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C:LH5 March 2010 | ELDR News n°5 | www.eldr.eu

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The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR Party) brings together 56 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals and is the forum for member parties to develop co-ordinated policies.

8DCI:CIH PAGE 2 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź Italy / Europe – Hope & Concern âˆź The new ELDR Bureau

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Heads of State and Government) has appointed its President and the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy who is also the Vice-President of the Commission. Former Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy is the oUVW SUHVLGHQW DQG %DURQHVV &DWKHULQH $VKWRQ WKH oUVW +LJK 5HS %RWK RI WKHP are unknown quantities to most of the European citizens. As lady Ashton is also a member of the Commission, she had to submit to a hearing in the European Parliament, exactly as the 26 other newly appointed commissioners. She has undeniable qualities and weaknesses.

PAGE 3 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź Liberals lay down their Strategic Plan 2009-2014 âˆź 2012 vs. 2020 - End of the world or new European strategy ? âˆź An EU Common Market for CO2 PAGE 4 SPECIAL # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź EU SWIFT agreement with US authorities + JOINT INTERVIEW âˆź FDP – sceptical about new European Committee to oJKW WHUURULVP âˆź ALDE Group – Parliament rejects SWIFT agreement PAGE 5 SPECIAL # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź BODY SCANNERS FEVER âˆź Body scanner âˆź The EU steps down on body scanner PAGE 6 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź Europe is our home : no visas âˆź A Liberal single market for health care is possible âˆź Liberal Health Care – Mission Possible PAGE 7 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź BEING LIBERALS – SYMBOLS & WORDS PAGE 8 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź De Magistris and the challenge of the post Berlusconi Era âˆź Saving the EU âˆź European liberals upcoming events 2010 âˆź European liberals at the 30th ELDR Congress in Barcelona

First of all, I wish all of the ELDR member parties, their leaders and their members a happy and successful 2010. Many of you participated in our Barcelona congress which has been one of the best congresses in ELDR history : huge attendance, lively debates, lavish social occasions and hotly contested bureau elections. I stood unopposed and was re elected by more than 85 % of the voters. Eight candidates ran for the four vice-president positions. Four of the candidates would inevitably fail and be disappointed, an unpleasant but inevitable perspective. I thank all candidates

previous one with a larger and more vociferous eurosceptic segment.

Other changes are in the making. Under the name of the European External Action Service, a truly European diplomatic service must be established. This EEAS should become the embodiment of the single voice with which the Union is supposed to speak on the global scene. It is not going to be easy. Many member states, of all sizes, have long and prestigious diplomatic traditions. Some of them fear to loose those traditions. The European Parliament is impatient to imprint its mark on future EU foreign policy, forgetting that a Parliament can and European Liberals also welcome the should control foreign policy, but is not QHZ FRPPLVVLRQ RIoFLDOO\ DSSRLQWHG supposed to conduct it. for taking this risk, congratulate those on Tuesday 9 February, that counts eiwho were elected and thank those who ght liberal commissioners who hold Apart from that, turf wars are already in were not for elegantly accepting the out- important portfolios like international the making between the different institucome. As I told the congress, I want us trade, economic and monetary affairs, tions and services involved in the various to continue to work with them, as no ta- home affairs and migration, environ- aspects of foreign policy in the narrow and lent should ever be wasted, liberal ta- ment, digital agenda ; research and de- in the broad sense of the word. lent least of all. I am most thankful for velopment, youth, culture and educaWKH FRQoGHQFH SXW LQ PH DQG ZLOO GR tion, and transport. ELDR will do its utmost to help bring my utmost to further strengthen ELDR about an evolution it has long since caland its member parties. The Parliament that came out of last OHG IRU DQ HIoFLHQW DQG HIIHFWLYH (8 IRsummer’s elections is indeed quite dif- reign policy. Since the congress the EU has under- ferent from the previous one. Not only gone important changes. The Lisbon does the Parliament have much larger 7UHDW\ KDV oQDOO\ FRPH LQWR IRUFH DQG competences thanks to the new Treaty, âˆź Wn 6ccZb^Z CZnih"JniiZWgdZX` the European Council (the council of the it is also much more assertive than the :A9G EgZh^YZci

I]Z HeVc^h] EgZh^YZcXn d[ i]Z :jgdeZVc Jc^dc The most respecte d i nte r n at i o nal press has expressed all manner of reservations as Spain assumes the EU’s rotating presidency. On the three previous occasions when Spain has taken on this responsibility the reaction was altogether different. Now there is the sensation, however, that Spain, with some of the worst economic statistics in the EU, is not the member with the best credentials to lead recovery. ZLOO VWLOO EH D GLIoFXOW \HDU IRU WKH ZKROH RI (XURSH ,W LV FOHDU WKDW GLIocult decisions will have to be taken. The engines of Europe will still not be runQLQJ DW IXOO SRZHU DQG LW LV GLIoFXOW IRU tail-enders, such as Latvia or Greece, to keep up. Under these circumstances it is obvious that to lead recovery it would be better to have in the driving seat a member state that is making headway, not one who—having failed to do their duty and make the QHFHVVDU\ VDFULoFHV LQ SUHYLRXV \HDUV‹ are amongst those who are looking forward to recovery not in 2010, but in 2011... at best.

But people in the ELDR Party are interested in knowing what this process looks like from inside Spain, and to hear the Catalan view from the liberals of Convergència. It is now time to implement the institutional improvements introduced in the Lisbon Treaty. It is a task which falls in WKH oUVW LQVWDQFH WR WKH SHUPDQHQW SUHsident of the EU ; it is evident, however, that the authority of the holder of the rotating presidency could be very useful, for example, to put into practice the new system of decision-making or to put the European External Action Service into operation. It is our view that Spain should also confront this presidency by promoting governance based on respect for diversity. At the outset, Spain should have presented itself before Europe showing all of its cultural, national and linguistic diversity. In Convergència, and indeed in all the Catalan political parties in general, we consider that this would be the ideal moment to take the necessary steps for Catalan—as well as Basque

and Galician—to be recognised by the European institutions. In this view, Spain ought also to strive to carry through the recommendations of the Committee of the Regions regarding the cooperation that is required between the different administrative levels. According to the new Treaty, this Committee is to become the body that monitors the principle of subsidiarity. From a Catalan point of view, and we have been stressing this point, it is above all the moment to fully implement the Union for the Mediterranean. Since 1995, when the Barcelona Process was initiated, we in Catalonia have always been pressing for Spain to promote and lead Mediterranean policy. On 7 June the second summit of the Union for the Mediterranean is to be held in Barcelona. Between now and then form must be given to the secretariat of this organisation, whose headquarters are to be in Barcelona, its statutes must be approYHG DQG DERYH DOO D YHU\ VSHFLoF SURgramme of objectives needs to be drawn up that would allow us to move towards the long-desired goal of a Mediterranean

free trade area. In this regard, Spain in my opinion has a very important role to play in concluding the framework agreements with the Maghreb countries : the advanced statute with Morocco, and the framework agreements with Libya, Tunisia and Algeria. $QG oQDOO\ WR WXUQ WR DQRWKHU VSKHUH entirely, this presidency is also the time for the Mediterranean rail freight corridor to be consolidated as a great economic and transport axis in the EU’s transEuropean network.

