To ensure proper delivery of this newsletter, please add newsletter@eldr.eu yo your email address book.September 2008What language should the EU speak?Europe must simplify its language. It sounds almost as a dmod refrain.On its side, ALDE group in the Committee of regions, is trying to concretely give contents and restyle this outmoded song. By what means? Launching a campaign as part of its continued efforts to improve the EU's communication with citizens, on "What language should the EU speak?The Simple Language Campaign is aimed at all who work for and with the European Union, in Brussels and beyond, with the objective of encouraging the use of simple and clear language in all EU documents, official or not.The campaign focuses on a dedicated website: www.SimpleLanguage.eu where users can post examples for decoding of complex sentences or jargon that they have encountered in EU documents.Slovenia on the path towards change Slovenia held its general election on 21st September 2008. The coalition opposition parties, ELDR member parties Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (LDS) and Zares, together with the Social Democrat (SD) defeated the ruling centre right government led by Prime Minister Jana. The next Prime Minister is likely to be Borut Pahor MEP. His party (SD) won a good 30% of the vote. The two ELDR members will be part of the new Slovenian government: LDS which won 5.19% of the vote and Zares which won 9.4%. The future government coalition will invite at least one additional party to join them in government. For this they will look to the Slovenian People's Party (SLS) or the Pensioners' Party (DESUS).ELDR welcomes a new liberal partyThe 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. CDL has envisaged the possibility of creating a federation of Spanish centrist and regionalist (local) parties. Both the ELDR Party and ALDE Group expressed their support to the partys plans. Welcoming the new initiative, Annemie Neyts noted the urgency of putting the liberal values and ideas of CDL into action, especially in a country which gave birth to some prestigious liberal personalities like: Jos Antonio Alonso Surez, Jos Ortega y Gasset and Salvador de Madariaga. It has always been difficult to translate liberal ideas into actions she said. I hope CDL, with its president Manuel Alonso, can facilitate this process. I wish all the best to the initiative. We sincerely hope to become a member of ELDR and to reinforce the ALDE group with CDL MEPs, Alonso concluded. Boring EU elections? Internet should rescue usGerman Liberal MEP Alexander Alvaro moderated a conference on 17 September in the European Parliament with a panel of MEPs on the subject of online campaigning. This is seen as the key to "reinvigorating and rejuvenating" the EU elections. EU politicians have to "overcome their fear of new technologies" he said. "Sometimes one has to take a chance," Alvaro pointed out, and even went further and suggested conducting a campaign "without any of those boring election posters". Liberal Democrats call for stronger UK role in EUThe Liberal Democrats (UK), convened in Bournemouth for their autumn conference between 13th and 17th September 2008. The conference adopted the main policy document called make it happen, which sets out the partys vision and will form the basis of its manifesto for the next general election and its messages for the remainder of the current parliament. The party also adopted a policy motion on Europe entitled Shaping our world through a strong Europe, which included calls for the UK to play a more active role in the EU.ELDR was present at the conference with a joint information stand with the Liberal Democrats European Group (LDEG). The stand promoted the work of ELDR and LDEG with Lib Dem MEPs answering questions from conference delegates.Ceremony in honour of Bronisaw GeremekA commemoration in honour of Prof. Bronisaw Geremek will take place on Tuesday, 7th October 2008 from 18.00 - 20.00 at Universit libre de Bruxelles, Av. Franklin Roosevelt 50, in "le Grand Hall de l'Universtit". Whoever would be interested in attending the ceremony may sign up before 3rd of October 2008 by e-mail: sylwia.remiszewska@europarl.europa.eu 28/09/2008 : Parliamentary elections in Belarus 28/09/2008 : Parliamentary elections in Austria 28/09/2008 : Regional elections in Bavaria 12/10/2008 : Parliamentary elections in Lithuania 15/10/2008 : Prime Minister meeting in Brussels 18/10/2008 : NMSS Congress 26/10/2008 : Municipal elections in Finland 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

