At the request of the Alliance of Free Democrats, its Hungarian member Party, The European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party, sent to the Brussels press corps an open letter addressed to European People’s Party President Wilfried Martens regarding the concerns raised by his visit to Hungary on 23 October.Click here to read the open letter For more information, please contact: Myriam Cornillet, Press and Communications Officer, Phone: +32 (0)2 237 01 43 Read more ...

The European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) Party welcomes with great joy the nomination of Mrs Meglena Kuneva as European Commissioner for consumer protection. “Meglena Kuneva has played a pivotal role in bringing Bulgaria into the EU. I have seen her at work over many years and can say that she is a very talented person with an in-depth understanding of the European integration process. Her professional attitude, personal qualities and authority in the European institutions are key assets to make her a highly successful European Commissioner,” stated ELDR party President Annemie Neyts. Commenting on her appointment as European Commissioner, Meglena Kuneva declared: “My outmost conviction is that the modernization of society is something Bulgarians owe above all to themselves. As the Bulgarian Minister for European Affairs, I took great pride and satisfaction in working to make Bulgaria ready for EU accession on 1st January 2007 through liberal reforms and political will. I am very happy to have been designated European Commissioner for consumer protection. This is a domain where the EU has a key role to play to ensure consumers have access to clear and accessible information and can benefit from a genuine freedom of choice.”Meglena Kuneva is an eminent and highly respected member of the European Liberal Democrat political family. She is a member of the liberal party National Movement of Simeon II (NMSS) and was elected Member of Parliament in June 2001. Two months later, in August, she was appointed Deputy Minister and Bulgaria’s Chief Negotiator with the EU at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was appointed Minister of European Affairs and Bulgaria’s Chief Negotiator with the EU and a special representative of the Bulgarian government at the Convention for the Future of Europe in May 2002.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information, please contact Myriam Cornillet (mcornillet@eldr.org), 00 32 2 237 01 43 or 00 32 485 99 40 56. Read more ...

ELDR is deeply worried after the comments of Russian President Vladimir Putin that Georgia was heading for “bloodshed” by seeking to regain control over the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. “Our common enterprise is built around peace and we must work towards peace on the EU territory as well as outside. The EU must address the Georgia issue with resolve so that peace is secured. I am pleased that Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Andrus Ansip and Guy Verhofstadt, the Liberal Democrat Prime ministers of Denmark, Estonia and Belgium voiced their concerns over Mr Putin’s role on human rights and in particular his tough treatment of the republic of Georgia”, commented Annemie Neyts ELDR Party President. ELDR congratulates the Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen for coming up with a common EU stance on how to approach Russia on energy. Read more ...

The resolution on the internal security of the European Union (EU) that was adopted at the ELDR Party Congress in Bucharest, Romania, on Friday 13th October 2006 under the theme, “Working Together for a Free and Secure Europe” contains bold policy proposals for the future of EU’s justice, freedom and security agenda. Commenting on the adoption of the resolution, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts said that “ELDR considers the development of genuine common policies in this field to be vital. The right of EU citizens to pass freely in the Member States should be enhanced. We wish above all to preserve the fundamental freedoms.” In upholding the core EU concept of the free movement of people, ELDR welcomes the adoption of a second generation Schengen Information System to take account of EU enlargement and calls for visa facilitation for EU entry for persons outside the Union and the finalisation of common standards for EU visas and residence permits. The party notes with concern that the most recent harmonisation included a steep increase in the price of EU visas, which has become prohibitively high, particularly for young people and tourists. Read more ...

EU Heads of state and government will try to advance energy talks with Russia during their informal meeting on 20 October in Lahti, Finland. On this occasion, the European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) party puts forward specific policy proposals for a coherent energy policy towards Russia. Highlighting the need for a common EU position in energy negotiations with Russia, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts said: “Russia favors agreement on energy issues on bilateral head of state levels. This policy effectively marginalizes possibilities for smaller EU member states to influence the price and supply of Russian energy to their countries. Europe should respond with a more coherent policy on the demand side”. The ELDR Party adopted a resolution on 13 October calling for a common energy policy for the EU including its relations with Russia and calling on Member states to: give the European Commission a mandate for EU-level energy demand negotiations and agreements with Russia.put a strong emphasis on the energy issues between the EU and Russia in their dialogue with RussiaMoreover, the ELDR Party believes that the EU and its Member States must come up with solutions with regard to the use by Russia of the energy card as a foreign policy tool. The gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia in January 2006 was the first one to also affect the gas import from Russia to some EU countries. This incident bodes ill for the future. The European Liberal Democrats urge the Commission to work actively with the Southern CIS and Mediterranean states in order to develop alternative export routes for their energy supply to Europe. Read more ...