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March 2010 | ELDR News n°5 | www.eldr.eu

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At the 30th Congress of the European Liberal Democrats in Barcelona, Annemie Neyts MEP, was re-elected as President of the ELDR Party to serve her third mandate. 4 out of 7 Vice Presidents were also elected.

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The ELDR Council will take place in Rome on 12th and 13th March. It will certainly be an occasion for us at Italia dei Valori to welcome the ELDR GHOHJDWLRQV DQG WR FRQoUP oUVWO\ WKH importance of Italy taking part in the European integration process secondly ; to have the European community focused on Italian issues ahead of our regional elections and thirdly to put forward again our considerable support to the European liberal and democrat party. Following and supporting with enthusiasm the revolutionary idea of the European Union, IDV is working through a delicate period with two different moods arising : a wish/hope and a concern. Italy and Italia dei Valori’s hope is sorting out all the problems caused by Berlusconi’s government and the degeneration of internal politics, by oQGLQJ VXSSRUW LQ WKH (XURSHDQ SROLtical culture. We are certain that without High Court, Europe and an intransigent political opposition, Italian democracy will be dead and the rule of law irreparably manipulated. Italia dei Valori is the only party to have deeply understood the terminal situation experienced by democratic institutions in the Bel Paese. I am strongly convinced that the country needs to get out of the mindset of Berlusconi’s politics and his way of insulting and constantly interfering with lawsuits in the internal affairs of the Italian High Court, Superior Council of the Judiciary and the Parliament. In Italy there is too much government interference in the market ; too much FRQpLFW RI LQWHUHVW WRR PDQ\ DWWHPSWV to limit the freedom of press and to

Incumbent Vice President Markus LĂśning from the German FDP was re-elected. Leoluca Orlando MP and member of Italia dei Valori was newly elected as were Lousewies Van Der Laan from the Dutch D66 and Marc Guerrero from the Catalan /LEHUDOV &'& 7UHDVXUHU 'DYLG *ULIoWKV IURP WKH %ULWLVK /LEHUDO 'HPRFUDWV ZDV UH HOHFWHG IRU KLV VHFRQG WHUP

PRESIDENT Annemie Neyts Uyttebroeck MEP (Open VLD, Belgium)

VICE-PRESIDENT Sharon Bowles MEP (Lib Dems, UK)

VICE-PRESIDENT Lena Ek MEP (Centerpartiet, Sweden)

VICE-PRESIDENT Marc Guerrero (CDC, Catalonia)

muzzle journalists considered to be “source of embarrassmentâ€? for the government. The secularism of the country is jeopardized by the pandemic clericalism, the bribery and the privileges bargained between Berlusconi and his government on the one hand and some of the representatives of the Vatican on the other. Italy needs to rescue itself from this majority in the Government that has approved the 19th “ad personam lawâ€?, tailored to help the Premier avoid corruption trials, evasion and other charges linked to his activities as an entrepreneur. Other voices of opposition clearly exist in Italy, although they have not always been effective in opposing Berlusconi’s governments as Italia dei Valori is doing now. IDV should be saluted as the legitimate torch bearer of Italian democracy. Until here I have just talked about hopes. Here we come to the concern. VICE-PRESIDENT The concern is that the entwining tenta- Markus LĂśning cle of the Berlusconi model could spread (FDP, Germany) to other European countries whereby one person becomes so powerful and KDV WRR PXFK LQpXHQFH RYHU SROLWLFLDQV both from the governing majority as ZHOO DV LQpXHQFLQJ WKH RSSRVLWLRQ

VICE-PRESIDENT Leoluca Orlando MP (Italia dei Valori, Italy)

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VICE-PRESIDENT Lousewies van der Laan (D66, The Netherlands)

ELDR Party aisbl European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party Parti europĂŠen des LibĂŠraux, DĂŠmocrates et RĂŠformateurs Rue Montoyerstraat 31, 1000 Brussels Tel. 02 237 01 40 - Fax 02 231 19 07 Editor : Chiara Puletti Publisher : Federica Sabbati Lay-out and impression : TrinĂ´me Published with the suppport of the European Parliament.

TREASURER 'DYLG *ULIoWKV (Lib Dems, UK)

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March 2010 | ELDR News n°5 | www.eldr.eu

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Following in the footsteps of ELDR’s Barcelona programme, the Liberal Democrat Group in the European Parliament sent to the 27 commissionersdesignate the priority areas for each commissioner to address over the next 5 year Commission term in view of their hearings before the European Parliament.

These issues have been identified as key areas by liberal democrat parliamentarians who, thanks to the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, now have greater inpXHQFH RYHU WKH 8QLRQ V SROLF\ IRUPXlation and more sway in discussions The priorities are as follows : with the European Commission and the v 7DFNOLQJ WKH HFRQRPLF DQG oQDQFLDO European Council in ensuring a more crisis by a sustainable recovery ; ambitious direction for the European • Rethinking the budget and introdu- project. cing real own resources ; • Tackling climate change seriously As agreed in Barcelona European libewith an environmentally integrated rals will continue to put the emphasociety ; sis on maintaining free and open mar• Fighting for freedom and fundamen- kets and creating a stronger EU Single tal rights ; Market. Furthermore, a concrete action • Promoting a coherent Europe strate- to undertake is the implementation of gy in the world. D (XURSHDQ oQDQFLDO VXSHUYLVRU\ DXWKR-

