The Global Progressive Forum (GPF) has been involved in the World Social Forum since the first edition and, in 2006, the GPF was elected as a member of the International Council (the decision-making arm of the World Social Forum). This year, the World Social Forum took place in Dakar, which enabled us not only to meet our international partners, but also to strengthen our relations with our Senegalese counterparts.

Jo Leinen, MEP, and Javier Moreno-Sanchez, Secretary General of the Global Progressive Forum, have taken part in the Opening march of the World Social Forum, alongside the Senegalese Socialist Party on Sunday, February 6th in the afternoon. Jo Leinen, Chairman of the Committee for the Environment in the European Parliament, will intervene on February 8th in a round table on water management. Mr. Leinen stated: "Climate change is the greatest challenge of the 21st century, and in the whole world poor people are the most vulnerable to its effects.

As a member of the Development Committee from the European Parliament, it has been both an honour and a challenge to participate in The Global Progressive Forum held in Dakar. The fact that it was held in Africa for the 2nd time emphasises the solidarity of the international community with the struggles engaged in by the African peoples. As Africa has been a continent of great confrontations and is one of the places where the crisis has given rise to very severe economic and social hardship.

This morning, the Forum of Parliamentarians was held in Dakar alongside the program of the World Social Forum. Discussions focused on the evolution of democracy in Africa and in the world.

World Social Forum will be held in Dakar from February 6th to February 11th.

The Global Progressive Forum sprang up from the success of the first World Social Forum (WSF) held in January 2001 in Brazil and participated to the World Social Fora of Porto Alegre, Mumbai, Nairobi and Belem. The GPF has also been actively involved in the European Social Fora of London, Athens and Malmö. The GPF is a member of the International Council of the WSF. Since the World Social Forum (WSF) was launched in 2001, Socialist MEPs have attended every event.

The Global Progressive Forum (GPF) is a common initiative of the Party of European Socialists along with its political group in the European Parliament, and the Socialists International. The GPF sprang up from the success of the first World Social Forum held in January 2001 in Porto Alegre, in Brazil.