To ensure proper delivery of this newsletter, please add newsletter@eldr.eu yo your email address book.June 2008Table of contentsYabloko elects new leadership Spying on data or protecting citizens? EU return directive: ELDR asks the respect of human rights and a global vision A liberal delegation in Cyprus FDP summer party with Guido Westerwelle in Brussels   Prime Minister Calin Papescu Tariceanu and EU Commissioner Olli Rhen at the ELDR Leaders Meeting, June 19,2008, Brussels. ELDR FamilyThe European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR Party) brings together 55 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals. In 2007 the European Liberal Democrat political family achieved many successes in the various elections around the EU member states, bringing the total number of liberal democrat voters to 30 million Europe-wide. Five EU prime ministers, one third of the members of the European Commission, 100 MEPs in the ALDE Group of the European Parliament and ministers in more than 20 governments in Europe belong to the liberal family. Yabloko elects new leadershipAt its congress on 21st-22nd June, ELDRs Russian member party, Yabloko, elected Sergey Mitrokhin as its new President following Grigory Yavlinksys decision not to stand again for the leadership of the party. The congress outlined Yablokos future political course as a liberal democratic opposition aiming to make Russia a democratic European state where human rights and the rule of law are fully respected. Grigory Yavlinsky is the longest-serving liberal opposition leader in Russia. Under Yavlinskys leadership the party developed a nationwide structure and became known for openly opposing the increasing democratic deficit taking place in Russia. ELDR looks forward to working with Mr Mitrokhin in helping the party achieve its goals.Spying on data or protecting citizens?Following Swedens decision to introduce a new law allowing authorities to monitor e-mails and telephone traffic, ELDR questions to what extent this will infringe on citizens security and the protection of personal data and privacy. Believing that the fundamental rights of individuals must be preserved, in times of rapid technological development it is even more important to find instruments to estimate to what extent civil and public authorities should be given the ability to collect and deal with information about each and every one of us.  EU return directive: ELDR asks the respect of human rights and a global visionAfter more than three years of negotiations, the European Parliament has come to an agreement establishing EU-wide rules on how to return illegally staying third country nationals in a fair and transparent procedure.The new rules specify the following:• Detention: 6 months maximum period, extendable by a further 12 months;• A deportee may be banned from re-entering EU territory for a maximum period of 5 years; • Proposal for biometric visas with photos and fingerprints; • If the directive is approved EU member states have 24 months to bring it into effect except for the clause on legal aid which is 36 months. The European Liberals consider the agreement to be a step in the right direction, but call on the European Parliament to provide a more harmonized conception of the issue, in line with the needs of workers and the respect of human rights. "The return policy - Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, a VVD-ALDE MEP said - cannot be looked upon in an isolated way. It should be seen as an integral and necessary part of a total package on migration, including legal migration as well as asylum.A liberal delegation in CyprusA liberal delegation led by Senator Marco Perduca (Italian Radicals) and ELDR Vice President Wilfried Derksen (D66, the Netherlands) will visit Cyprus on 4 and 5 July. The visit to Cyprus is organised to ensure liberal representation from Cyprus in the European Parliament after 2009, as well as to discuss the membership application with ELDR of two political parties, the National Unity Party and the Freedom and Reform Party, from the northern part of the island. Finally the delegation will have a closer look at the current efforts to find a solution for the island.FDP summer party with Guido Westerwelle in BrusselsGuido Westerwelle, Chairman of the German Free Democrats (FDP) will be the key speaker at the annual European branch of the FDP summer party, AGE-Sommergrillfest , which will take place in Brussels on Wednesday 2nd July 2008. All colleagues are welcome. 09/07/2008 : ELDR Bureau Meeting 11/07/2008 : XV Congress Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya 15/10/2008 : Prime Minister meeting in Brussels 30/10/2008 : ELDR Congress in Stockholm 11/12/2008 : ELDR Leaders Meeting 11/12/2008 : European Council 18/06/2009 : ELDR Leaders and Ministers meeting ELDR Partyrue MONTOYERstraat 31 (7th floor)1000 BruxellesBelgiumT +32 2 237 01 40F +32 2 231 19 07 info@eldr.euwww.eldr.eu

