During the festivities around the signing of the Treaties of Rome 60 years ago, the S&D Group together with its partners organised its third “TOGETHER” event. The event took place on Friday, 24 March 2017 in Rome and brought together leaders, high-level politicians and citizens to discuss ‘The Future of Europe - Shaping our Future Together’.

Speakers included among others: Gianni Pittella, S&D Group President; Giorgio Napolitano, President Emeritus of Italy; Patrizia Toia, Head of the Italian S&D Delegation; Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy & Vice-President of the European Commission; Pierre Moscovici, European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs; Thomas Oppermann, Chairman of the SPD Parliamentary Group German Bundestag; Sergei Stanishev, President of PES .... and many others.

Commenting on the TOGETHER event in Rome, S&D Group president Gianni Pittella said:

“The future of Europe is in our hands. We see nationalism and extremism growing in many EU countries today, putting in question the basic foundations we have built with the European Union over the last 60 years.

“The European Union is a great achievement. It allows people to travel freely, guarantees basic and fundamental rights and ensures peace on our continent. We have to stand up to defend these achievements. We have to be loud and active and defend our European democracy, the rule of law, media freedom and solidarity.

“Of course the European project is not perfect. We see too many people deprived today, having suffered from harsh austerity over the last few years. Europe has to become a social project again, a project that works for its people and delivers basic and decent living conditions. This will be our main task as the S&D Group to ensure that the European Union of tomorrow is a fair and social one.

Sergei Stanishev, PES president, concluded:

“We must live up to the history of peace and prosperity the EU has brought to Europe; but we have to make sure that prosperity is shared by everyone in the Union. Solidarity and a more social Europe is the direction we should follow TOGETHER. With the joint efforts of the PES family, head of states and prime ministers, the progressive Commissioners and the S&D Group in the European Parliament, our political family will achieve a better Europe for all.”

During our event, a ‘TOGETHER ROME Declaration’ will be adopted, which will feed into the debate around the Commission’s White Paper on the Future of Europe. The Declaration has been launched online and citizens and stakeholders from all over Europe have been asked to give their contribution to the Declaration.

Today the S&D Group launches its TOGETHER online platform, an interactive space that aims to engage with European citizens. Following the concept of e-democracy and e-participation, the platform will allow users to debate and vote on the different topics that will be covered at the upcoming TOGETHER conventions ahead of the EP elections in 2019.

TOGETHER members joined the "March for Europe" organised in Rome on Saturday, 25 March 2017.

MEPs involved
Coordinator
Germany
Member
Romania
Member
Italy