United Nations need to be reformed in order to give a higher role to supranational entities, so that the EU can become permanent member of the UN and replace France and the United Kingdom as permanent member of the UN security council. ELDR calls for a simplification of the current institutional settings and the urgent creation of a high-profile post of EU minister for Foreign Affairs - as initially foreseen in the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.The EU must develop a Defence Identity and pursue a comprehensive approach to promoting peace and security based on conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict institution building. However the EU cannot limit itself to policing if it is to contribute effectively to the re-modeling of a workable and peaceful world order. A fully-fledged European Army should in this respect be built up. These are the key points of a resolution on the external security and defence of the European Union (EU) that was adopted at the ELDR Party Congress in Bucharest, Romania, on Friday 13th October 2006 under the theme, “Working Together for a Free and Secure Europe.” Commenting on the adoption of the resolution, ELDR Party President, Annemie Neyts said that “strengthening the effectiveness of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and achieving the aim of the Union speaking with one voice and in unity concerning matters relating to security and defence policy are essential to promote peace and stability across the world”. In addition, ELDR encourages coordinated efforts in the areas of conflict prevention and resolution and considers intense EU cooperation with the Western Balkans to be vital to improve stability in the region. Read more ...

Meeting in Bucharest on 12 October, delegates to the Council of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR) approved the accession of four new parties to the European Liberal Democrat political family. Social liberal HSLS (Croatia), Venstre (Norway), Lithuanian Republic Liberal movement (Lithuania) joined as full ELDR members and Yabloko (Russian Federation) as an affiliate member, putting the total number of ELDR member parties at 51. The ELDR Party brings together political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals and is the forum for member parties to develop a co-ordinated policy. “I am looking forward to a close cooperation with the new parties. ELDR has been constantly enlarging during the past years. This proves the attractiveness of the work undertaken by our European political family and the growing reach of liberalism across Europe”, stated ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts following the Council’s decision. The ELDR Party receives its day-to-day guidance from its Bureau, which consists of nine members - a President, seven Vice-Presidents and a Treasurer. Representatives to the ELDR Congress elected three Vice-Presidents for a two-year mandate on 13 October. While HNS Party Leader Vesna Pusic, MP (Croatia) makes her entry on the ELDR Party Bureau, Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles (United-Kingdom) and Johannes Lebech (det Radikale venstre, Denmark) were re-elected.Other people sitting on the Bureau of the ELDR are:- President:  Annemie Neyts (MEP, VLD, Belgium)- Vice Presidents: Markus Löning (MP, FDP, Germany), Katarina Gloncakova-Golev (Slovakia), Calin Popescu Tariceanu (Prime Minister, PNL, Romania), Wilfried Derksen(D66, The Netherlands)- Treasurer: Bas Eenhoorn (VVD, The Netherlands)HNS Party Leader Vesna Pusic (Croatia) was also approved as the new chair of the European Liberal Women Network.To consult the adopted resolutions please click here Read more ...

Expressing her satisfaction after the nomination of Cecilia Malmström as EU Affairs minister in the new Swedish government, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts MEP said:“Cecilia has been a very successful MEP and I am certain she will be an excellent EU Affairs Minister for Sweden. Her Party Folkpartiet and Centerpartiet, both ELDR member parties, have come up with clear and inspiring proposals for Europe ahead of the elections, pledging to make Europe part of everyday life in Sweden. Under her leadership, I have no doubt that Sweden will succeed in playing a decisive role in Europe’s future”.The European Liberal Democrats also congratulate Folkpartiet Leader Lars Leijonborg and Centerpartiet Leader Maud Olofsson for their nominations as deputy Prime ministers and appointments as ministers for Education and Industry. Other Liberal Democrats in the new Swedish government include Environment minister Andreas Carlgren, Schools minister Jan Bjorklund, Integration and Gender Equality minister Nyamko Sabuni, Infrastructure minister Asa Torstensson and Agriculture minister Eskil Erlandsson. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information, please 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 ...

Annemie Neyts, MEP, ELDR Party President expressed her joy over the fact that the common list of Austrian Liberal Forum with SPÖ gathered the most votes in the Austrian Parliamentary elections, which took place on Sunday 1 October. “I congratulate Austrian liberals for their election victory and for their return to parliament. I look forward to an active Liberal presence of Alexander Zach in the Austrian parliament to compliment the Liberales Forum's presence in the European Parliament with MEP Karin Resetarits”, said ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts MEP.The tight victory of the SPÖ is a proof that the coalition between Liberals and Social Democrats was the right way to avoid a new right-wing-led government with the participation of the extreme-right. “Chancellor Schüssel has been punished for his close ties with the far right in the last years. Even if our contribution has been small, it was decisive”, stated Alexander Zach, chairman of the Austrian liberals. The margin of victory is so narrow it seems almost certain that the votes of the Liberales Forum made the difference between defeat and victory," added Graham Watson, ALDE Group Leader. Read more ...