Hosted by the SI Romanian member parties, the Democratic Party, PD, and the Social Democratic Party, PSDR, SICEE met on 5-6 February in Bucharest to focus on two main themes: 'Recent developments in Russia: economic and political perspectives' and 'The process of enlargement of the European Union: analyses and perspectives'.
The meeting gathered together more than seventy participants representing close to thirty parties and organisations. Speakers in the debate included Petre Roman, PD President, who gave an overview of the current situation and concerns in his country, and presented his party's political project for building Romania as part of an expanding Europe, and Sergiu Cunescu, President of the PSDR, who added that there was much optimism for social democracy in his country and in the region. Although the transition had been more difficult than expected, they continued to make 'slow but very solid progress' and they shared the priorities of all European socialists.
As a result of its discussions, the Committee adopted three resolutions and declarations on the enlargement of the European Union, on the economic and political perspectives in Russia and on Kosovo. It was agreed to hold a meeting of the Committee in Warsaw in mid-September.