  To ensure proper delivery of this newsletter, please add newsletter@eldr.eu yo your email address book.September 2008Table of contentsELDR and the ambassador of Cyprus discuss political situation For the hard working citizens ELDR soire with Colin Eglin Annemie Neyts attends the Italia dei Valori Congress, Italy 2 women + 2 men = 4 EU top job   Karin Riis-Jrgensen, ALDE MEP, European campaign to call for at least one woman in the EU top posts.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, 73 MEPs in the ALDE Group of the European Parliament and ministers in more than 20 governments in Europe belong to the liberal family. ELDR and the ambassador of Cyprus discuss political situationH.E. Constantinos Eliades, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, paid a courtesy visit to ELDRs headquarters.ELDRs political advisors Daniel Tanahatoe and Philipp Hansen discussed recent political developments, particularly with regard to the restart of unification talks between the President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Community, Mehmet Ali Talat.ELDR supports the negotiations to resolve the current situation in Cyprus in order to bring lasting unity and stability to the island.An ELDR-delegation recently visited Cyprus for political discussions to assess the chances for successful negotiations on a mutually agreeable solution. Among others, the delegation met with representatives of ELDRs member party, the United Democrats.For the hard working citizens VVD Leader, Mark Rutte, unveiled his proposal for a new VVD basic political programme at the start of the new political season in Dutch politics. The VVD once again will become an optimistic party that gives people room for deciding their future and enables them to make something out of their lives. We will defend the interests of the hard working citizens and we will fight against mediocrity in our society as proclaimed by the current government stated Rutte. The draft basic programme is set to replace the current programme that dates back to 1980 and emphasises freedom and responsibility as the key liberal values. Equality, tolerance and social justice derive from those values. ELDR soire with Colin EglinELDR is holding a soire entirely dedicated to South Africa and the liberal perspective of one of the most important parliamentary opposition voices during the Apartheid-regime. His name is Colin Eglin and not only is he the former leader of the liberal South African party; he also served as an MP through the terms of seven Prime Ministers and Presidents.Colin Eglin will talk about South Africa a Dream in Danger? With him we will have the opportunity to discuss current liberal challenges in his country and be introduced to his book Crossing the borders of power today, on Wednesday 10th September 2008 at 18:30 at ELDRs party headquarters in Brussels. Annemie Neyts attends the Italia dei Valori Congress, ItalyAnnemie Neyts, President of the ELDR party, will have the floor for the opening speech of the Congress of Italia dei Valori, that will take place in Vasto, Italy, on September 12-14, 2008. During the Congress several videos created by citizens especially for this occasion will be projected. All the material will be published on the Italia dei Valori website www.italiadeivalori.it. 2 women + 2 men = 4 EU top jobIn the future there could potentially be four top jobs in the EU. Concerned by the fact that the speculation on possible candidates has only mentioned men, a campaign which aims at securing at least one woman in the top posts has been launched. Karin Riis-Jrgensen, one of the MEPs behind the campaign, and vice-chair of the ALDE group says: You consider representing small and large countries, old and new member states and the different political parties etc. But what about the representation of men and women? Half of the European population is, after all, women. You can sign the petition at www.send2women.eu (or through www.eldr.eu). 23/09/2008 : Bureau meeting 15/10/2008 : Prime Minister meeting in Brussels 18/10/2008 : NMSS Congress 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

  To ensure proper delivery of this newsletter, please add newsletter@eldr.eu yo your email address book.September 2008Table of contentsObama the candidate of European liberals EU-Russia relations: Russian actions threaten to derail new cooperation agreement LGBT rights: A human rights issue LYMEC and ELF join forces to discuss European decision-making Liberal Democrats Autumn conference EU forum on religion and secularism organized by ALDE ELDR support to its member parties in negotiations to end the conflict with Russia Obama the candidate of European liberalsFollowing his mini tour of Europe, Barack Obama accepted the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party last Thursday at the democratic convention in Denver. Having been embraced by thousands of Europeans as their choice for US president, Obama returned to the domestic stage where he made his case for president, which included revising Americas economic fortunes and a new approach to relations with the international community. In nominating Senator Obama as their presidential candidate, the National Democratic Convention has set a path that will improve the lives of individual Americans as well as opening a new chapter for closer ties between the EU and US, stated ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts who was participating in the convention. At a joint liberal reception in the company of Annemie Neyts and the Liberal International (LI) President, Lord Alderdice, Neyts added we can not forget the enthusiastic reaction many ordinary citizens in Europe demonstrated toward Obama during