Dr Sant was speaking during a European Socialist Party (PES) meeting in Brussels. Other European socialist leaders on the panel included France’s Francois Hollande and the ETUC secretary Gary Monks.

Dr Sant said the creation of jobs was at the top of his agenda. “We have to be credible in what we say and what we do, and our proposals have to be different to right wing ones,” said Dr Sant.

Dr Sant said it was not only people who had been made redundant who were worried, but also those who felt their jobs were under threat.

Dr Sant also took part in a televised discussion entitled The challenges facing Europe in the coming months and years. During the discussion, Dr Sant reiterated the need for generation of jobs. He spoke of his personal experience in touring homes in Malta, and the way families have told him they were worried about losing their jobs. Dr Sant said that socialism, on a local, national and European level, needed to work to generate employment.

The MLP delegation will meet the PES congress today and it is understood that the PES electoral manifesto for the European Parliament elections will be presented and approved.