2012 vs. 2020 :cY d[ i]Z ldgaY dg cZl :jgdeZVc higViZ\n 4

ULW\ ZKLFK SDUWLFXODUO\ FRYHUV oQDQFLDO institutions with cross-border activity According to the Mayan calendar the “Better regulation not more interven- world is set to end in 2012. tionâ€? is the way forward. For those not subscribing to that partiThe proposed EU 2020 strategy, which is cular theory an alternative date for reintended to replace the Lisbon Strategy newal is 2020 and the EU’s new stratethat was to make the EU the most com- gy designed to reinvigorate the Union’s petitive economy in the world, is also economy and labour market. a priority for Europe’s liberal democrats with the crisis highlighting more The EU 2020 is not about astrology and than ever the need to ensure econo- oracles : it’s all about how to mic growth, jobs and competitiveness improve our life style, to based on a low carbon and resource- implement an original HIoFLHQW HFRQRP\ 0RUH LQWHJUDWHG DQG way to live in Europe, legally binding instruments will howe- to enjoy Europe ver be necessary if the 2020 Strategy is and to behave as to succeed where the Lisbon Strategy Europeans. has failed. The programClimate chan- m e p r o p o s e d ge is not just a by the European topical issue for Commission contains the duration of many liberal policies. the Copenhagen summit and the First of all the text foresees points that po- a new professional cycle -- it will not liticians agree be the usual path of school- trainingon in Denmark job and finally collecting your penmust be fol- sion. There will be no such linear orlowed up with der job-mobility, life-long-learning and actions. Europe’s an entrepreneurial culture will replaliberal democrats are calling for in- ce the ancient features of the “sedencreased investment from the European tary folksâ€?. Union and its Member States in technoORJLHV WKDW ZLOO HQVXUH HQHUJ\ HIoFLHQ- Studying for three+two years in the cy, sustainability and security of supply, same college will become extremely and facilitate the move to a low carbon dĂŠmodĂŠ as will postgraduate study in economy. In fact ELDR calls on the EU ones own native language. to take ever stronger steps in pioneering environmental policy. Allowing an employee to work at home will be a reasonable arrangement unThere is a lot to be done over the next til becoming quite normal. 5 years and European liberal democrats will promote a progressive pro- With a simple short text or an email, European agenda, taking into account European citizens will be able to get in the genuine interests of the Union and touch with their local politicians, their its citizens. mayors, councillors as well as their European Commissioners and MEPs.

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A proactive attitude towards entrepreneurialism along with increased capaciW\ IRU LQQRYDWLRQ ZLOO EH WKH p\ZKHHO RI European industry, supported by national and European government. Investing in digital broadband for a 100% European territory coverage will be one of the key priorities of the new Internet Provider system promoted by the Commission.

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Liberal ideas such as “Knowledge through educationâ€?, “research and innovation in industryâ€? ; “Creativity and the skills to empower peopleâ€? will represent the soul of the new European political approach. This means ensuring that our economy is based on knowledge sharing and free trade through targeting our research and innovation budgets to this end. This also means promoting a competitive and green economy in view of making better use of resources and using the material inputs in the economy PRUH HIoFLHQWO\ To address the socio-economic emergencies arising from WKH JOREDO FULVLV LQ oQDQcial markets, the EU will adopt the virtuous circle of â€?inventions-investmentsnew applicationsâ€? designed to sustain a new economic approach. The 2020 EU Strategy is a map of how our future could be. Without the European institutions, the Parliament and the European Commission along with the support and the network of European political parties, nobody will put Europe on the right track towards a common persSHFWLYH LQ WKH UHFRYHU\ IURP WKH oQDQcial crisis. In his masterpiece Candide, Voltaire concludes that, if not outright rejecting optimism, advocating an enigmatic precept, ÂŤ we must cultivate our garden Âť, in lieu of the Leibnizian mantra of Pangloss, ÂŤ all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds Âť. As a European political party we should constantly make sure that we are working for the best possible EU that we can achieve.

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But we should not dwell in the past. As liberals, it is important to look ahead towards the future. With the Climate Package in place, Europe has moved forward with our part of the solution. Even though it is not yet enough, the ambitious targets, that were promoted by liberals in the European Parliament, in the Commission, and in the Council, will enhance European competitiveness and make our continent greener.

Shortly before Christmas the world’s leaders gathered in Copenhagen with the ambitious target of saving our planet from climate change. At the same time, the somewhat tarnished reputation of the UN process was supposed to be reestablished. However, as we all know, the outcome of the meeting was a disappointment on both accounts.

To m ov e f o r w a rd i n te r n a t i o n a l l y, w e should focus our efforts on three fronts : Firstly, we need to seriously commit ourselves to the Emissions Trading System (ETS). An ETS that is working is of crucial importance to our ability to combat global warming, and at the same time promote growth. But the price of CO2 must be stabilized in order to make the ETS effective. European governments and the EU therefore need to stop giving out free allowances. With the newly appointed Commissioner for Industry, Antonio Tajani, in

RIoFH ZH DOVR QHHG WR EH ZDU\ RI KRZ KH XVHV was the parliament that pushed for many of thothis system. It is worrying that he, during his hea- se ambitious targets in the climate package, and ring, opened up for more free allowances. we can do it again. Secondly, the EU should immediately start working on creating a common market for CO2 with the rest of the world. The ALDE group has therefore put forward a proposal to integrate the emerging American ETS with the European scheme. A transatlantic market for CO2 would be the start of a global market. Thirdly, the EU needs to speak with one voice in climate negotiations. It would be unthinkable to negotiate a WTO-trade round without the EU present, but this is exactly what happened during the last hours in Copenhagen when the US and China created the Copenhagen Accord. The new powers of the parliament under the Lisbon treaty will mean that the parliament will be represented in the upcoming negotiations. Remember that it

A liberal environmental policy must be based on market solutions and incentives. It is possible to make money by being green. The ingrained selfinterest of people is huge. If policy is created with the aim of creating markets ; people and business will follow. However, green policy is based on our recognition of our social responsibility. Sustainable growth is necessary for keeping the planet intact for future generations. With liberal climate policy we will enhance the possibilities for people to improve their own situation. It is green jobs that will take us into the future.

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March 2010 | ELDR News n°5 | www.eldr.eu

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HE:8>6A DC 96I6 EGDI:8I>DC :J HL>;I V\gZZbZci l^i] JH Vji]dg^i^Zh 7KH TXHVWLRQ RI 6:,)7 oUVW arose in 2006 when the media revealed that the US administration was accessing data held by the Belgiumbased financial network SWIFT on European citizens without their knowledge. Following pressure by the European Parliament, guarantees regarding privacy were given to ensure that

the data collected was used purely for anti-terrorist purposes. In July 2009, media articles appeared saying that a new agreement was to be negotiated following a change in the structure of the SWIFT company, which is building a new storage centre for its European data in Switzerland. At the end of November 2009 European Union countries agreed on the deal that would allow the United States contiQXHG DFFHVV WR (XURSHDQ FLWL]HQV oQDQFLDO WUDQVDFWLRQ GDWD for anti-terror investigations. The agreement states that the US will not be allowed to share European data with third countries, and transactions between EU countries will not be monitored.

Djg a^WZgVa Vc\aZh Mrs Jeanine Hennis- Plasschaert (ALDE, The Netherlands) 3. The SWIFT Agreement would give the authorities in the EU the right to look at data on bank transfers stored on US servers and to use them to track down terrorist networks, a right the US authorities already have.

Baroness Sarah Ludford (ALDE, UK) the same rights as they would have if their personal data stayed at home. For instance, in the case of SWIFT MEPs take issue with the length of time the data can be kept, the lack of clear enforceable rights to correct data or get compenVDWLRQ IRU PLVXVH WKH IDLOXUH WR GHoQH under what conditions other agencies can get access, allowing the data to be onward transferred to third countries without guarantees, and the absence of limits on bulk transfer of data.

