ELDR President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck: “The result of the Irish referendum on 2 October has shown that European citizens and governments are now fully aware that there is a sense of urgency. People expect action to tackle the financial and economic crisis and initiatives to keep our climate under control. The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty gives the EU stronger tools to address those questions more efficiently. We especially need to stop busying ourselves with institutional reforms. Europeans demand us to act decisively inside and be a strong voice in world affairs.”

ELDR supports the swift action of the Swedish EU Presidency to proceed with the selection of the “EU top jobs” and expects that those member states who have not done so yet, will nominate their candidate Commissioner in the next few weeks.

Neyts: “Member States should nominate their Commissioners soon. The European Parliament is able and willing to start hearing the designate Commissioners by the end of November, so that we can have a fully functioning European Commission ready to take much needed new initiatives from 1 January 2010. I reiterate that one of the four EU “top jobs” should go the European liberals.”

For the ELDR Party, as a European political party, the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty will bring new opportunities to give the European Union a more democratic character. Co-decision – where the European Parliament will co-legislate with the Council of Ministers – will become the normal legislative procedure. Citizens, if they collect one million signatures, can ask the European Commission to table specific initiatives. European political parties can and should play a role to mobilise citizens to defend their interests or beliefs.

Neyts: “ELDR, in co-operation with citizens, will defend our liberal values of civil liberties and safeguarding the principles of the market economy.”