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…)

ELDR President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck MEP

Although not fully enthusiastic about Barroso’s political programme for the presidency of the European Commission, described by Annemie Neyts, President of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR) as being “a bit wooly”, Neyts admitted that Barroso’s presentation of his priorities for the next 5 years at yesterdays ALDE Group meeting “was excellent, very straight to the point”. (more…)

“Deutschland kann es besser.

Wir von der FDP wollen, dass sich Ihre Arbeit wieder lohnt.

Mehr Leistungsgerechtigkeit durch faire Steuern. Mehr Netto vom Brutto. Bildung als Bürgerrecht.

Gemeinsam können wir es besser. Deutschland kann es besser.
Ab dem 27. September 2009.”

“Germany can do better.

We from the FDP demand that your job pays off again. More performance fairness through fair taxes. Less tax leaves more net income.

Education is a civil right.

Together we can do better. Germany can do better.

As of 27 September 2009.”

By Dr Guido Westerwelle MP, Leader of the FDP

ELDR President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck

The European elections are a democratic mega-event that can only be compared to the elections in India. The elections have begun today in The Netherlands and the UK. Until Sunday evening close to 400 million European citizens have the possibility to determine the direction that Europe will take over the course of the next five years. The Parliament is the only directly elected body of the European institutions. Your vote gives the European Parliament its democratic character and influences decisions taken at the European level. There are a number of challenges that member states cannot face alone and where action at the EU level is vital. The economic crisis, which is affecting so many of us, is a prime example. (more…)

Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner

Special days remind us of the value of certain achievements or the significance of certain people - and Europe Day is no different.

There are different views on where Europe should progress - but we can be certain of the importance of European cooperation as we make those choices. That spirit of cooperation has delivered us a peace and prosperity that seemed impossible when I was a child, and that is why I care so much about guarding Europe’s achievements. (more…)