With a view to the "June Elections for the European Parliament" - Lisbon. 14th June 2009

At the invitation of the Portuguese Communist Party, a meeting of Left Parties from European Union countries was held on February 14, in Lisbon, with a view to the June elections for the European Parliament. These elections will be held in the context of a profound crisis of capitalism, of a deteriorating social situation and of major challenges for the forces of social progress and for all those who struggle against a European Union of big business and for a different Europe, of progress, peace and cooperation.

The participants expressed their solidarity with the struggles of workers and of different social strata that are taking place all over the European continent, having stressed in particular the importance of opposing the dangerous militarist options of the European Union and NATO, on the occasion of the latter organizations’ 60th anniversary.

The will to pursue and expand their cooperation, namely within the framework of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left Group in the European Parliament, was confirmed and it was agreed to elaborate a Joint Appeal for the Elections for the European Parliament, which will be made public at a forthcoming meeting in Cyprus, at the invitation of the Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus (AKEL).

The following Parties took part in the meeting:

Communist Party of Britain

Progressive Party of the Working People, AKEL (Cyprus)

French Communist Party

German Communist Party

The Left (Germany)

Communist Party of Greece

Party of Italian Communists

Communist Party of Luxemburg

Portuguese Communist Party

Communist Party of Spain

United Left of Spain

Communist Party of Catalonia