European socialists meet on economy, climate
(PRAGUE) - The Party of European Socialists, the second-largest grouping in the European Parliament, opened a congress in Prague on Monday focused on the global economic crisis and climate change.
"The congress will focus on the impact of the economic crisis, protecting the climate and protecting and reforming financial markets," said Jiri Paroubek, Czech Social Democrat chief and former prime minister.
The party is scheduled to re-elect the existing party president on Monday and choose a new governing body on Tuesday, he told AFP.
Former Danish prime minister and current party president Poul Nyrup Rasmussen is the only candidate up for election, Paroubek said.
Tuesday, the second and last day of the congress, will also focus on party strategy.
More than 1,500 delegates from European social democratic, socialist and labour parties are attending the congress, held for the first time in a European Union newcomer state, organisers said.
The Czech Republic was one of 10 mostly ex-communist countries which joined the European Union in 2004.
The party congress, held twice every five years, coincides with the Monday start in Copenhagen of the landmark 192-nation United Nations conference focused on drawing up a battle plan against global warming.
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