Socialists to hold major summit on economy in December

French President François Hollande announced in Paris on 23 October 2014 a major summit of Europe’s Socialists, to take place before 2014's final European Council meeting on 18 December.

SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel was not present during the announcement, but Mr Hollande had by his side several other politicians, including the Italian Federica Mogherini, the German Martin Schulz Austrian Chancellor, the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Malta and the Czech Republic, the Luxembourgish and Dutch Ministers for Foreign Affairs, the Slovak Secretary of State for European Affairs, and Frans Timmermans, first Vice-President of the European Commission.