Following its recent XXII Congress, which took place last October in Sao Paulo, the Socialist International held its first Council meeting of this inter-Congress period in Madrid on 7-8 February 2004, hosted by the Spanish Socialist Workers’ party, PSOE, whose leader José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is a Vice-President of the International.
The Council discussions centred on the main theme of "How do we build upon the Social Democratic vision for a more secure world?", underlining the fundamental commitment of the social democratic movement to lessen conflict and reduce threats to peace in the world today. A Madrid Declaration, based on the ideas put forward by the leader of the host party, Rodriguez Zapatero, was adopted unanimously.
Three specific panels were held under the main theme. The first was on "Prospects for peace in the Middle East", with contributions from leaders and members of the Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian member parties as well as from other parties from that region and beyond; and the second panel "Ensuring a democratic future for Iraq", included the participation of leaders and representatives from Iraqi parties and others. A Resolution on the Middle East and another Resolution on Iraq were adopted by the Council. A third panel discussion focused on "Regional efforts toward greater security and democracy" with contributions by delegates from other regions of the world. Particular attention was given to the leaders of KONAKOM and PANPRA, the SI member parties in Haiti, who addressed the latest serious developments in their country. The Council agreed to send a mission to Haiti to encourage the social democratic forces there, and supported the sending of an SIW mission to Iraq.
The Council established a number of Committees and Working Groups and elected their Chairs. The members of the Finance and Administration Committee and the Ethics Committee were also elected for the current inter-Congress period.
Approximately 400 delegates from close to 120 socialist, social democratic and labour parties from every continent participated in the Council.
Participants
Other councils
Santo Domingo, 28-29 January 2019
Geneva, 26-27 June 2018
Barcelona, Spain, 24-25 November 2017
New York, 11-12 July 2017
Cartagena*, 2-4 March 2017
Geneva, 01-02 July 2016
Luanda, Angola, 27-28 November 2015
New York, 06-07 July 2015
Geneva, 12-13 December 2014
Mexico City, 30 June - 1 July 2014
Istanbul, 11-12 November 2013
Cascais, Portugal, 4-5 February 2013
Cape Town*, 30 August - 1 September 2012
San José, Costa Rica, 23-24 January 2012
Athens, 1-2 July 2011
Paris, 15-16 November 2010
New York, 21-22 June 2010
Santo Domingo, 23-24 November 2009
Montenegro, 29-30 June 2009
Vallarta, 17-18 November 2008
Athens*, 20 June - 2 July 2008
Geneva, 29-30 June 2007
Santiago, 6-7 November 2006
Athens, 30-31 January 2006
Tel Aviv and Ramallah, 23-24 May 2005
Johannesburg, 15-16 November 2004
Madrid, 7-8 February 2004
São Paulo*, 26 October 2003
Rome, 20-21 January 2003
Casablanca, 31 May - 1 June 2002
Santo Domingo, 26-27 November 2001
Lisbon, 29-30 June 2001
Maputo, 10-11 November 2000
Brussels, 10-11 April 2000
Paris* 7 November 1999
Buenos Aires, 25-26 June 1999
Geneva, 23-24 November 1998
Oslo, 18-19 May 1998
New Delhi, 10-11 November 1997
Rome, 21-22 January 1997
New York*, 8 September 1996
Brussels, 7-8 December 1995
Cape Town, 10-11 July 1995
Budapest, 2-3 December 1994
Tokyo, 10-11 May 1994
Lisbon, 6-7 October 1993
Athens, 9-10 February 1993
Berlin*, 15-17 September 1992
Santiago, 26-27 November 1991
Istanbul, 11-12 June 1991
New York, 8-9 October 1990
Cairo, 22-23 May 1990
Geneva, 23-24 November 1989
Stockholm*, 20-22 June 1989
Madrid, 11-12 May 1988
Dakar, 15-16 October 1987
Rome, 8-9 April 1987
*On the eve of the Congress