Translated "Avante!" article by Pedro Guerreiro, Member of the PCP Secretariat of the CC and Responsable of the International Department
The PCP, in its Central Committee statement , of 29 and 30th June last, calls upon “ the dangers issued from the concerning international situation evolution, highlighting communist parties’ urgent strengthening, reinforcement of their cooperation, as well as with other progressive and anti-imperialist forces”.
The PCP, within the framework of its international activity as well as in the European sphere, has paid particular attention to communists’ cooperation and other left-wing and progressive forces, affirming their own objectives, never weakening their identity, but instead, contributing, in the respect for their situation, reflexion and proposals’ differences, in order to place in first plan, a common or convergent action, round the most felt issues by workers and peoples towards another Europe.
The PCP in the European Parliament has been intervening in the safeguard and affirming the co-federal, unitary and progressive character of the European Unitary Left-Wing Co-federal Group / Nordic Green Left-Wing (GUE/NGL) - since its beginning, in 1994-, having conscience of the contradictions issued from its heterogeneous composition, together with the problems and difficulties which have had been posed, both by the expression of system positions adaptation both by dogmatic and sectarian conceptions.
The PCP has taken once again, considering the situation’s demands and complexity, in coordination with other parties, the initiative to promote the “Common appeal for the EP’s elections”, ( recalling what was followed in 1999, 2004 and 2009), with the purpose of a contribution for the GUE/NGL Group character continuity - within its heterogeneity framework -, and its intervention round the general objectives which ought to give voice to the workers and peoples struggle, for another Europe.
During the GUE/NGL Group developing process, upon May’s elections, notwithstanding its major diversity, fundamental functioning principles were confirmed on this cooperation space among communist forces, left-wing and progressive, such as : con-federal nature; own autonomy and identity regarding other European Parliament political groups and cooperation structures or spaces; taking decisions by consensus; equality among its delegations and respect for their differences.
Therefore reaffirming that, on the contrary of other EP parliamentarian groups, regarding their composition, character, autonomy and identity, the GUE/NGL Group is not the parliamentarian expression of any European political party, namely the European Left-Wing Party (created in 2004).
The PCP ’s participation in the GUE/NGL Group has permitted to develop its intervention within the European Parliament, equally contributing in other aspects of its activity.
However, as highlighted in the PCP’s CC statement, “ this Group’s importance and current and future role are inseparable from the practical guarantee application of these principles and their intervention towards a Europe of cooperation, progress and peace.” - principles and intervention which have permitted its creation and guaranteed its continuity.
The PCP ought to carry on its intervention, namely on what regards the EP, in the defence of workers, peoples and the country’s interests, rejecting any impositions and limitations to democracy, following the peoples desires and working towards the rupture with the EU of the great monopolies and powers, for a Europe of cooperation among sovereign states and equal in rights, social progress and peace
