The Party of European Socialists (PES) brings together the Socialist, Social Democratic and Labour Parties of the European Union (EU). Its aims include: * the strengthening of the socialist and social democratic movement in the Union and throughout Europe; * defining common policies for the European Union and to influence the decisions of the European institutions; * leading the European election campaign with a common strategy and visibility, a common Manifesto and a common candidate to the European Commission Presidency, elected through an open, transparent and democratic competitive process. There are 32 full PES member parties from the 28 EU member States and Norway. In addition, there are eleven PES associate and ten PES observer parties. The PES is politically represented in the directly elected European Parliament, at governmental level in the European Council and Council of Ministers, and in the Committee of the Regions. The European Commission also numbers several members from PES parties amongst its commissioners. Socialists & Democrats Group in the European Parliament - http://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/ PES Group in the Committee of the Regions - http://pes.cor.europa.eu/ Young European Socialists (YES) and PES Women are respectively the Youth and the Women’s organization of the PES.
