This congress dealt with two major issues; the transformation of the ELDR Federation into the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party, and the adoption of a common programme for the European elections in June 1994.

During their meeting on 16 June 1993, the Leaders of the ELDR decided to recommend to the next congress that the ELDR Federation develop into a political Party at European level. This proposal was adopted by the congress. This evolution is provided for in art. 138A of the Maastricht Treaty, recognising the importance of political parties at European level as a factor for integration within the Union.

The other main issue was the discussion of the draft electoral programme, prepared by the programme committee under the chairmanship of Florus Wijsenbeek, Dutch member of the LDR Group in the European Parliament. The congress amended and adopted the electoral programme for the European elections in June 1994.

The congress also adopted seven urgency resolutions on: Terrorism in Northern Ireland, the threats to the freedom of expression in Eastern and Central Europe, the use of languages in the European Union, terrorist violence in Austria, European spending in the Atlantic regions, the situation in former Yugoslavia and the European Council on 9 and 10 December 1993.

Fourth direct elections, June 1994

In these elections, the liberal, democrat and reform parties obtained 43 seats on an increased total of 567 seats.

The German FDP failed to reach the 5% threshold and is therefore not represented in this Parliament. The British Liberal Democrats are represented in the European Parliament for the first time. The Italian party Lega Nord decided to join the ELDR Group with 6 Members.

The ELDR Group consists of:

BELGIUM VLD (Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten) (3)

PRL (Parti Réformateur Libéral) (3)

DENMARK Venstre (4)

Det Radikale Venstre (1)

FRANCE RAD (Parti Radical) (1)

IRELAND Pat Cox (Independent) (1)

ITALY PRI (Partito Repubblicano Italiano) (1)

Lega Nord (6)

LUXEMBOURG DP (Demokratesch Partei - Parti Démocratique) (1)

NETHERLANDS VVD - (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang) (6)

D'66 (Democraten 66) (4)

PORTUGAL PSD (Partido Social Democrata) (8)

SPAIN CiU (Convergència I Unió) (2)

UNITED KINGDOM Liberal Democrats (2)

A member leaves and three members join

At the meeting on the 5th December 1994, the ELDR Council decided to ask the Parti Républicain to withdraw. At the same meeting, the applications of the Dutch party Democraten 66 and of the Federazione dei Liberali italiani as full members were accepted. The application of the Czech Civic Movement as affiliate member was also accepted.

Another Affiliate joins the ELDR

At the Council meeting of the 10th March 1995, the application of the Democratic Union of Slovakia was unanimously accepted.