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ELDR ACTIVITIES
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| Liberal MEPs and MPs meet Commissioners in Copenhagen |
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At the occasion of the so called COSAC gathering of members of national and European Parliament, taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark under the guidance of the Danish Presidency, European Liberals and Democrats on Tuesday 24 April organised a fruitful exchange of views with European Commissioners Neelie Kroes (Digital Agenda) and Janez Potocnik (Environment), bringing together some 15 representatives of the various national Parliaments present.
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MEMBERS ACTIVITIES
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| Dutch Prime Minister: Clear answers are needed |
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On Monday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (ELDR member VVD) submitted his resignation to Queen Beatrix after his coalition failed to gain support from the populist right Freedom Party for budget-cutting measures aimed at bringing the deficit down to three percent of GDP by next year.
Rutte: “We almost had an agreement to bring our finances in order and introduce reforms. The Freedom Party lacked the political will to support the measures in these difficult times. Clear answers are needed now to make the Netherlands a stronger country.”
Parliamentary elections are expected to be held on 12 September.
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MEMBERS ACTIVITIES
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| FDP adopts new basic manifesto |
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Following about 20 months of intensive debates, the 662 delegates of FDP's 63rd federal congress adopted a new basic policy manifesto. The "Karlsruher Freiheitsthesen" provide guidelines for liberal policies at the beginning of the 21st Century.
Addressing the delegates, ELDR President Sir Graham Watson MEP welcomed the strong vision for a greater European integration as expressed in the new basic manifesto: “Only liberals can provide sound policies to prevent conservatives and socialists to continue with disastrous economic policies that have led so many European countries to the abyss of disaster.”
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MEMBERS ACTIVITIES
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| D66 Congress: "Reform. Now!" |
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On Saturday, Dutch social liberal D66 held their spring congress in Rotterdam in which more than 1000 delegates participated. The overall theme was “Reform. Now!” Following news that fresh parliamentary elections are looming in the Netherlands, political leader Alexander Pechtold MP declared D66 to be ready for the election campaign.
At the fringe of the congress, ELDR Vice President Lousewies van der Laan interviewed the parliamentary group leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) from South Africa, Lindiwe Mazibuko MP who spoke on the challenges, opportunities and ambitions for the DA - which aims for a sustainable and harmonious society – in the polarised political landscape of South Africa.
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MEMBERS ACTIVITIES
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| ELDR in Russia and Ukraine |
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From 19 to 22 April, ELDR Vice President Marc Guerrero was on tour in Ukraine and Russia to support the activities of the liberal family.
In Kiev, an international ELDR conference with the local liberal partners from Ukraine, the Future and the European Youth of Ukraine, was held which focussed on free market and liberal policies as the best tools for a democratic and prosperous society. At the event, the Institute of Democracy and Liberalism (IdeaL) was launched.
In Moscow, Marc Guerrero and ELDR Vice President Astrid Thors MP were present at the conference “Youth under threat of Extremism and Xenophobia. A liberal response” organised by ELDR member “YABLOKO”.
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MEMBERS ACTIVITIES
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| Women on the labour market |
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At the fringe of the D66 congress, on Saturday 21 April, the Dutch social liberals in cooperation with the European Liberal Women’s Network held a fringe meeting discussing the participation of women on the labour market in the Netherlands.
Pia Dijkstra MP, Swedish MP and Vice-President of Liberal International Abir Al-Sahlani and Utrecht University professor Joop Schippers shared their ideas and experiences on how to stimulate measures which are feasible alternatives to quotas in achieving equality for women and men on the labour market.
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ELDR ACTIVITIES
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| Why I joined Associate membership |
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About one year ago, Associate membership was launched. Liberal Eyes asked members why they joined ELDR.
Francesco Violi: “I'm a European liberal, because I think Europe is a unique community of values, purpose and destiny. We must create a supra-national political dimension in a federal and liberal EU.”
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