3. What will be the role of the Parliament on the issue : an active player or a silent observer of the Commission’s decisions ?

The Parliament is now a co-lawmaker with the Council on international agreements in that it has the power under The interim-agreement (art 8) only prothe Lisbon treaty of approving them. vides for a possibility for law enforceOn the question of the SWIFT agreement, public security, or counter terment we are therefore extremely actirorism authorities of the EU Member ve, as we always have been on privacy States, or Europol or Eurojust, to request matters. The EP Civil Liberties commita search for relevant information obtaiALDE MEPs have played a leading role tee has now voted to reject the interim ned through the TFTP, if they determiin recent years in calling for a binding, agreement and we will see what haphigh-standard international agreement : pens next. Since there are other channe that there is reason to believe that a person or entity has a nexus to ternaturally we want as much as possible of nels whereby the information on terroURULVP DV GHoQHG LQ $UWLFOHV WR RI EU tried-and-tested data protection law ULVW oQDQFLQJ FDQ EH REWDLQHG VR WKHUH Council Framework Decision 2002/475/ WR oJXUH LQ WKDW DQG IRU RXU QDWLRQDO DQG will not be a ÂŤ security gap Âť, although 1. ALDE requests that before nego- JHA as amended by Council Framework 1. Sarah Ludford (ALDE, UK), you said European privacy watchdogs to be ful- speed is still desirable, especially in a tiating any international agreement Decision 2008/919/JHA. that before negotiating any interna- ly involved in monitoring. It would be response from the Council in promising the EU should itself establish an ÂŤ actional agreement, the EU should it- a mistake to think that data protection a better long-term deal. ceptable Âť personal data protection Art 9 of the agreement speaks about self establish an ÂŤ acceptable Âť per- hinders police and security work. It in system. What does an “acceptable possible future developments : ÂŤ In the sonal data protection system. What fact increases the chances of fruitful coo- It is clear that the way the whole issue systemâ€? mean for a liberal ? event that an EU system equivalent to does an “acceptable systemâ€? mean SHUDWLRQ E\ LQFUHDVLQJ WUXVW DQG FRQo- has been handled by the Council has the U.S. TFTP is implemented in the for a liberal ? GHQFH LQFOXGLQJ SXEOLF FRQoGHQFH in fact been dire, ignoring all our longFundamental rights are non-negotiable European Union or in one or more of standing submissions on the content of and cannot, in any event, be circums- its Member States‌. Âť. Again, as sta- The ‘normal’ European data protection 2. The EU will ensure “full recipro- the agreement, failing to send the sicribed. When limitations are introdu- ted above : no reciprocity ! ! legislation – a 1995 Directive 95/46 - cityâ€? in access to European and US gned agreement to Parliament quickly ced in the name of so-called security, applies to data held in the EU by most 6:,)7 GDWD oOHV 'R \RX WKLQN UH- for our consideration, refusing us esthe terrorists achieve their objectives. 4. For you, what is the ultimate aim SXEOLF DJHQFLHV DQG SULYDWH oUPV DQG ciprocity is conceivable, especial- sential information, delaying sending ,W LV LPSHUDWLYH WKDW ZH oQG VROXWLRQV of the new agreement ? there has been a special regime deve- ly with the new clamp down of us the draft negotiating guidelines for to the real threats posed by terrorism loped to ensure adequacy of safeguards the Obama administration against the long-term agreement and generalwithout compromising the very essen- At all times it should be clear that the if it is transferred to a third country terrorism ? ly failing to treat us as a partner as the ce of our societies built on fundamental security of European citizens will not like the US. But when commercial data Lisbon treaty requires. rights and freedoms. Fighting terrorists be compromised nor will the protec- like SWIFT’s on banking transactions It is in the strong interests of the US and and criminals is perfectly possible while tions their private data. The targeted are delivered across the Atlantic for the EU to treat each other as full par- We of course strongly support the effort ensuring the utmost respect for privacy exchange and use of data for counter- counter-terrorism purposes, this secu- WQHUV LQ ERWK WKH oJKW DJDLQVW WHUURULVP to catch terrorists and improve public and data protection. Liberal Democrats terrorism purposes is and will remain re regime gets discarded. Not even the and the upholding of human rights & ci- safety. The Parliament’s role is to quesis convinced that without key principles necessary. However, the public must weaker framework imposed by EU go- vil liberties including data protection. tion if the agreement is proportionate such as necessity and proportionality be able to have trust in both, data and vernments for information exchanged Thus full reciprocity in targeted access to this aim and the best tool available, WKH oJKW DJDLQVW WHUURULVP ZLOO QHYHU security claims. by European police and prosecutors ap- to each other’s data and in the respect and raise valid queries about data sebe effective. plies automatically. This is clearly dee- we give fundamental rights should be curity and privacy. As I said earlier, our 5. What will be the role of the ply unsatisfactory and this segregated the goal. We completely share the ob- aim is security with liberty, not at the 2. The EU will ensure “full recipro- Parliament on the issue : an acti- approach will have to change under the jective of combating terrorists while not expense of liberty. cityâ€? in access to European and US ve player or a silent observer of the rules of the new Lisbon treaty. VDFULoFLQJ RXU GHPRFUDWLF YDOXHV DQG 6:,)7 GDWD oOHV 'R \RX WKLQN UH- Commission’s decisions ? thank goodness President Obama has 5. What will be the role of the ALDE ciprocity is conceivable, especialBut in the meantime, international made that abundantly clear. There has group and the liberals in the civil lily with the new clamp down of If it is up to ALDE, the European agreements on law enforcement coo- EHHQ DQ LPEDODQFH LQ WKH pRZ RI GDWD berties committee ? the Obama administration against 3DUOLDPHQW ZLOO GHoQLWHO\ QRW EH D VL- peration like SWIFT have an ad hoc set because the EU does not have arranterrorism ? lent observer. of rules which, while offering some pro- gements like the US ‘Terrorist Financial European Liberals & Democrats have tection, do not give citizens anything like Tracking Programme’ for which it wants always been at the forefront, as I have Reciprocity in the SWIFT-case is nothing the SWIFT data, or an EU system to col- been for ten years, in demanding efbut a hollow phrase. There is no recilect Passenger Name Records (PNR). If fective cross-border and transatlantic procity. EU Member States claim ÂŤ that we do set them up we should expect cooperation on crime and terrorism it is in the EU’s interest to ensure the reciprocal cooperation, and indeed the but also in questioning the need for sustainability of the TFTP notwithstanSWIFT Agreement would give the autho- massive surveillance and data sharing ding SWIFT’s new architecture, and thus rities in the EU the right to look at data which impacts so hard on the freedom to ensure legal certainty for the transon bank transfers stored on US-based of citizens. We have also been very vofer of relevant data to the US Treasury computers in the investigation of terro- cal in demanding the full disclosure to Department, as Member State Services ULVW QHWZRUNV %XW oUVW ZH KDYH WR FRQVL- MEPs by the Council and Commission KDYH EHHQ WKH PDLQ EHQHoFLDULHV RI der thoughtfully whether all this mass of documents on the SWIFT and other TFTP leads Âť. surveillance is really the right way to agreements and measures, since the go or whether it diverts resources from Parliament cannot exercise its role as That is not reciprocity but outsourcing other law enforcement and anti-terro- co-legislator without access to all the of EU counter-terrorism policy. rism tasks. relevant information.

