The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) is the political group in the European Parliament of the Party of European Socialists (PES). The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats was officially founded as a Socialist Group on 29 June 1953, which makes it the second oldest political group in the European Parliament after the European People's Party Group (EPP Group). It adopted its present-day name on 23 June 2009. Centre-left in orientation, the group mostly comprises social democratic parties and is affiliated with the Progressive Alliance and Socialist International.
| Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats | |
|---|---|
| European Parliament group | |
| Name | Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats |
| English abbr. | S&D (23 June 2009 – present) Older:
|
| French abbr. | S&D (23 June 2009 – present) Older:
|
| Formal name | Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (23 June 2009 – present) Older:
|
| Ideology | Social democracy Pro-Europeanism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| European parties | Party of European Socialists |
| Associated organisations | Progressive Alliance Socialist International |
| From | 23 June 1953 |
| To | Present |
| Chaired by | Iratxe García |
| MEP(s) | 136 / 720 |
| Website | socialistsanddemocrats |
Until the 1999 European Parliament elections, it was the largest group in the Parliament, but since then it has always been the second-largest group. During the eighth EU Parliament Assembly, the S&D was the only Parliament group with representation from all 27 EU member states. In the current EU Parliament the S&D is currently composed of 136 members from 25 member states.
In the European Council, eight out of 27 heads of state and government belong to PES parties and in the European Commission, 8 out of 27 Commissioners come from PES parties.
History
The Socialist Group was one of the first three groups to be created when it was founded on 23 June 1953 in the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community. The Common Assembly was the predecessor of the European Parliament. A group bureau and secretariat was established in Luxembourg. The group continued through the creation of the appointed Parliament in 1958 and, when the Parliament became an elected body in 1979 following the first European election, the group became the largest in terms of returned MEPs. It has ever since remained the largest or second-largest Group.
In 1987, the Single European Act came into force and the group began co-operating with the European People's Party (EPP) to secure the majorities needed under the cooperation procedure. The left–right coalition between the Socialists and EPP has dominated the Parliament since then. Further, with some exceptions, the post of President of the Parliament has alternated between the two groups ever since.
Meanwhile, the national parties making up the group were also organising themselves on a European level outside the Parliament, creating the Confederation of Socialist Parties of the European Community in 1974. The Confederation was succeeded by the Party of European Socialists (PES), in 1992. As a result, the parliamentary group was renamed the Group of the Party of European Socialists on 21 April 1993.
In 1999, the Parliament refused to approve the Santer Commission's handling of the EU budget. Allegations of corruption centred on two PES Commissioners, Édith Cresson and Manuel Marín. The group initially supported the Commission but later withdrew their support, forcing the Commission to resign.
The group was renamed again to the Socialist Group in the European Parliament on 20 July 2004, and was given a different logo, to further distinguish the PES group organisation from the PES European political party.
In 2007, the Socialist Group was the second largest group in Parliament, with MEPs from all but two member states, Latvia and Cyprus. However, the 2009 European election saw a reduction in the number of PES MEPs returned from 2004. The group sought additional members in the Democratic Party of Italy, which was not affiliated to the PES in 2009. By the conclusion of the 2004–2009 parliamentary term, the Democratic Party had 8 MEPs in the Socialist Group (coming from the Democrats of the Left), but also had eight MEPs in ALDE Group (coming from the Daisy). The Democratic Party is a big tent centre-left party, strongly influenced by social democracy and the Christian left, and had MEPs who were former Christian Democrats or had other political views.[citation needed] As such, a new and more inclusive group name had to be found.
The group was going to be named Alliance of Socialists and Democrats for Europe (ASDE) but this was seemed too similar to Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE). The name Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats was suggested on 18 June by group president Martin Schulz and it was renamed on 23 June 2009. The English abbreviation was initially unclear, being variously reported as PASD, S&D Group or PASDE. Dissatisfaction by Socialist MEPs towards the new name led Martin Schulz to admit that the name was still under consideration and that the group was to be referred to as the "Socialists and Democrats" until a final title was chosen. On 14 July 2009, the first day of the constitutive session of the 2009–2014 term, the full formal group name was Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and the abbreviation was S&D.
The S&D Group joined the Progressive Alliance upon its official foundation on 22 May 2013 and is a member of the organisation's board. The group was formerly an associated organisation of the Socialist International.
