Meeting between between Katarina Barley, SPD Secretary General and Ernst Stetter, FEPS Secretary General

Constructive, productive and promising was the summary of the meeting that took place in the FEPS premises on Tuesday, 5^th April 2016 between Katarina Barley, SPD Secretary General and Ernst Stetter, FEPS Secretary General. The exchange touched upon the main political challenges that the European Union and per extension also the European social democracy is facing at the moment. Consequently, much of attention was devoted to the question of migration and a need for a new, sustainable roadmap that would help restoring solidarity among people, regions and states.

Following that, the two secretaries general spoke on concrete aspects of possible cooperation between SPD and FEPS, recalling also the good practices that have already been established before. They reached an agreement to enhance cooperation in three dimensions. First of all, it would envisage a joint effort to continue Millennial Dialogue and look at the attitudes of the German youth.

Secondly, it would seek to support parliamentarians from the European and the national level to forge a better connection, having a chance to meet for an event alike a convention.

Thirdly, it would also seek to help SPD preparing towards the 2017 parliamentary elections by facilitating a set of thematic exchange between the international experts and the SPD politicians. Finalizing the meeting, the two secretaries general paid tribute to the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Brussels.