Together with Meglena Kuneva, EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection we will discuss what the EU can concretely do for savers and investors. Together with Annemie Neyts, ELDR Party President, we will investigate the new “S Factor” (scare factor) that affects Europe and Ireland, trying to open a new perspective on the road map for the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and how to combine the financial turmoil with a more cohesive Europe.

Given the recent events in Georgia, Sergey Mitrokhin, Leader of the Yabloko Party in Russia and David Usupashvili, Leader of Republican Party, Georgia will discuss the future ramifications of the conflict and how it affects the EU’s relationship with Russia. Former Russian Prime Minister and Leader of the People’s Democratic Union, Mikhail Kasyanov, will also give his views on the future of EU-Russia relations.

Along with Didier Reynders, Belgian Minister of Finance; Matti Vanhanen, Finnish Prime Minister; and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Danish Prime Minister, there will be discussions on the liberal perspective on the financial crisis in the EU; environment and energy policy; and respect of people’s fundamental freedoms and data protection.

Last but not least, with the two Swedish Party leaders, Jan Bjorklund and Maud Olofsson we will start talking about the next Swedish EU Presidency (from June 2009) and about the focus the Scandinavian country will put on the agreements on procedural rights.

The ELDR Congress will take place on 30th and 31st October in the elegant setting of the Swedish capital, Stockholm. Please visit the ELDR website for the latest programme and further information www.eldr.eu.

Communications Officer: Chiara Puletti

TEL +32 02 2370143

GSM +32 0488 475966 cpuletti@eldr.eu