Dick Roche, ELDR Vice President

ELDR unites nearly 60 political parties from across Europe.

The ELDR is the European political party that promotes the liberal values of freedom and individual responsibility, democracy and the rule of law, respect for human rights and tolerance, a market economy and a democratic, strong and efficient European Union.

These principles led me to bring my party (Fianna Fail) into the liberal group.

The ELDR is growing in significance. It the third largest at the European level, with 8 European Commissioners and 84 MEPs in the European Parliament sitting in the ALDE Group. Parties within ELDR lead governments in four EU member states and participating in the coalition governments in many more countries.

Freedom and Solidarity is a member of the ELDR since October of 2010. Your sister Parties within the ELDR ‘family’ are proud that your successful party is a member of the European Liberal Democrats. (more…)

Graham Watson MEP, ELDR Vice President

Three lessons can be learned from the popular democratic uprisings which should inform our policy from now on.

The first is that it is no good preaching the values of democracy if we arm its enemies. Having armed Gadhafi and other autocrats there is a logical case to be made for arming the protesters, particularly if we fail to live up to the ‘duty to protect’ laid down in the UN Charter: but this policy should be pursued only in extremis. Most important, however, is to stop arms sales to autocratic regimes wherever they are: democracy’s appeal is not limited to north Africa, nor the temptation to beleaguered autocrats to use arms against their own people. (more…)

Nelly GUET

Permettez moi d’apporter un éclairage européen à ce qui - une fois de plus  - ressemble à un psychodrame à la française réduisant à sa plus simple expression : «  la retraite » ce que d’autres ont ici à Helsinki intitulé «les défis du changement démographique », thème du congrès de l’ELDR, choisi par les organisateurs finlandais.

C’est en présence du premier Ministre, Madame Mari KIVINIEMI, présidente de l’un des deux partis libéraux finlandais, que la plupart des travaux ont été menés. Madame KIVINIEMI revenait juste de France où elle avait pu s’entretenir la veille avec le Président Sarkozy et tenté- nous confiera t’elle  - de le convaincre du bien-fondé des idées libérales.

Dans la notion de défi, il y a tout d’abord un aspect positif qui semble échapper au débat français. L’allongement de l’espérance de vie n’est-elle pas une des plus grandes victoires du 20^ème siècle ? Ne sommes nous pas ravis de voir nos parents à plus de 80 ans, en bonne santé, alors que leurs propres parents ont souvent  disparu dans la fleur de l’âge ? Ne sommes nous pas ravis de savoir  que nos petits enfants ont une espérance de vie qui approche 100 ans, que nous-mêmes nous pouvons espérer une vie plus longue, active et autonome ? (more…)

The International Academy for Leadership (Internationale Akademie für Führungskräfte - IAF) has been active in Gummersbach, Germany, since 1995. The task it was given was a threefold one:

* to provide an opportunity to deepen knowledge of liberalism as a political and economic philosophy and a practical approach to dealing with problems and issues that confront us all in the context of a globalising world
* to provide ample opportunity to engage in political dialogue
* to impart invaluable experience of intercultural exchange.

The following link leads to interesting liberal reading material that was produced by the International Academy for Leadership.

Below you can watch a short movie on the philosophy of liberalism:

[Credits: written by Ken Schoolland, produced by Lux Lucre, www.jonathangullible.com]

ELDR President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck MEP speaks on the European way for Russia - a delusion or natural choice?

Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner

Yesterday MEP Kartika Liotard asked me to do more to adapt computer technologies to the needs of people with low literacy levels. I am writing here to say that I fully support the principle, and that is why digital literacy issues form one of the seven pillars of the Digital Agenda for Europe. I want to assure you that I take digital literacy seriously. Your background, current lack of skills and other factors like a disability should not be a permanent barrier to enjoying the benefits of the digital era.

Having said that, lack of literacy often does exclude people from the digital world. The difficult question is not whether to take action, but who is best placed to address Europe’s digital literacy deficit. And how do we mobilise the resources to make real changes, and not merely nice promises? (more…)

Liberal Member of the European Parliament, Sophie in ‘t Veld on equality for LGBT people.

UD Leader Kyriacou with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and FNF's Joerg Denhert

“Political will is what is at need for the attainment of an agreement for the reunification of Cyprus and for the normalization of relations between Greece and Turkey,” said Prime Minister Papandreou during his recent visit to Cyprus.

“We also need to create conditions of trust between Greece and Turkey and between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, for without trust no legal form of an agreement will survive through time.” He also emphasized that without the prospect of accession to the European Union, Turkey will have no incentive to move towards the resolution of the Cyprus problem.

Prime Minister Papandreou said that time is of the essence, since the nature of a problem gets more complicated as time progresses. (more…)

LYMEC Vice President Alexander Plahr

On 29 March, Commissioner Cecilia Malmström published proposals for a directive to block access to websites that show images of child abuse. While the fight against this cruel and loathsome crime deserves the support of every righteous individual, this recent initiative of is deeply worrying. The approach of blocking websites is counterproductive and outright dangerous. (more…)

Dr Gashi MP (right) and Shpend Kallaba

The importance of this topic is crucial and a challenge to any democratic regime, whether it is well-consolidated or transitional, therefore we would like to bring in mind one sensational proverb by Napoleon Bonaparte: “I fear from the newspapers more than a hundred thousand bayonets.” Apparently, in politics this concept remains prevailing even today, but in a much more sophisticated manner. (more…)