Nuevo llamamiento de los socialistas europeos al G-20

La voz de los socialistas europeos sigue sonando fuerte de cara a la Cumbre del G-20 que tendrá lugar mañana en Londres. Este el es último llamamiento realizado por el PSE a la misma:

Party of European Socialists

1 April 2009

LAST CALL TO G20

PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen today made an emergency call on behalf of Europe4s socialists and social democrats to the G20 to agree a new global stimulus package to create jobs and growth.

Rasmussen said “There is a clear need now for a new global stimulus package. Europe now has over 19 million unemployed in Europe, and economic activity is forecast by the OECD to plunge by 4.3 per cent this year alone. Unemployment in Europe will rise to 25 million by the end of the year. It is an economic and human disaster, and will be even worse in developing countries where hundreds of thousands of children will die due to the loss of family income because of the crisis.”

“Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy must accept the need for a new European investment effort. No one is fooled by the claims of the European Commission that Europe is investing 3.3% of GDP because the real figure is less than the 2% recommended by the IMF. The US, Japan and China are making serious efforts, now Europe must join them in helping the world to get out of the crisis.”

“The G20 must also begin the process of reforming the IMF, bringing in better international financial regulation and clamping down on tax avoidance. A crackdown on tax havens could provide the funds to make a real difference in the global fight against infectious diseases, maternal mortality and poverty. Tougher measures to restore bank lending are also vital.”

PES party leaders and Prime Ministers, meeting on March 19 agreed a seven point strategy to tackle the crisis including global action involving

- strongly coordinated, proactive fiscal stimulus policies to take the world economy out of recession and on the path to sustainable development;
- completion of the Doha Development Round, ensuring that it benefits all countries;
- achievement of the UN Millennium Goals and the decent work agenda;
- strengthened IMF resources and new financing instruments to face down the rapid contraction of inward investment, aid and trade currently hitting the developing world;
- no to slow down in negotiations for a new global climate deal “on the contrary, the recovery must lead to economic transformation across the world for a low-carbon future”;
- reform of global governance

As the G20 meets in London a larger global gathering is taking place in Brussels under the umbrella of the Global Progressive Forum – bringing together progressive politicians, trade unions, NGOs and grassroots activists to discuss a Global New Deal to tackle the economic, energy, climate and food crises. Taking part are former President Bill Clinton, Pascal Lamy, Howard Dean, Antonio Guterres, Juan Somavia, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Lionel Jospin, Vandana Shiva, Salima Ghezali, Susan George, Taslima Nasreen, Aminata Traore and Chico Whitaker. Many participants will on Friday at midday sign a declaration for a New Global Deal based on sustainable development and social justice.