March 2010 | ELDR News n°5 | www.eldr.eu

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;^cVcX^Va YViV V\gZZbZci L]Vi ]VeeZch cZmi 4 ;9E Ă„ hXZei^XVa VWdji HL>;I gZ_ZXiZY Wn i]Z :j" cZl :jgdeZVc Xdbb^iiZZ gdeZVc EVga^VbZci id Ă’\]i iZggdg^hb G^h` d[ Yjea^XVi^dc! ^cZ[Ă’X^ZcX^Zh VcY lVhiZ d[ bdcZn German liberal party FDP has branded the formation of a new EU counter terrorism body as unnecessary. The Spanish socialist government of JosĂŠ Luis RodrĂ­guez Zapatero holding WKH URWDWLQJ (8 SUHVLGHQF\ FRQoUPHG the idea to enforce the creation of a committee of counter-terrorism coordination centers (CCCAT). The aim is the direct exchange, either bilaterally or multilaterally, of strategic information on terrorist threats ; an idea which is said to be supported by the coordination centers in Belgium, France, the UK, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Portugal.

For the German Federal Government and in particular for the liberal party FDP in the coalition, the measures are unnecessary. There is already coordination between police and security services at European level and the FDP considers that the creation of another coordination body might involve risks of duplication, LQHIoFLHQFLHV DQG WKH XQGHUPLQLQJ RI the requirements for the separation between the police and intelligence services.

A s env is a g e d a l rea d y o n 10 t h February through the background note on the ELDR website (www.eldr. eu), the European Parliament in its plenary vote in Strasbourg on 11th February followed the recommendation of Dutch VVD MEP and rapporteur Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert as well as the Parliament’s Civil Liberties (LIBE) committee and rejected the interim so called SWIFT agreement by 378 votes to 196. This means that the deal, which was agreed in the Council by the EU’s justice and home affairs ministers only a day before the Lisbon Treaty entered into force and which would have applied for nine months from 1st February if only the Parliament had given its consent, will now have to be scrapped and reconsidered.

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For us liberals, who have constantly been leading this issue in the European 3DUOLDPHQW LW LV oUVW DQG IRUHPRVW YHU\ important to stress that contrary to populist propaganda, this rejection does not in any way jeopardize the security of European citizens – rather the contrary. As can be learned from the adjacent joint interview with two liberal MEPs on top of this issue, the SWIFT agreement is after all only one of the available means for targeted trans-Atlantic data H[FKDQJH :LWK WKH oQDO VWDWXV RI 6:,)7 still pending, the monitoring process might well temporarily become a bit more complicated – but in this case that is still prefered the alternative. Looking beyond the short term effects, namely, what European citizens do not need is a hasty agreement that lacks both transparency and reciprocity and is therefore, as Hennis-Plasschaert concluded after the Parliament’s vote, “simply a bad deal�.

Despite this rejection, neither SWIFT nor privacy issues at large are naturally not completely off the agenda. The same fundamental underlying princiSOHV WKDW LQLWLDWHG WKH GHDO LQ WKH oUVW place are still valid and still in need of proper action. In the European Union decision-making machinery, this means passing on the ball to the European Commission for reconsideration and re-drafting of a proposal that could balance the concerns of Council and Parliament. The liberals hope that the Parliament’s rejection of the deal by a comfortable majority will now be a strong enough signal to pursue the Commission to take a bold stance and prepare the basis of a long-term agreement which does not compromise on fundamental privacy rights for the European citizen.

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The failed attempt by a Nigerian citizen, Umar Abdulmutallab, to use an explosive device sewn in his underpants to blow up a plane from Amsterdam to Detroit has revived the debate on the use of body scanners at airports. But such debate is taking place today in an irrational manner, under the pressure of fear, without answering the real questions that should be addressed by lawmakers : what do we have to learn from the Detroit accident ? Are body scanners the solution to ensure civil aviation security ? And more fundamentally : how far do we want to go in surrendering the fundamental right to privacy in search of 100% security ? The issue of the possible use of body scanners had been harshly debated by the European Parliament in October 2008, when it criticized a proposal by the Commission to allow at EU level such a method of screening passengers at airports. In its resolution, the European Parliament (EP) asked the Commission to come back with an evaluation report, made in consultation with relevant stakeholders, addressing human rights and privacy issues, health issues, costs and EHQHoWV 7KH (3 FRQVLGHUHG WKDW D WKRrough evaluation had to be done before such a decision could be taken at EU level. The European Commission’s report will be published in the next few weeks. It also announced, after the Detroit accident, that it will come up with a pro-

failed to detect such a small quantity of explosive as the one used by the bomber, as explained by a UK MP that has H[WHQVLYH H[SHULHQFH LQ WKH oHOG 7KLUGO\ and most fundamentally, Abdulmutallab should not have been allowed to board the plane, at least without further and in-depth controls or the assignment of an air marshal, as he had been signaled by his father as an Islamic extremist to US authorities. As Obama immediately said, “we failed to connect the dotsâ€? : the information was there, the blacklists are there, but the bomber was not on them although he should have been there. After all, the US terrorist lists appear to be dangerously faulty if Ted Kennedy posal on body scanners before the was on them, if an 8 year old US boy summer, accompanied by appropriate scout is on them, if controls can be easily guarantees to ensure citizens’ privacy avoided by changing a name or misspeland freedom. ling it on purpose and if 82.000 requests In the meantime, EU Member States to be taken off them have been made. have gone down different paths. UK, These are the side-effects of the current Finland and the Netherlands already had policy of relying on extensive data colbody scanners installed, mostly in a trial lection and on technology, putting asiphase, when the Commission came up de human intervention. with its proposal. After the Detroit inci- What we should learn from the Detroit dent, UK and the Netherlands have an- incident is that the application of curnounced that they will install more and rent policies should be reviewed and more body scanners at airports, whi- strengthened, to ensure the “connection le Italy will introduce them in 3 of its of the dotsâ€? ; that body scanners are not airports. A EU-US summit in Toledo re- the solution to reach the dreamt 100 % cently approved a joint program to en- security and that they, should we decide hance aviation security and body scan- to go for them, only be used on the basis ners were debated as one of the main RI ULVNV pLJKWV WR IURP WDUJHWHG FRXQgoals. tries, like Israel, the US, etc) and if approBut such focus on body scanners seems priate guarantees are in place (right to out of place if we analyze the Detroit refuse it ; blurring and deletion of imaincident in its wider context, surroun- ges ; etc). Any other solution would reach ding the frequent declaration that had the aims of our enemies : transform dethe Netherlands used body scanners, mocracies into technocracies controlling the bomber would have been stopped : every move of citizens. But this risk is consequently we need body scanners likely to remain even if we have body in the EU. VFDQQHUV DQG ZK\ QRW GLJLWDO oQJHUFirst of all, the Netherlands already uses prints ? - At shopping malls, universities, body scanners. And since 2008 they metro stations, etc. And probably it will ZDQWHG WR XVH WKHP IRU pLJKWV WR WKH be too late to denounce it. 86 LQFOXGLQJ WUDQVIHU pLJKWV VXFK DV WKH one boarded by Abdulmutallab, but the US authorities refused, as revealed by the Dutch Minister of Interior in an interview so do they now want the entire EU to use them ? Secondly, had body âˆź Wn BVgXd 8VeeVid! scanners been used, they would have > GVY^XVa^ >iVa^Vc^ >iVan