his recent visit and we express our support for his campaign. The ELDR delegation consisted of Annemie Neyts, President of the ELDR Party and Federica Sabbati, ELDR Secretary General. The LI delegation included the president, Lord Alderdice, Hans Van Baalen, Deputy President, Bi-Khim Hsiao, Vice President, and Emil Kirjas Secretary General. A number of prominent European liberals were also present, including Mtys Ersi, Leader of the ALDE group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Bart Somers, Chairman of Open VLD, Belgium; Alexander Petchtold, Leader of D66, the Netherlands; Cecilia Malmstrm, Minister for European Affairs, Sweden; and Senator Jerry Grafstein, Head of the Liberal Group in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.EU-Russia relations: Russian actions threaten to derail new cooperation agreementAhead of the emergency summit of EU leaders that took place in Brussels on Monday 1st September 2008 to discuss the future of EU-Russia relations, in view of the conflict between Russia and Georgia, ELDR Party President, Annemie Neyts, stated The opening of talks in July for a new cooperation agreement between the EU and Russia should have marked the beginning of enhanced cooperation between the two partners that would be mutually beneficial, but Russias actions in Georgia and continued military presence there threaten to derail this process.President Neyts calls for the EU to play the leading role in negotiating an end to the conflict between Russia and Georgia. Russia shares its western border with several EU member states as well as others that aspire to join the Union. Through diplomatic means, the EU is best placed to play an active role in negotiating the immediate withdrawal of the remaining Russian troops from Georgia and safeguarding the future peace and stability of the region and quality of life of its people. LGBT rights: A human rights issueLGBT rights must be treated as a human rights issue and European cooperation between the EU and the Council of Europe is of vital importance to safeguard and strengthen the ongoing work against discrimination in the countries of Europe. This was the central conclusion from a seminar organized by the Folkpartiet in Sweden on 30th July 2008 in the framework of the ELDR political and information activities scheme.LYMEC and ELF join forces to discuss European decision-makingGetting familiar with the EU, that was the aim of a joint LYMEC and European Liberal Forum Summer School on Europe in Practice that took place in Brussels last week. Over 30 participants from all across the European Union took part and got an inside view on the Union's decision making process. Using the recently finished "Television without frontiers" directive as a case study, the summer school explored the decision-making process from the viewpoints of different key players. Among the speakers were Ignasi Guardans, MEP, ALDE Group in the European Parliament and Jean-Eric de Cockborne from the European Commission Directorate General 'Information Society and Media'. Liberal Democrats Autumn conferenceThe Liberal Democrats (UK) will convene in the seaside town of Bournemouth for their autumn conference between 13th and 17th September 2008. Delegates will discuss issues such as social mobility, the environment and various policy motions. There will also be a question and answer session with the party leader Nick Clegg. For more information see: http://www.libdems.org.uk/conference. EU forum on religion and secularism organized by ALDEThe ALDE group has organised a conference on the Secularism and Religions in the European Union". The discussion was wholly focused on the relationship between government institutions and religious influences. Graham Watson opened the session, which was chaired by Marco Pannella and Emma Bonino, MEP and historical leaders of the Italian Radical Party. Sophie in't Veld MEP (ALDE-NL), one of the panelists among several influential personalities from the political, religious and scientific sphere attended, said "Secularism is increasingly under pressure. Religion is back in politics. [] why Church should not have the same transparent status as every other lobby in the EP? ELDR support to its member parties in negotiations to end the conflict with Russia ELDR condemns the use of force and the preparatory pretexts toward this aim, and warms that Russia's aggression toward Georgia should not be viewed as an isolated incident. As tensions heighten between the international community and Russia, there is the potential for a real geopolitical disaster and the European Union can not allow a new war to break out that would defy the very principles of democratic development.Wishing that Russia, instead of continuing to rely on coercion to achieve its somewhat new imperial aims, can work within the emerging international system that values cooperation and consensus, ELDR encourages its member parties in Georgia (Republican Party) and Russia (Yabloko), to enter as active partners, in the negotiations for a swift resolution to this issue. 23/09/2008 : Bureau meeting 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