Presidents of the European Parliament
For presidents of the European Parliament from the group, see President of the European Parliament.
Organisation
The group is led by a President and a Bureau of vice-presidents. There is also a Treasurer and a Secretary General.
Presidents of the group
Presidents of the group include:
| Chairperson | Took office | Left office | Country (Constituency) | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guy Mollet | 1953 | 1956 | France | French Section of the Workers' International | |
| Hendrik Fayat | 1956 | 1958 | Belgium | Belgian Socialist Party | |
| Pierre-Olivier Lapie |
| 1958 | 1959 | France | French Section of the Workers' International |
| Willi Birkelbach | 1959 | 1964 | Germany | Social Democratic Party | |
| Käte Strobel | 1964 | 1967 | Germany | Social Democratic Party | |
| Francis Vals | 1967 | 1974 | France | French Section of the Workers' International | |
| Georges Spénale | 1974 | 1975 | France | Socialist Party | |
| Ludwig Fellermaier | 1975 | 1979 | Germany | Social Democratic Party | |
| Ernest Glinne | 1979 | 1984 | Belgium (French) | Socialist Party | |
| Rudi Arndt | 1984 | 1989 | Germany | Social Democratic Party | |
| Jean-Pierre Cot | 1989 | 1994 | France | Socialist Party | |
| Pauline Green | 1994 | 1999 | United Kingdom (London North) | Labour Party | |
| Enrique Barón Crespo | 1999 | 2004 | Spain | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | |
| Martin Schulz | 2004 | 2012 | Germany | Social Democratic Party | |
| Hannes Swoboda | 2012 | 2014 | Austria | Social Democratic Party | |
| Martin Schulz | 2014 (May) | 2014 (June) | Germany | Social Democratic Party | |
| Gianni Pittella | 2014 | 2018 | Italy (Southern) | Democratic Party | |
| Udo Bullmann | 2018 (March) | 2019 | Germany | Social Democratic Party | |
| Iratxe García | 2019 | present | Spain | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party | |
2019–2024 legislature
Vice-presidents
Following the 2019 European elections, S&D Members elected their new political Bureau made up of the President Iratxe García Pérez, nine vice-presidents and the treasurer. As a consequence of Brexit, British S&D Member Claude Moraes had to resign from his position as vice-president. Marek Belka has been appointed the new vice-president.
- Pedro Marques (Portugal),
- Elisabetta Gualmini (Italy),
- Biljana Borzan (Croatia),
- Alex Agius Saliba (Malta),
- Gabriele Bischoff (Germany),
- Heléne Fritzon (Sweden),
- Mohammed Chahim (Netherlands),
- Rovana Plumb (Romania),
- Marek Belka (Poland)
Treasurer
2014–2019 legislature
Vice-presidents
Previous vice-presidents of the group appointed at the start of the current legislature in 2014
- Victor Boștinaru (Romania),
- Tanja Fajon (Slovenia),
- Isabelle Thomas (France),
- Enrique Guerrero Salom (Spain),
- Marju Lauristin (Estonia),
- Jörg Leichtfried (Austria),
- Knut Fleckenstein (Germany),
- Maria João Rodrigues (Portugal),
- Kathleen Van Brempt (Belgium),
Treasurer
2009–2014 legislature
Vice-presidents
Previous vice-presidents of the group appointed at the start of the 2009 legislature:
- María Badía i Cutchet (PSOE, Spain) – Communication Policy and Public Relations
- Monika Beňová (Smer, Slovakia) – Europe of the Citizens
- Véronique De Keyser (PS, Belgium) – Human Rights, Development and International Trade
- Stephen Hughes (Labour, United Kingdom) – Economy and Social Policy
- Stéphane Le Foll (PS, France) – Budget and Territorial Cohesion
- Adrian Severin (PSD, Romania) – Foreign Policy and Defence
- Gianluca Susta (PD, Italy) – Agriculture and Fisheries
- Hannes Swoboda (SPÖ, Austria) – Parliamentary Affairs and Relations with International Organisations
- Marita Ulvskog (SAP, Sweden) – Sustainable Development and Competition
2004–2009 legislature
Vice-presidents
Previous vice-presidents of the group for the 2004–2009 term were as follows:
- Harlem Désir (PS, France)
- Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop (PSOE, Spain)
