024 the Presidency of the PES is:[27]
The parties meet at the partyCongress twice every five years to decide on political orientation, such as adoptingmanifestos ahead of elections. Every year that the Congress does not meet, the Council (a smaller version of the Congress) shapes PES policy. The Congress also elects the party's President, Vice-Presidents and thePresidency.[26]
TheLeader's Conference brings together Prime Ministers and Party Leaders from PES parties three to four times a year to agree strategies and resolutions.[26]
In December 2009, the PES decided to put forward a candidate for Commission President at all subsequent elections.[29] On 1 March 2014, the PES organised for the first time a European election Congress where a Common Manifesto[30] was adopted and the Common Candidate designate for the post of Commission President,Martin Schulz, was elected by over a thousand participants in Rome, Italy.In 2019, progressives electedFrans Timmermans as PES Common Candidate to the European Elections, during the Election Congress in Madrid on 22–23 February 2019.
As a registered European political party, the PES is entitled toEuropean public funding, which it has received continuously since 2004.[31]
Below is the evolution of European public funding received by the PES.
In line with the Regulation on European political parties and European political foundations, the PES also raisesprivate funds to co-finance its activities. As of 2025, European parties must raise at least 10% of their reimbursable expenditure from private sources, while the rest can be covered using European public funding.[b]
Below is the evolution of contributions and donations received by the PES.[32][33]
Of the 27 heads of state and government that are members of theEuropean Council, three are from the PES, and therefore regularly attend PES summits to prepare for European Council meetings.
The makeup of national delegations to theCouncil of Ministers is at some times subject to coalitions: for the above governments led by a PES party, that party may not be present in all Council configurations; in other governments led by non-PES parties a PES minister may be its representative for certain portfolios. PES is in coalition in the following countries: Romania, Belgium, Slovenia and Estonia.
^The number of MEPs listed below may not match the total number of MEPs of the European party, as it does not include MEPs who join as individual members.
^For the purpose of European party funding, "contributions" refer to financial or in-kind support provided by party members, while "donations" refer to the same but provided by non-members.
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