To ensure proper delivery of this newsletter, please add newsletter@eldr.eu yo your email address book.October 2008Table of contentsInspiring Europe Liberal summit push to go ahead with the energy package, despite the financial crisis Liberals return to Parliament in Lithuanian elections Duff is elected UEF president Hans van Baalen elected VVD head of list for the 2009 EP elections LYMEC Congress ready for the adoption of the 2009 Program of Action   A NEW LOGO IS COMING SOON!.... A NEW VISUAL IDENTITY, A NEW WEBSITE AND A HANDY DATABASE... ELDR READY FOR 2009!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, 75 MEPs in the ALDE Group of the European Parliament and ministers in more than 20 governments in Europe belong to the liberal family. Inspiring Europe More than a springboard for the 2009 European campaign, the ELDR congress in Stockholm will debate and inspire European liberal democrats policies and future actions for next June and beyond. The ELDR Congress will take place on 30th and 31st October in the elegant setting of the Swedish capital, Stockholm. In addition to debating the 2009 manifesto and resolutions, the expected 500 liberal delegates and guests will debate liberal solutions to the the current financial crisis, sustainable energy, EU Russia relations and the challenges of new technologies for modern agriculture. Please visit the ELDR website for the latest programme and further information www.eldr.eu.Liberal summit push to go ahead with the energy package, despite the financial crisisThe financial crisis must not be used as an excuse for watering down or stopping the reforms that are contained within the EUs energy and climate change package for meeting the EUs 2020 climate change targets that were established last year. That was what the message from the liberal prime ministers and liberal ministers of foreign and European affairs during their traditional liberal summit that took place at the Egmont Palace in Brussels on 15th October.Concerning the recent financial turmoil, ELDR President Annemie Neyts underlined that it is vital that Europe has a common approach. Regarding Russia, Mrs Neyts stated that we do not want to isolate Russia but that we would need to wait a few more weeks before resuming talks over a new cooperation agreement.Liberals return to Parliament in Lithuanian electionsOn Sunday 12th October 2008 parliamentary elections took place in Lithuania. All three of ELDRs member parties: Lithuanian Republic Liberal Movement (LRP), Liberal and Centre Union (LaCU) and New Union, participated in the elections. LRP and LaCU both managed to overcome the threshold of 5%. LRP got 5.72% (5 seats) and LaCU received 5.34% (5 seats) of the vote. New Union fell slightly short of the 5% target, achieving 3.64% of the vote. The above mentioned figures only include the party list vote, which covers 70 of the 141 seats in the Parliament. The remaining 71 seats are decided in individual constituencies, most of which will require a runoff on 26th October. There will be 9 candidates from LRP participating in the second round and 10 from LaCU. New Union will field 1 candidate. The Homeland Union-Christian Democrats party won the biggest share of the vote with 19.69% (18 seats). Voter turnout was 48.42%.Duff is elected UEF presidentAndrew Duff, MEP (Liberal Democrats, United Kingdom) was elected president of the Union of European Federalists. The ELDR Party congratulates Mr Duff and wishes him well in his new position. Mr Duff outlined the Federalists' views on current issues: "Above all, the European federalists are truly engaged to combat the rise of nationalism. At a time when Europe is facing security challenges at home and abroad, when the financial system's stability is at risk, and when the consequences of climate change are becoming real, the need for European unity is greater than ever. 'Sauve qui peut' policies will be ruinous. Only a united response as advocated by federalists' makes sense. The UEF is well placed to articulate solutions and to campaign for their urgent adoption and effective implementation." In this context, Mr Duff emphasized the key priority for the federalists in 2009 remains to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon". Hans van Baalen elected VVD head of list for the 2009 EP electionsLI Deputy President and Dutch MP Hans van Baalen will head the list of the Dutch liberal party VVD for the European Parliament elections. More than 64% of the VVD members that cast their ballot supported Van Baalen, who ran opposite Toine Manders, MEP. Party President Ivo Opstelten, Mayor of Rotterdam, commented after the results were announced on Monday 13 October: I thank both candidates for their efforts and ambition to head our list as well as their open and transparent campaign. The campaign for the EP elections starts today. The VVD is in a good position: we have the people, the ideas and a regained confidence.LYMEC Congress ready for the