Socialist manifesto just "empty promises", says EPP-ED leader

The leader of parliament´s biggest political group has branded the Socialist election manifesto as a "dream with no plan."

French MEP Joseph Daul, who heads the EPP-ED group, was responding to the publication on Monday of the election manifesto of the Party of European Socialists .

Launched at the PES council in Madrid, it includes 71 proposals including the creation of 10m jobs by 2020, a new ´pact´on wages and financial market regulation.

Daul, a former farmer, was particularly dismissive of the document, saying, "It presents a dream with no plan. Their ideas are neither new nor original. The few good ideas they have are taken right off the work agenda centre-right forces in Europe have been committed to for years."

He added, "We in the EPP will invite citizens to compare our doing to Socialist dreams, our actions to their words, and our successes to their failures. Our citizens expect security, stability and strength from Europe. This is a time to act, not to dream."

"We are putting the citizens, their concerns and needs at the front and centre, while Socialists are content with floating empty promises.

"Their wish list has been submitted right in time for Christmas, one half borrowed, the other half without concrete proposals."

He added, "When the PES wishes to transform Europe into a leading force against climate change, they conveniently overlook that not only all EPP leaders, but indeed all European leaders, already committed themselves to this publicly some time ago.

"The issues the PES flags in its manifesto are consensual amongst European leaders. They are not a left monopoly. In times of crisis, it is a dangerous temptation to pretend to solely own the truth and have the perfect solutions."

The EPP and PES are the two biggest groups in parliament and are expected to remain so after the elections in 2009.

Meanwhile, parliament´s third biggest group, ALDE, has adopted its manifesto for next June´s European elections. Its plans include completion of the single market, a ´safer´ environment and promotion of civil liberties.

"We want the EU to take the lead intackling global security challenges and responding to international financial crisis," said a spokesman.

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