European Socialists Sidestep Migration Debate at Key Congress

European socialist parties are largely avoiding a direct discussion of migration policy at their congress today, focusing instead on traditional left-leaning priorities like healthcare and job creation.

The final declaration of the Party of European Socialists (PES) congress, set to be voted on Friday, contains only a single reference to migration, stating that “migrants are increasingly criminalized and used as a scapegoat for social and economic hardships and to justify discriminatory policies.” A related Social Policy program calls for “the protection of migrants, asylum seekers and undocumented people.” Notably, migration is absent from a document outlining the party’s future priorities and campaign messaging.

This approach comes as the Danish Socialists, currently holding the EU Council presidency until the end of December, have made establishing a stricter deportation scheme a key priority. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is not attending the PES congress. The shift in focus reflects a broader trend of center-left parties struggling for support across Europe, as detailed by the European Parliamentary Research Service.

Instead, the PES is prioritizing issues such as healthcare, job creation, affordable housing, and renewable energy, hoping to regain ground lost to right-wing parties. This comes after a five-year period where center-left representation in the European Parliament and within the European Commission has declined. The avoidance of the migration issue could further complicate efforts to build a unified platform ahead of upcoming elections; read more about the challenges facing European political parties here.

Delegates will vote on the final declaration and policy programs today, and officials have indicated that further discussion on migration will be deferred to individual member states.