Having regard to its previous resolutions on this subject adopted in the Brussels Congress and the Malmö Council and in particular having regard to the programme of work and the timetable laid down in the Malmö Resolution,
In the light of the discussions in the first meeting of the Working Group (“WG”) - to which each member party and network was invited to send a delegate- held in Brussels on January 31, 2010, the minutes of which were circulated to all concerned parties, and the subsequent debate here in Barcelona,
Whereas this is in part an umbrella process and does not seek to duplicate work being done on improving the electoral prospects of certain member parties (named the “Horizon 2014” process) nor the ongoing work on improving our communications tools,
Council decides
1.that the timescale originally agreed for a debate on the priority discussions (so-called “hot potatoes”) at this Spring Council, to be followed by a proposal for action to be decided at the Autumn 2010 Council, does not allow sufficient time for in-depth reflection and consultation with and within member parties and networks.
2.that, based on the report from the first WG meeting and the debate at this Council, fundamental questions are being posed to which we must respond, though the number of controversial issues is relatively limited.
3.that there is also much work to be done on a secondary agenda of unresolved issues which, whilst not so controversial, raise operational and organisational questions requiring further examination.
4.that the process would be better served by permitting the WG to continue to work on responses to all these issues and to deepen the level of consultation with member parties and networks.
5.that representatives of the WG together with the responsible members of the Committee organise further discussion with and within those member parties and networks to ensure an inclusive and democratic response to the issues.
6.that the WG provides a further progress report at the Autumn 2010 Council and a final set of recommendations for decision at the Spring 2011 Council.
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