In his hearing before the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, Commissioner-designate for Transport Siim Kallas, discussed his views on the need for body-scanners for airline security. Condemning member states which have introduced airport body scanners without waiting for a common EU position, he said :  I am in favour of a single EU regulation on body scanner. It is very bad that some Member

States already use body scanners in the absence of any common EU stanGDUGV z &RPPHQWLQJ RQ WKH UHDO HIoFDcy of these machines Mr. Kallas replied :  Body scanners can increase security, but no measure is 100% sure , adding that  body scanners are not the panacea for airline security.  He nonetheless insisted that people’s fears  must be addressed  and reiterated that the EU should agree common rules on the issue.

:J YZaVnh YZX^h^dc dc WdYn hXVccZgh EU ministers agreed on Thursday 21 January to postpone the decision on the use of body-scanners, which produce a nude picture of travellers ; although no member states appear to be opposed outright to their use. The European Commission is currently preparing a report on the health and privacy implications of such scanners, which several member states are purchasing, IROORZLQJ D IRLOHG DWWDFN RQ D pLJKW IURP Amsterdam to Detroit at Christmas.

Germany, which has in the past been sceptical about body-scanners, is also studying their use and could decide by mid2010whether to introduce them, according to Germany’s de Maizière. Meanwhile the Italian government has already purchased 15 machines for Malpensa Milan airport, Fiumicino-Rome airport and Venice airport but according to the Minister of Interior they are “still in the experimental stageâ€?.

March 2010 | ELDR News n°5 | www.eldr.eu

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PAGE 6

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AnbZX XVbeV^\c \dZh dc / ĂˆMr Barroso, :jgdeZVc A^WZgVa ;dgjb Y^hXjhhZh i]Z \gdl^c\ cZZY [dg eVi^ZcihÉ Xgdhh"Xdjcign bdW^a^in do you remember when you needed a What is the European Liberal Forum ? visa to come here ?É The EU’s existing bureaucratic visa policies impose real GLIoFXOWLHV DQG REVtacles to legitimate travel, be they for tourism, studies or conferences. The reason for having a visa system is to allay fears about illegal migration and cross border crime but the paradox is that it hits the ordinary travellers and young people the hardest. The long queues in front of EU consulates as well as the unnecessarily lengthy, expensive, bureaucratic and upsetting visa procedures resulting from this system create frustration and incomprehension from our European neighbours, especially young people. If we want to work towards the further integration of our continent, we should try to build as many civil society bridges as possible between European countries, and this can only be achieved through freedom of movement. This is how LYMEC’s “Europe is our home : no visasâ€? campaign all started, in the summer of 2006.

)RXQGHG LQ WKH DXWXPQ RI WKH (XURSHDQ /LEHUDO )RUXP DVEO (/) LV WKH QRQ SURoW (XURSHDQ SROLWLFDO IRXQGDWLRQ RI WKH OLEHUDO IDmily. ELF brings together liberal think thanks, political foundations and institutes from around Europe to observe, analyse and contribute to the debate on European public policy issues and the process of European integration, through education, training, research and the promotion of active citizenship within the EU.

LQVLJQLoFDQW LQ SDUWLFXODU DV IDU DV DFKLHYDEOH I n t h i s f r a effects and results are concerned. mework, the E u r o p e a n While single countries are trying to deve- C o m m i s s i o n ’s lop their own response to such issues (not p r o p o s a l f o r always encouraging best practice), patients a Health Care and European citizens are already acting as Policy, published a powerful lever towards the creation of a in July 2008, is European “solutionâ€?. Patients’ cross-country a fundamental mobility, especially related to those looking step along the for high quality treatments, is growing. This path leading to leads to developing a proper response, and at the organisation the same time creates opportunities. of the European health polic y, There is the chance to make the healthcare and so are the sector a driving force for development as well initiatives that have been launched by the as for social and economic progress, respec- Commission inside the “Europe for Patientsâ€? ting the historical roots and shared aims that initiative. Similarly, a resolution adopted by On February 13th 2007, young liberals from more than 20 are the legacy of European welfare. the ELDR party during the 2009 Barcelona European countries organised street actions asking for visa liCongress states the intention to propose to EHUDOLVDWLRQ IRU VWXGHQWV DQG WRXULVWV WKH oUVW HYHU SDQ (XURSHDQ Demographic change, the demand for more Mobility of patients around Europe, seeking the European Commission a financing arcoordinated street action organised by LYMEC ! The event was wi- complex health care services and the rising better and highly specialised healthcare ser- rangement for a limited number of major dely covered by local media. As a follow-up, LYMEC organised a costs of health care technologies have lead vices, is driving de-facto the creation of a European hospitals in order to pool and enconference at the European Parliament in March 2007, suppor- to the widespread appearance of new issues European single market for healthcare. These KDQFH (XURSHDQ H[SHUWLVH RQ VSHFLoF KHDOWK WHG E\ WKH $/'( *URXS DQG KHOG LWV oUVW ELODWHUDO PHHWLQJ ZLWK in all industrialised Countries. We face to- trends can be governed, and transformed as care issues. Commissioner Olli Rehn on the issue. As part of the conferen- GD\ oQDQFLDO LVVXHV WKH IXQGLQJ RI KHDOWK- facilitators of development, or discouraged, by ce, participants engaged in a performance protesting against care expenditure), organizational issues (the defending protectionism and National choices. The European health care market will probavisa obstacles to freedom of movement in Europe inside the allocation of scarce resources to prevention, Mobility, if well-organised, if oriented to the bly grow from those sectors where integraEuropean Parliament. They formed a long visa queue inside the specialised care and long term care) and struc- defence of citizens’ rights, if linked with the tion has already started. The possibility of inparliament wearing t-shirts with signs ‘Life is to short to wait tural issues (the need for new investment in GHoQLWLRQ RI D (XURSHDQ UHVHDUFK DQG LQYHVW- FUHDVLQJ QHWZRUNLQJ FDQ UHO\ DW oUVW RQ FOLQLFDO for a visa’, ‘Mr Barroso, do you remember when you needed research and new technologies). The most ment plan, can act as a driving force for the research, technology and cures as driving fora visa to come here ?’ and ‘I needed a visa to come here, am I pertinent matter that every European country development of the future European health ces. In the sectors of research and highly spethat different ?’. The event was covered by the BBC. Later, the has to confront is, whether these issues are care system, and more. cialised treatment there is today room for the campaign was presented to ELDR Prime Ministers by President OLQNHG WR SXEOLF oQDQFH FRQVWUDLQWV RU WR LQFUHDWLRQ RI WKH oUVW QXFOHXV RI WKH (XURSHDQ Annemie Neyts, and LYMEC was successful in passing a resolu- VXIoFLHQW GHPDQG WKDW GRHV QRW HQFRXUDJH Each Member State can seize the opportu- healthcare system. tion titled ÂŤ Europe is our home – no visas Âť at the ELDR congress investments in highly specialised treatments nities that the creation of the single health care market offers : the achievements and To read more about the ELFs views on of Berlin, in October 2007. or new technologies. the solutions implemented at the national European health care policy, please visit the What is so special about this campaign ? For LYMEC, it was the Important choices can be made at national level are a key asset that cannot be wasted website www.liberalforum.eu or contact ELF oUVW WLPH WKDW ZH ZHUH FRQGXFWLQJ D IXOO\ pHGJHG SDQ (XURSHDQ and European level. The alternatives are not or dispersed. secretariat info@liberalforum.eu. FDPSDLJQ 1RW RQO\ ZHUH VRPH OHDpHWV DQG D ZHEVLWH SURGXFHG but we also liaised with the civil society, notably other European youth organisations, organised street actions, produced press releases, tabled resolutions at the ELDR congress, lobbied both the To get rich never risk your health. For it is the truth that health is the wealth of wealth. European Parliament and European Commission, and we used 6gVW^Vc EgdkZgW the new social media (Facebook notably) as a visibility leverage. The other element that made this campaign a success was certainly that it was very concrete for young Europeans – mobility is absolutely essential for young people today – and it had a simple message, easy to understand.

