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MEMBERS ACTIVITIES |
| Outcome EU summit bad for Britain and divisive for Europe |
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ELDR President Sir Graham Watson MEP (Liberal Democrats, UK) has called for the UK to come back to the negotiating table. Speaking in the European Parliament, Sir Graham said: "The Liberal Democrats deeply regret the outcome of last week's summit. It is bad for Britain and divisive for Europe. The UK has got to this point of crisis because we have a flawed voting system, a mass-media in the clutches of an Australian-American mogul and a Conservative party with a shrunken mind. Britain must come back to the negotiating table. We may be a rock surrounded by water but we are not an island."
Lib Dem Leader and UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP: “I am determined that we redouble our leadership on things like the single market, the environment, foreign policy, and defence - all the things that we need to do at a European level. All my political life I have believed that Britain is stronger, better, greater when we lead and when we stand tall in Europe. Now, more than ever, we need a strong Liberal Democrat voice inside government making this case.”
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MEMBERS ACTIVITIES |
| ELDR President discusses Georgia with EU High Representative |
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Following the ELDR leaders meeting on 8 December 2011, ELDR President Sir Graham Watson MEP discussed with David Usupashvili, leader of ELDR member Republican Party from Georgia new chances but also challenges for the Georgian liberal opposition.
On 12 December 2011, during a meeting with Baroness Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Sir Graham raised the case of Bidzina Ivanishvili, a Georgian businessman and founder of the opposition movement Georgian Dream that cooperates with ELDR member Republican Party and candidate party Free Democrats. Following his announcement to get involved in politics, the Georgian authorities revoked Ivanishvili’s citizenship in a clear attempt to prevent him to assume political office. Since then Mr Ivanishvili's business has been under constant pressure from government agencies.
Sir Graham Watson requested the High Representative to raise the issue with the Georgian authorities to ask for clarification and ensure that fundamental principles of political freedom and democratic participation remain unhampered in the country.
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ELDR ACTIVITIES |
| ELDR Council meeting in Yerevan, Armenia |
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The 2012 ELDR spring Council meeting will take place in Yerevan, Armenia from 11-12 May at the invitation of our member the Armenian National Movement. Gathering for a Council meeting in Armenia will be an ideal chance to discuss ways in which Europe’s Liberal Democrats can promote democracy and the rule of law in the Southern Caucasus.
Further details about the event and other practical information will be communicated to member parties in January.
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MEMBERS ACTIVITIES |
| Congress of the Nonviolent Transnational Radicals |
ELDR Vice-President Dr. Marc Guerrero attended the Congress of the Nonviolent Transnational Radical Party which took place in Rome, Italy, from 8 to 10 of December. In his speech, Guerrero stressed the need for stronger democratic convictions in Europe and the need of a renewed European Union identity: “we cannot solve the Euro problem by killing the European Union”.
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MEMBERS ACTIVITIES |
| D66 Congress on Europe |
On Saturday December 10th Dutch D66 held an extra-ordinary congress on Europe, titled "Europe, fast forward". ELDR President Sir Graham Watson MEP, Member of Parliament Gerard Schouw, MEP Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy and ELDR Vice-President Lousewies van der Laan presented their analysis of the state of the EU and ideas for the future.
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MEMBERS ACTIVITIES |
| VVD discusses Europe in Maastricht |
On Saturday 10 December, meeting exactly twenty years later in the same room which saw the conception of the EU Treaty of Maastricht, representatives of the Dutch liberal VVD supported continued EU integration for guaranteed prosperity and security in Europe. They want the EU budget to emphasise innovation, infrastructure and energy, which they believe can be achieved with zero growth from 2014-2020. In addition, the EU has an increasing role to play in asylum policy and border management.
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LIBERAL FAMILY |
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Open Vld women elect new head of Women Network
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Former MP Hilde Vautmans was elected President of the Open Vld women network. Vautmans: “There remains a lot of work to be done. We will continue to raise the issue of unequal treatment of women and men. For example, men still earn more than women for the same job. Internationally, we continue to join the struggle against genital mutilation, rape in conflict areas and maternal mortality.
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