Speaking from Zambia where she heads the EU observation mission for the elections due to take place on 28 September, Annemie Neyts, President of the European Liberal Democrats, expressed her satisfaction at the European Commission’s decision to confirm Bulgaria and Romania's on-time EU entry on 1 January 2007.“The ELDR Party has been a long standing supporter of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU on 1st January 2007, provided the two countries fulfilled the necessary requirements. We appreciate all the reforms that have been carried out in both countries, notably under the committed leadership of our liberal partners – Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu and former Prime Minister Simeon Saxe Coburg Gotha. We believe that in their best interests the two countries will continue to prepare well", she stated.Mrs. Annemie Neyts explained that “the implementation of accompanying measures should not hide the fact that this is a major achievement for both countries and reason for celebration.” She reminded that safeguard clauses had been applied to three of the present member states - Spain, Portugal and Greece.The ELDR Party will celebrate this important step in European history during its congress in Bucharest on 12-13 October. During this Congress entitled “Working together for a secure and free Europe”, more than 300 Liberal Democrats from all over Europe will discuss Europe’s external and internal security and adopt policies on these issues.Annemie Neyts expressed the wish that the “general public will be properly informed of the significant progress made by Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU and be made aware of the preparations preceding the enlargement”.ELDR does not believe that EU enlargement should stop after the accession of Romania and Bulgaria. “We are fully united in honouring commitments that have been made on enlargement to Croatia, the Western Balkan States and Turkey. The current accession negotiations will take years and will leave time for the adaptation of the EU institutions,” Annemie Neyts stated.ELDR encourages Croatia to speed up its reforms, which should enable her to become a full member of the EU by the end of this decade. Also encouraging Turkey to speed up reforms, ELDR stresses that each country should be judged on its own merits and that the negotiating processes should not be linked.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Journalists wishing to attend the ELDR Congress in Bucharest are invited to contact Mrs Myriam Cornillet, email: mcornillet@eldr.org, Tél: +32 2 237 01 43, Mobile: +32 485 99 40 56, www.eldr.orgNote: The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party, aisbl (ELDR Party) brings together 49 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals and is the forum for member parties to develop a co-ordinated policy. Read more ...

Commenting on the violent protests in Budapest, Annemie Neyts ELDR Party President said: “While liberals will defend the freedom of demonstration until the end, I deplore the fact that the protests in the Hungarian capital Budapest have turned violent and that people are hurt. Moreover violence and instability is the last thing Hungary needs at the moment. I hope the streets of Budapest will become peaceful again and that the matter will be discussed and solved in the Hungarian parliament. The country has entered a tough reform process, aimed at reducing the large public deficit. For a sustainable economic future, European liberals support this reform process. We are confident that the current government is the best able to restore long term stability” Read more ...

Annemie Neyts, President of the ELDR, congratulates Lars Leijonborg, leader of the Liberal Party and Maud Olofsson, leader of the Centre Party, for their success in the general elections in Sweden. Together with the two other partners in the “Alliance for Sweden”, the conservatives and the Christian democrats, they achieved a majority of 178 to 171 seats in the Swedish parliament and clearly defeated the Social Democrat government. “The victory of the Alliance for Sweden marks a historic moment for the country. The Social Democrats ruled Sweden for more than 65 out of the past 74 years. Sweden needed a change badly. With the input of our two Member Parties the new government will be able to realise their reformist agenda as well as pursue a more active European policy,” Annemie Neyts stated. On Sunday, Folkpartiet leader Lars Leijonborg said "We have reached our superior goal - a new government in Sweden. Finally we will be able to pursue a policy to fight social exclusion, to create jobs through businesses and to make schools focus on knowledge. The victory for Alliance for Sweden will also result in a new policy on Europe, with a government that is wholeheartedly in favour of Sweden taking an active and constructive role in the European Union.Centerpartiet Leader Maud Oloffson said: “We are thrilled to establish a change of power in Sweden. The modern profile as an environmental friendly, social liberal party has strengthened the Centre Party, in the big cities as well as the country side. Our goal was to create a new government with our friends within the “Alliance for Sweden” and become one of the three biggest parties in Sweden. I am very happy to say that we succeeded with both of these goals.”The Alliance for Sweden was formed in August 2004 with the presentation of a joint declaration outlining the principles under which the four parties fought the election until they won it. Together, they are united to work for an entrepreneurial, green, safe and open society. Read more ...

European Liberal Democrat President Annemie Neyts spoke out in favor of the plan of the Austrian Liberal Party (Liberales Forum) to form an electoral coalition with the Social Democrat Party of Austria (SPÖ). In the upcoming national elections in Austria, taking place on the 1st of October, liberal candidates, led by Liberales Forum leader Alexander Zach, will run on the list of SPÖ. They will do so on the basis of a specific liberal platform. „Especially in a country with an electoral system that privileges large parties, forming a coalition is a legitimate way to make the liberal voice heard. I therefore strongly support the plan of the Austrian Liberals to form a Coalition with the Social Democrats for the upcoming national elections in Austria. I believe that this decision will help to strengthen liberalism in Austria" stated ELDR President Annemie Neyts. "We have to join forces in this election to step up against the right wing government which is governing Austria since the year 2000 with the participation of far right wing politicians such as Jörg Haider. Forming a coalition with the Social Democrats is the best way for us to contribute to this goal and strengthen the liberal voice in Austria", Liberales Forum leader Alexander Zach explained. Read more ...