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7KH FDPSDLJQ QRZ DOPRVW \HDU ROG LV KRZHYHU QRW oQLVKHG ;9E <ZgbVcn " I]Z (+ nZVg daY B^c^hiZg [dg =ZVai] ejh]Zh [dg V WgdVY gZhigjXi^dc LYMEC decided to give it a new momentum this year, in the context of the European Commission’s move to give Serbia, try that does not only have to serve more than wage labour costs — and the creation of a goMontenegro and Macedonia visa-free travel. The campaign 80 million people but that also faces an equal- vernment commission to study the possibility wants to maintain the pressure for visa liberalisation vis-Ă -vis ly high number of people who know how to do of moving from income-based contributions other European countries, in the Western Balkans but also in the job better. On top of it he’ll be under inten- WR D pDW UDWH KHDOWK LQVXUDQFH FKDUJH 5Ă„VOHU Eastern Europe : Moldova, Ukraine, Turkey, and the Caucasus. se pressure from a myriad of lobbyists : medi- hopes to restructure the health care system in A number of technical requirements naturally have to be met cal insurers, doctors’ and patients’ groups, and Germany so that citizens will have more freeby these countries, but no political criteria should be added to pharmaceutical companies. dom in choosing the types of treatment they that, and there is in any case no reason for maintaining the receive, as well in choosing a physician and existing burdensome and expensive visa procedures. Too often, Germany’s health care system is undoubtedly health insurance provider. visa requests are denied for unclear reasons or visas are deliof a high quality but must start dealing with vered too late, this is unacceptable : yesterday’s horror stories exploding costs. Technological advances, new Today, Germans are among the top worldwicontinue, but with different countries. Our campaign Facebook drugs and a burdensome bureaucracy have de with the number of annual doctor consulgroup has in the meantime reached more than 12.500 mem- Politics is changing in Germany. FDP politi- made health care costs skyrocket. Moreover, tations. More competition among insurance bers and continues to grow, giving ever higher visibility and im- cian Philipp RĂśsler was appointed as the new Germany’s rapidly aging society is straining companies on the one hand and greater inpact to the campaign. Minister for Health in the German center-right the system to its breaking point. About 90% dividual responsibility and awareness of the government of FDP and CDU/CSU. A doctor by of Germany’s population is covered by the patients on the other hand will also contriOne of our members from Bosnia-Herzegovina was saying when profession – specialized in heart-chest surge- country’s public health insurance companies, bute to lowering costs. Tax adjustments will we started the campaign : ÂŤ Always, when I’m thinking about ry –, born in Vietnam and later adopted by a which are currently funded by contributions help those who can cover the required basic that [visa restrictions to free travel for Bosnians], I remember *HUPDQ FRXSOH 5Ă„VOHU LV WKH oUVW *HUPDQ QD- from employers and employees. Today’s work- insurance. my mother’s words : ‘before this stupid war we were really free. tional minister of non-European origin. At the force (and its employers) pays for the health With our passports we could travel wherever and whenever we age of 36 RĂśsler is the epitome of the modern costs of those now retired, who are using the The start of liberal health reform will be tacwanted’. For most of my friends that is something totally un- FDP in the 21st century. system the most. With an aging population and kling not only the symptoms but the root causes reachable Âť. Our mission as liberals is to tear down remaining decreasing birth rates across Europe, it leaves to ensure the long term viability of Germany’s ERUGHUV DW HYHU\ FRUQHU RI RXU FRQWLQHQW 7KH oJKW FRQWLQXHV With his humble, easy-to-approach demeanor he fewer people paying for the health care costs health care system. and so does our campaign. is a far cry from the stereotypical politician. of ever more people.

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RÜsler is expected to include a freeze on employer contributions — to unburden the non

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March 2010 | ELDR News n°5 | www.eldr.eu

PAGE 7

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MAARTJE JANSEN,

FREDDY NEYTS,

LUCIE WIGBOLDUS,

SIBEL REDZHEB,

D66, The Netherlands :

President Open VLD Brussels City, Belgium :

,QWHUQDWLRQDO 3URJUDPPH 2IoFHU 99' WKH Netherlands :

,QWHUQDWLRQDO 5HODWLRQV 2IoFHU 0RYHPHQW for Rights and Freedoms, Bulgaria :

Symbol : bird or dolphin (freedom), ladder into the sky (you have the opportunities, but you have to climb yourself)

Word - TOGETHERNESS

Word : EQUIVALENCE and of course‌‌‌FREEDOM & RESPONSIBILITY

ALOYS RIGAUT,

GEORGETA VASILE,

Symbol : Bird.