- Robert Goebbels (LSAP, Luxembourg)
- Linda McAvan (Labour Party, UK)
- Pasqualina Napoletano (Sinistra Democratica, Italy)
- Hannes Swoboda (SPÖ, Austria)
- Kristian Vigenin (BSP, Bulgaria)
- Jan Marinus Wiersma (PvdA, Netherlands)
Treasurers
Current/previous Treasurers of the group are as follows:
- Magda Kósáné Kovács (Hungary, MSZP)
Secretaries General
Current/previous Secretaries General of the group are as follows:
- Manfred Michel (West Germany) c. 1970 – c. 1985
- Paolo Falcone (Italy) c. 1986 – 1989
- Julian Priestley (UK) 1989–1994
- Joan Prat (Spain) 1994–1999 (Deputy Sec Gen Richard Corbett UK)
- Christine Verger (France) 1999–2004
- David Harley (UK) 2004–2006
- Anna Colombo (Italy) 2006–2014
- Javier Moreno Sanchez (Spain) 2014–2019
- Michael Hoppe (Germany) 2019–2021
- Anton Beumer (Netherlands) 2022-
MEPs
10th European Parliament
| State | National party | European party | MEPs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Social Democratic Party of Austria Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (SPÖ) | PES | 5 / 20 | |
| Belgium | Socialist Party Parti Socialiste (PS) | PES | 2 / 22 | |
| Forward Vooruit | PES | 2 / 22 | ||
| Bulgaria | Bulgarian Socialist Party Българска социалистическа партия (БСП) Bulgarska sotsialisticheska partiya (BSP) | PES | 2 / 17 | |
| Croatia | Social Democratic Party of Croatia Socijaldemokratska partija Hrvatske (SDP) | PES | 4 / 12 | |
| Cyprus | Democratic Party Δημοκρατικό Κόμμα Dimokratikó Kómma (DIKO) | None | 1 / 6 | |
| Denmark | Social Democrats Socialdemokraterne | PES | 3 / 15 | |
| Estonia | Social Democratic Party Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond (SDE) | PES | 2 / 7 | |
| Finland | Social Democratic Party of Finland Suomen sosialidemokraattinen puolue Finlands socialdemokratiska parti | PES | 2 / 15 | |
| France | Socialist Party Parti socialiste (PS) | PES | 10 / 81 | |
| Public place Place publique (PP) | PES | 3 / 81 | ||
| Germany | Social Democratic Party of Germany Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD) | PES | 14 / 96 | |
| Greece | Panhellenic Socialist Movement - Movement for Change Panellínio Sosialistikó Kínima– Kínima Allagís (PASOK-KINAL) | PES | 3 / 21 | |
| Hungary | Democratic Coalition Demokratikus Koalíció | PES | 2 / 21 | |
| Ireland | Labour Party Páirtí an Lucht Oibre | PES | 1 / 14 | |
| Italy | Democratic Party Partito Democratico (PD) | PES | 21 / 76 | |
| Solidary Democracy Democrazia Solidale (DemoS) | None | 1 / 76 | ||
| Latvia | Social Democratic Party "Harmony" Sociāldemokrātiskā partija "Saskaņa" (SDPS) | PES | 1 / 9 | |
| Lithuania | Social Democratic Party of Lithuania Lietuvos socialdemokratų partija (LSDP) | PES | 2 / 11 | |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party Lëtzebuerger Sozialistesch Aarbechterpartei Parti ouvrier socialiste luxembourgeois Luxemburger Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei (LSAP) | PES | 1 / 6 | |
| Malta | Labour Party Partit Laburista (PL) | PES | 3 / 6 | |
| Netherlands | Labour Party Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA) | PES | 4 / 31 | |
| Poland | New Left Nowa Lewica | PES | 3 / 53 | |
| Portugal | Socialist Party Partido Socialista (PS) | PES | 8 / 21 | |
| Romania | Social Democratic Party Partidul Social Democrat (PSD) | PES | 10 / 33 | |
| Social Liberal Humanist Party Partidul Umanist Social Liberal (PUSL) | None | 1 / 33 | ||
| Slovenia | Social Democrats Socialni demokrati (SD) | PES | 1 / 9 | |
| Spain | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) | PES | 20 / 60 | |
| Sweden | Swedish Social Democratic Party Sveriges socialdemokratiska arbetareparti (SAP) | PES | 5 / 21 | |
| European Union | Total | 136 / 720 | ||
9th European Parliament
| State | National party | European party | MEPs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Social Democratic Party of Austria Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (SPÖ) | PES | 5 / 19 | |