adoption of the 2009 Program of ActionThe European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) is holding its Extraordinary Congress and Executive Committee meeting in Brussels from the 21st - 23rd November 2008. The main item on the agenda of the Executive Committee will be the applications of new organisations that are waiting to join LYMEC and help spread liberalism across Europe. The EC will also adopt the Program of Action for 2009 and hear reports from working groups that are developing LYMEC's campaign for the 2009 European elections. The Extraordinary Congress will debate draft resolutions and see the election of a new Bureau Member. The organisation of these events is done in cooperation with LYMEC's Belgian member organisations, Jeunes MR and JONG VLD. Prior to the Brussels events, LYMEC will hold a seminar "Mobility in the Europe of regions: a key to integration" in Liege, Belgium, between 18th and 21st November The event is organized by LYMEC and its member organisation Jeunes MR, with the support of the ALDE Group in the Committee of the Regions. 26/10/2008 : Municipal elections in Finland 30/10/2008 : ELDR Congress in Stockholm 08/11/2008 : D66 Congress 09/11/2008 : Young Leaders Meeting 15/11/2008 : Venstre congress 15/11/2008 : VVD Congress 18/11/2008 : Lymec congress 30/11/2008 : Parliamentary elections in Romania 02/12/2008 : ALDE Winter Academy 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

ELDR Partyrue MONTOYERstraat 31 (7th floor)1000 Bruxelles - BelgiqueT +32 2 237 01 40 / F +32 2 231 19 07info@eldr.eu / www.eldr.euThe Financial turmoil must not be used as an excuse for watering down the reforms During their lunchtime summit held today (15th October 2008), European Liberal Democrat Prime Ministers, Foreign and European Affairs Ministers stated that the financial crisis must not be used as an excuse for watering down or stopping the reforms that are contained within the EU’s energy and climate change package in order to meet the EU’s 2020 climate change targets that were established last year. Summarising the lunch discussions Annemie Neyts, President of the European Liberal Democrats stated that the participants discussed two main issues: the global financial crisis and the future of EU-Russia. Concerning the recent financial turmoil, President Neyts underlined that it is vital Europe has a common approach. Regarding Russia, Mrs Neyts stated that we do not want to isolate Russia but that we would need to wait a few more weeks before resuming talks over a new cooperation agreement.“We must maintain the ambitious 2020 targets of 20% greater energy efficiency; reduction of CO2 by 20%; and 20% of energy to come from renewables commented Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark. “We cannot afford to change our energy policies; we must reduce our dependence on energies, such as oil, that have fluctuating prices and invest in renewables. The EU must take the global leadership role in tackling climate change” Rasmussen concluded.Finnish Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen added, renewable energies and energy saving technologies will have world-wide markets and so investment in renewable technologies will not only help to meet the EU’s climate change targets but also stimulate the financial markets. Ivars Godmanis, Prime Minister of Latvia supported these views and also stated that private enterprise is the only long-term option and that government intervention in financial markets must not be extended for longer than is necessary.ALDE Group Leader, Graham Watson, called on his liberal colleagues to make sure that the financial crisis does not hinder the free movement people and capital, which would undermine the EU Single Market. “What this crisis does demonstrate, is what happens when freedom is confused with the absence of rules. I have argued over the years that an open market is a regulated market”, Annemie Neyts concluded, in commenting on the missed opportunities for the European commission to take the lead role in the EU rescue operation of the financial crisis. “Once more, Commission President Barroso preferred to wait and see what the member states would do. Once more, he missed the opportunity to put his Commission in the driving seat of EU affairs”.The liberal summit also gathered Karel de Gucht, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Belgium); the Prime Ministers Andrus Ansip (Estonia) and Calin Popescu Tariceanu (Romania); and the Ministers for European Affairs Gergana Grancharova (Bulgaria) and Cecilia Malmström (Sweden).-----------------------------------For more information, please contact ELDR Communications Officer Chiara Puletti (cpuletti@eldr.eu), + 32 2 237 01 43.Note to the editor: The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR Party) brings together 55 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals and is the forum for member parties to develop a co-ordinated policy.