The party of European liberal democrats (ELDR) approved today its new Manifesto and it is now ready to run for the 2009 European elections.After its two-day Congress in Stockholm the 57 members of ELDR agreed on the four main topics of the programme: 1) civil liberties, 2) EU single market, growth and employment, 3) environment and energy policy and 4) enlargement, foreign, security and defence policy.Commenting on the unanimous adoption of the Manifesto Annemie Neyts, ELDR party president expressed her satisfaction and added: I really encourage all the member parties to base their European campaigns on this common European liberal vision. Please click here to download the adopted resolutions Read more ...

Ahead of the emergency summit of EU leaders that will take place in Brussels on Monday 1st September 2008 to discuss the future of EU-Russia relations.. Read more ...

ELDR soirée entirely dedicated to South Africa and the liberal perspective of one of the most important parliamentary opposition’s voice during the Apartheid-regime. His name is Colin Eglin Read more ...

"The open military conflict between Russia and Georgia has deeply concerned the European Liberal Democratic Family,” said ELDR-President Annemie Neyts. “We welcome the accord of all sides to abide with the six-point cease-fire agreement. It is now an absolute priority that all sides concur with the points agreed to stop the suffering of the civilian population and bring the fighting to an end.” Read more ...

 ELDR Congress, 30th and 31st October, StockholmMore than a springboard for the 2009 European campaign, the ELDR congress in Stockholm will debate and inspire European liberal democrat policies and future actions for next year’s European elections and beyond. The first among the European parties to launch its own Manifesto, the ELDR Party will announce its policies for the 2009 EU election campaign.In addition to debating the 2009 Manifesto and resolutions, more than 500 liberal democrats and guests will debate liberal solutions to the current financial crisis, sustainable energy, EU - Russia relations and the challenges of new technologies for modern agriculture.  Read more ...

The Spanish Centro Democratico Liberal (CDL) today held a joint press conference in Brussels with Annemie Neyts, President of the ELDR Party, and Graham Watson, Leader of the ALDE Group in the European Parliament to announce the launch of a new political initiative in Spain and their desire for strong cooperation with the European Liberal Democrats. Read more ...

The Liberal Democrats (UK), convened in Bournemouth for their autumn conference between 13th and 17th September 2008. The conference adopted Read more ...

 During their lunchtime summit held today (15th October 2008), European Liberal Democrat Prime Ministers, Foreign and European Affairs Ministers stated that the financial crisis must not be used as an excuse for watering down or stopping the reforms that are contained within the EU’s energy and climate change package in order to meet the EU’s 2020 climate change targets that were established last year. Read more ...

 ELDR questions the EU’s decision to lift the travel ban on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The ban on Lukashenko and other top officials is initially lifted for six months with the EU seemingly encouraged by the steps that Belarus has taken in recent times towards a more open and democratic society. Following the 2006 presidential election the EU put sanctions on Lukashenko and his cabinet for the undemocratic way in which the elections were conducted.  Read more ...

 The financial crisis that is gripping Europe threatens to not only affect the future economic climate, but also to impact on the EU’s climate change initiatives, which include cutting CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020. Read more ...

 With new anti-terrorism legislation leading to increased surveillance, is it possible to preserve privacy for European citizens? Where should the line be drawn between security and surveillance - how can we strike the right balance? Are social networking sites genuine tools for voluntarily information and knowledge sharing?   Read more ...

 ELDR's two full member parties in Slovenia, Zares, led by Gregor Golobic, and LDS, led by Katarina Kresal, are part of the winning coalition in the general elections that were held on Sunday 21st September. The electoral alliance of Social Democrats (SD), Zares and LDS defeated the ruling centre-right government led by Prime Minister Janša. The next Prime Minister is likely to be Borut Pahor MEP whose party SD won around 30% of the vote. Zares won 9.4% and LDS won 5.19% of the vote. As such ELDR's two member parties will be part of the new Slovenian government. Read more ...