| Belgium | Socialist Party Parti Socialiste (PS) | PES | 1 / 21 | |
| Forward Vooruit | PES | 1 / 21 | ||
| Bulgaria | Bulgarian Socialist Party Българска социалистическа партия (БСП) Bulgarska sotsialisticheska partiya (BSP) | PES | 4 / 17 | |
| Croatia | Social Democratic Party of Croatia Socijaldemokratska partija Hrvatske (SDP) | PES | 4 / 12 | |
| Cyprus | Movement for Social Democracy Κίνημα Σοσιαλδημοκρατών (ΚΣ) Kinima Sosialdimokraton (KS) | PES | 1 / 6 | |
| Democratic Party Δημοκρατικό Κόμμα Dimokratikó Kómma (DIKO) | None | 1 / 6 | ||
| Czech Republic | Social Democracy Sociální demokracie (SOCDEM) | PES | 1 / 21 | |
| Denmark | Social Democrats Socialdemokraterne | PES | 3 / 14 | |
| Estonia | Social Democratic Party Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond (SDE) | PES | 2 / 7 | |
| Finland | Social Democratic Party of Finland Suomen sosialidemokraattinen puolue Finlands socialdemokratiska parti | PES | 2 / 14 | |
| France | Socialist Party Parti socialiste (PS) | PES | 3 / 79 | |
| Public place Place publique (PP) | None | 2 / 79 | ||
| New Deal Nouvelle Donne | None | 1 / 79 | ||
| Renaissance Renaissance (RE) | None | 1 / 79 | ||
| Germany | Social Democratic Party of Germany Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD) | PES | 16 / 96 | |
| Greece | Panhellenic Socialist Movement - Movement for Change Panellínio Sosialistikó Kínima– Kínima Allagís (PASOK-KINAL) | PES | 1 / 21 | |
| Independent Theodoros Zagorakis | Independent | 1 / 21 | ||
| Hungary | Democratic Coalition Demokratikus Koalíció (DK) | PES | 4 / 21 | |
| Opportunity Community Esély Közösség (EK) | None | 1 / 21 | ||
| Italy | Democratic Party Partito Democratico (PD) | PES | 14 / 76 | |
| Independent Giuliano Pisapia | Independent | 1 / 76 | ||
| Latvia | Social Democratic Party "Harmony" Sociāldemokrātiskā partija "Saskaņa" (SDPS) | PES | 1 / 8 | |
| Honor to serve Riga Gods kalpot Rīgai (GKR) | None | 1 / 8 | ||
| Lithuania | Social Democratic Party of Lithuania Lietuvos socialdemokratų partija (LSDP) | PES | 2 / 11 | |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party Lëtzebuerger Sozialistesch Aarbechterpartei Parti ouvrier socialiste luxembourgeois Luxemburger Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei (LSAP) | PES | 1 / 6 | |
| Malta | Labour Party Partit Laburista (LP Malta) | PES | 4 / 6 | |
| Netherlands | Labour Party Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA) | PES | 6 / 29 | |
| Poland | New Left Nowa Lewica | PES | 6 / 52 | |
| Independent Leszek Miller | Independent | 1 / 52 | ||
| Portugal | Socialist Party Partido Socialista (PS) | PES | 9 / 21 | |
| Romania | Social Democratic Party Partidul Social Democrat (PSD) | PES | 7 / 33 | |
| PRO Romania PRO România (PRO) | None | 1 / 33 | ||
| Social Liberal Humanist Party Partidul Umanist Social Liberal (PUSL) | None | 1 / 33 | ||
| Slovakia | Independent Róbert Hajšel | Independent | 1 / 14 | |
| Slovenia | Social Democrats Socialni demokrati (SD Slovenia) | PES | 2 / 8 | |
| Spain | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) | PES | 21 / 59 | |
| Sweden | Swedish Social Democratic Party Sveriges socialdemokratiska arbetareparti (SAP) | PES | 5 / 21 | |
| European Union | Total | 139 / 705 | ||
From 6th to 8th European Parliament
| State | National party | European party | MEPs 2004– 2009 | MEPs 2009– 2014 | MEPs 2014– 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Social Democratic Party of Austria Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs | PES | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| Belgium | Socialist Party Parti Socialiste | PES | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Socialist Party Different Socialistische Partij Anders | PES | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Bulgaria | Bulgarian Socialist Party Българска социалистическа партия Bulgarska sotsialisticheska partiya | PES | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Croatia | Social Democratic Party of Croatia Socijaldemokratska partija Hrvatske | PES | 5 | 4 | |
