Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats

Progressive Alliance
of Socialists and Democrats
European Parliament group
NameProgressive Alliance
of Socialists and Democrats
English abbr.S&D
(23 June 2009 – present)
Older:
  • PES
    (21 April 1993 – 22 June 2009)
    SOC
    (1958 – 21 April 1993)
    S
    (23 June 1953 – 1958)
French abbr.S&D
(23 June 2009 – present)
Older:
  • PSE
    (21 April 1993 – 22 June 2009)
    SOC
    (1958 – 21 April 1993)
    S
    (23 June 1953 – 1958)
Formal nameGroup of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
in the European Parliament
(23 June 2009 – present)
Older:
  • Socialist Group
    in the European Parliament
    (20 July 2004 – 23 June 2009)
    Group of the Party
    of European Socialists
    (21 April 1993 – 20 July 2004)
    Socialist Group
    (1958 – 21 April 1993)
    Group of the Socialists
    (23 June 1953 – 1958)
IdeologySocial democracy
Pro-Europeanism
Political positionCentre-left
European partiesParty of European Socialists
Associated organisationsProgressive Alliance
Socialist International
From23 June 1953
ToPresent
Chaired byIratxe García
MEP(s)
136 / 720
Websitesocialistsanddemocrats.eu

The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) is the political group in the European Parliament of the Party of European Socialists (PES). The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats was officially founded as a Socialist Group on 29 June 1953, which makes it the second oldest political group in the European Parliament after the European People's Party Group (EPP Group). It adopted its present-day name on 23 June 2009. Centre-left in orientation, the group mostly comprises social democratic parties and is affiliated with the Progressive Alliance and Socialist International.

Until the 1999 European Parliament elections, it was the largest group in the Parliament, but since then it has always been the second-largest group. During the eighth EU Parliament Assembly, the S&D was the only Parliament group with representation from all 27 EU member states. In the current EU Parliament the S&D is currently composed of 136 members from 25 member states.

In the European Council, eight out of 27 heads of state and government belong to PES parties and in the European Commission, 8 out of 27 Commissioners come from PES parties.