Ahead of the Special European Council (Article 50), Socialist leaders meet in the Albert Hall, in Brussels. Arrivals of Stefan LOFVEN, Swedish Prime Minister, Frans TIMMERMANS, Fofi GENNIMATA, leader of PASOK, Maros SEFCOVIC, Alexis TSIPRAS, Greek Prime Minister, Fran&ccedil;ois HOLLANDE, President of the French Republic, Antonio COSAT, Portuguese Prime Minister, Paolo GENTILONI, Italian Prime Minister, Joseph MUSCAT, Prime Minister of Malta and Federica MOGHERINI, and welcome by Sergei STANISHEV, PES Chair. Statements by Gianni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), S&amp;D Group Leader.

Brussels

article 50 of the Lisbon treaty (T)

meeting

PITTELLA, Gianni (S&D, IT)

MOGHERINI, Federica (IT, EC)

ŠEFČOVIČ, Maroš (SK, EC)

MUSCAT, Joseph (PSE, MT)

LÖFVEN, Stefan (SE)

European Council meeting 29 April 2017 (T)

COSTA, António (PT)

GENTILONI, Paolo (IT, EC)

TSÍPRAS, Aléxis (EL)

HOLLANDE, François (FR)

Socialist leaders meet ahead of the Special European Council (Article 50): arrivals

Exterior shots: PES poster at the PES meeting and police

ARRIVALS, Prime Ministers welcomed by Sergei Stanishev, PES president (chair)

Stefan L&ouml;fven, prime minister of Sweden

Frans Timmermans, European Commission VP

Fofi Gennimata, leader of PASOK, Greece

SOUNDBITE (English), Gianni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Chair of S&amp;D Group, Our position will be in line with the position taken by the European Parliament. We have our guidelines, I hope that the Council will keep this line in a united way. The unity of the 27 member states is essential. For my comrades of the Labour Party I hope a great victory to win the cynical position of Theresa May.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Gianni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Chair of S&amp;D Group, The fight of Labour, on its big majority of militants and politicians, also Labour MEPs in the EP was in favour of the UK remaining in the EU, there is no doubt about this. And maybe next elections will be a defeat for Theresa May, who has, in a very cynical way, call for elections in seeking to increase her powers with the excuse of having better grounds for negotiating with Brussels. But this is an argument that can turn against herself.

Maro&scaron; &Scaron;efčovič, European Commission VP

Alexis Tsipras, prime minister of Greece (observer)

Fran&ccedil;ois Hollande, president of France

Antonio Costa, prime minister of Portugal

Paolo Gentiloni, prime minister of Italy

Joseph Muscat, prime minister of Malta

Federica Mogherini, European Commission, HR