| Cyprus | Movement for Social Democracy Κίνημα Σοσιαλδημοκρατών Kinima Sosialdimokraton | PES | 1 | 1 | |
| Democratic Party Δημοκρατικό Κόμμα Dimokratikó Kómma | None | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Czech Republic | Czech Social Democratic Party Česká strana sociálně demokratická | PES | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Denmark | Social Democrats Socialdemokraterne | PES | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Estonia | Social Democratic Party Sotsiaaldemokraatlik Erakond | PES | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Finland | Social Democratic Party of Finland Suomen sosialidemokraattinen puolue Finlands socialdemokratiska parti | PES | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| France | Socialist Party Parti socialiste | PES | 31 | 14 | 12 |
| Radical Party of the Left Parti radical de gauche | None | 1 | |||
| Germany | Social Democratic Party of Germany Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands | PES | 24 | 23 | 27 |
| Greece | Movement for Change (PASOK) Κίνημα Αλλαγής Kinima Allagis | PES | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| Democratic Left Δημοκρατική Αριστερά Dimokratiki Aristera | None | 1 | |||
| The River Το Ποτάμι To Potami | None | 2 | |||
| Hungary | Hungarian Socialist Party Magyar Szocialista Párt | PES | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| Democratic Coalition Demokratikus Koalíció | None | 2 | |||
| Ireland | Labour Party Páirtí an Lucht Oibre | PES | 1 | 3 | |
| Nessa Childers (Independent) | None | 1 | |||
| Italy | Democrats of the Left Democratici di Sinistra | PES | 12 | ||
| Democratic Party Partito Democratico | PES | 21 | 31 | ||
| Italian Democratic Socialists Socialisti Democratici Italiani | PES | 2 | |||
| Article 1 – Democratic and Progressive Movement Articolo Uno – Movimento Democratico e Progressista | None | 3 | |||
| Italian Left Sinistra Italiana | None | 1 | |||
| Possible Possibile | None | 1 | |||
| United in the Olive Tree Uniti nell'Ulivo | None | 2 | |||
| Latvia | Social Democratic Party "Harmony" Sociāldemokrātiskā partija "Saskaņa" | PES | 1 | 1 | |
| Lithuania | Social Democratic Party of Lithuania Lietuvos socialdemokratų partija | PES | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party Lëtzebuerger Sozialistesch Aarbechterpartei Parti ouvrier socialiste luxembourgeois Luxemburger Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei | PES | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Malta | Labour Party Partit Laburista | PES | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Netherlands | Labour Party Partij van de Arbeid | PES | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Poland | Democratic Left Alliance-Labor Union Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej – Unia Pracy | PES | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland Samoobrona Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej | None | 2 | 1 | ||
| Social Democratic Party of Poland Socjaldemokracja Polska | None | 3 | |||
| Portugal | Socialist Party Partido Socialista | PES | 12 | 7 | 8 |
| Romania | Social Democratic Party Partidul Social Democrat | PES | 10 | 11 | 14 |
| Slovakia | Direction – Social Democracy Smer – sociálna demokracia | PES | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Slovenia | Social Democrats Socialni demokrati | PES | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Spain | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party Partido Socialista Obrero Español | PES | 24 | 21 | 14 |
| Sweden | Swedish Social Democratic Party Sveriges socialdemokratiska arbetareparti | PES | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Feminist Initiative Feministiskt initiativ | None | 1 | |||
| United Kingdom | Labour Party | PES | 19 | 13 | 20 |
| Total | 215 | 184 | 190 | ||
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