June 2008Table of contentsELDR Leaders and Ministers gather in Brussels Deeply disappointed by the outcome of the Irish referendum Moldova Noastra will strongly support the adhesion of the country at the EU Zares Congress: Electoral Programme Unveiled Mourning the death of a member  On Thursday 19th June 50 ELDR leaders and ministers will convene in Brussels ELDR FamilyThe European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR Party) brings together 55 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals. In 2007 the European Liberal Democrat political family achieved many successes in the various elections around the EU member states, bringing the total number of liberal democrat voters to 30 million Europe-wide. Five EU prime ministers, one third of the members of the European Commission, 100 MEPs in the ALDE Group of the European Parliament and ministers in more than 20 governments in Europe belong to the liberal family.ELDR Leaders and Ministers gather in BrusselsOn Thursday 19th June ELDR leaders and ministers will convene in Brussels to discuss the topic of the EU Single Market in the framework of the preparations for drafting the ELDR manifesto for the 2009 European elections. The meeting will be attended by more than 50 prominent liberal politicians, including prime ministers, ministers, European commissioners and party leaders. Deeply disappointed by the outcome of the Irish referendum ELDR prime ministers, ministers and European commissioners will discuss the future steps for the Lisbon Treaty during a lunch meeting that will take place at the fringe of the ELDR leaders and ministers meeting on 19th June in Brussels. On the subject of the future of the treaty, Annemie Neyts, ELDR Party President stated, "I will discuss this with the liberal Prime Ministers and Leaders before the Spring Summit. At the latest count, 17 out of 27 member states have ratified the Treaty, and the process is underway in most of the others. I believe it is important that the ratification process be completed so that we all be able to clearly assess were the member states, including Ireland, stand." Moldova Noastra will strongly support the adhesion of the country at the EUThe VII Congress of the Alliance Moldova Noastra (AMN), which took place on Saturday 7June, proclaimed the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union to be vital for the future prosperity of the country. Congress delegates also reconfirmed the list of candidates for the 2009 parliamentary elections in Moldova. Serafim Urechean, Leader of AMN, stated that the idea of a common list of the democratic forces will not be categorically rejected, so long as a consensus could be reached among the parties and candidates sought election for the right reasons and not for self fulfillment. Zares Congress: Electoral Programme UnveiledThe Congress of the Slovenian Zares party, an ELDR member, saw the party's president Gregor Golobic welcoming Zares as a confident party completely comparable to other parties in Slovenia. Golobic said he believes that this year's general election scheduled for the autumn - will bring a no-confidence vote for the current government.Held on 14 June 2008 in Ljubljana, the Congress of Zares unveiled the party's draft electoral programme, which stresses economic competitiveness, the stability of public finances, creativity, knowledge and scientific development, responsive welfare policies, sustainable management of natural resources, and responsible government.More detailed measures pondered by the party include the possibility of introducing a universal basic income and of changing the law on public broadcaster RTV Slovenija, since "interference by the ruling authorities into media as seen in the 2004-2008 period is unprecedented in the history of Slovenian independence".Mourning the death of a memberELDR mourns the death of a colleague. Giuseppe Basile, Italia dei Valori (IDV) (Italy), was killed on Saturday night in front of his home. Mr Basile was 61 years old and had dedicated his life to fighting corruption. His death is a huge loss, particularly to Italian politics where Basile was a defender of civil rights and a fighter for justice, equity and legality especially in the South of Italy. Extending our deepest condolences to his family, his friends and his colleagues, we express all our support to the party and we invite IDV Party Leader, Antonio Di Pietro, to pursue the fight against corruption. 19/06/2008 : ELDR Leaders Meeting 09/07/2008 : ELDR Bureau Meeting 11/07/2008 : XV Congress Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya 30/10/2008 : ELDR Congress in Stockholm 11/12/2008 : ELDR Leaders Meeting 11/12/2008 : European Council ELDR Partyrue MONTOYERstraat 31 (7th floor)1000 BruxellesBelgiumT +32 2 237 01 40F +32 2 231 19 07 info@eldr.euwww.eldr.eu