The symbol that best represents liberalism would The best (& the only) word that represents libeEH D EXWWHUp\ ,W V\PEROL]HV IUHHGRP DQG WKHUH LV ralism is....... ‘LIBERALISM’. a different word for it in nearly every language (papillon, vlinder, schmetterling etc.). HENNING NIELSEN, Radikale Venstre, Denmark : The word would be “FREEDOMâ€?, although this is not a very original word we think it’s simply the We have no suggestions to symbol and word. In fact we generally are not in favor of best word to symbolize liberalism. ÂŤ uniforms Âť.

ROY KRAMER,

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LUKA GLUĹ AC, Istrian Democratic Assembly, Croatia :

'LIoFXOW WR VD\ LQ 21( ZRUG &DQ , DOVR VXJJHVW things like : “PURSUIT OF HAPPINESSâ€? ? Thank you for give me a chance to represent my symbol and word whose best represent liberaDUSAN GAMSER, lism around Europe. International Secretary, LDP, Serbia : The ideal symbol of liberalism in Europe for me is EU The dimension of uniting Europe (to which liberals pDJ 7KH (8 LV D ELJ YLFWRU\ IRU WKH LGHD RI OLEHUDOLVP have been contributing so much) through peaceful IRU WKH ZKROH PDQNLQG )UHH WUDIoF RI SHRSOH PHUeconomic cooperation followed by relativization of chandise and money are making a base of peace and borders and inter-cultural exchange, as well as free prosper for Europe and the world in global. movement of people, goods, ideas, etc. has been important to us and all the symbolism which would The word best representing liberalism in Europe is point out at it would be more than welcome by the for me is LIBERTY, FREEDOM of CHOICE to do what LDP. And, of course, for us as liberals, FREEDOM is I want to do, not what I must do. the main value, both in its human and its economic dimension. We wish your team a successful work in SEAN O’CURNEEN CAĂ‘AS, redesigning the ELDR image and have been ready President, CDL, Spain : for further contacts in the direction. Just like Flexicurit y is a combination of JOHAN-ERIK HAGGMAN, Flexibility and Security, liberals can think European Commission : o f ÂŤ F R E E S P O N S I B I L I T Y Âť (F r e e d o m a n d 5HVSRQVLELOLW\ DV WKHLU GHoQLQJ ZRUG EHFDXVH The word that best represents liberalism is DI- LW GHoQHV WKH SXUVXLW WR oQG D EDODQFH EHWZHHQ VERSITY. When it comes to the symbol I would rights and responsibilities. JR IRU WKH ELUG WKDW \RX DOUHDG\ XVH RU DQ\ p\LQJ ÂŤ I believe AUTONOMY could work as it is the same creature. word in almost all languages.

TOM MEULENBERG,

President of LYMEC :

International Relations, PNL, Romania : Word : Freedom. Symbol - ÂŤ dove Âť (the feeling of freedom) Word - ÂŤ INDIVIDUAL Âť

FRANCIS BURSTIN,

RAIMONDAS IMBRASAS, Secretary General, Lithuanian Movement of the Republic of Lithuania :

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The symbol is a man – celebrating humanity.

Je pense que le symbole le plus fort qui reprĂŠsente le libĂŠralisme est – comme illustrĂŠ par Folon et repris par le MR lors de son 150ème anniversaire – un oiseau qui, toutes ailes dĂŠployĂŠes, s’Êlance dans un ciel bleu.

A (horse) shoe in a man’s hand – every man has his good fortune in his hands.

On pourrait aussi imaginer la statue de la libertÊ si cette image n’Êtait pas trop amÊricanisÊe ! Pour moi, le mot qui colle le mieux au libÊralisme est LIBERTÉ. Ceci n’est bien sÝr qu’un avis personnel !

RALITZA KOSTOVA, ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 5HODWLRQV 2IoFHU 1063 Bulgaria : Our suggestion for a symbol that best represents liberalism is : Horizon on skyline to describe the sense of freedom.

Party Spokesperson, Open VLD, Belgium :

For me the difference between an individualist and an autonomous person lies in the aware,W LV GLIoFXOW WR FKRRVH D VSHFLoF V\PERO EXW D ness of the autonomous person that he is part hopeful image of free people would be a strong of a greater whole and as such carries responsibility as well. Âť ‘symbol’ for liberalism.

Symbol - Olive branch

Our suggestion for a word that best represents liberalism is : FREEDOM.

An acoustic guitar – young at heart. A Bowman with a bow and an arrow, arrow direcWHG WR WKH VN\ q UHpHFWV SHUVRQDO FKRLFHV We also believe that RESPONSIBILITY and HUMANITY represents Liberalism best.

March 2010 | ELDR News n°5 | www.eldr.eu

PAGE 8

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HVk^c\ i]Z :jgdeZVc Jc^dc 6 \j^YZ id i]Z :jgdeZVc Jc^dc VcY ^ih ig^X`n [jcXi^dc^c\ rifying memoir, academic exercise in EU constitutional law or a mere catalogue of the changes that the Lisbon treaty brings about.

>c <^jhi^o^V Z EdiZgZ >9K >iVa^Vc B:E Aj^\^ YZ BV\^hig^h \dZh i]gdj\] i]Z gZXZci hidgn d[ >iVa^Vc eda^i^Xh “Giustizia e potere� (Justice and Power) is a long interview made by Sergio Nazzaro, an Italian author and journalist, with Luigi De Magistris, former public prosecutor focused on links between PDoD DQG SROLWLFV

“Thanks to Antonio Di Pietro I am now part of Italia dei Valori which I consider a SDUW\ ZLWK PDQ\ FKDQFHV WR VXFFHHG oUVW as the only competitor able to gather a real apposition power and second as a solid alternative for the country�.

“The book is all about my life, the public aspects as well as my past as a magistrate and now an MEP, in school, books and music ; and finally my political commitment. A large part is devoted to the enquiries led by De Magistris as a public prosecutor and his careful consideration over Berlusconi’s Era (almost 16 uninterrupted years of government ; the second longest-serving Prime Minister of Italy and longest-serving current leader of a G8 country).

The magistrate goes back over his childhood, his father who was himself a magistrate. Then the story goes on recalling de Magistris’ primordial professional ambition : collaborating actively for an effective change of society, more honest and free and fair, “simply more compassionate than the current one�. “I would actually like to VHH WKH GHoQLWLYH GHFOLQH of the Berlusconi Era and the rising of new young leaders�.

The interview goes through different dispositions : the sorrow about being transferred to a different Court by the former Minister of Justice, Clemente Mastella, because De Magistris had allegedly revealed Mastella’s name as well as those of other Italian politicians apparently involved in his investigations ; and the hopeful expectations of his election as member of the European Parliament and as member of Italia dei Valori.

In the pattern of the Italian Nineties liberal tradition he revives his engagement with his favourite motto : “Oggi per sognare, ogni giorno per cambiare� (Today for dreaming, every day for moving).

*Luigi de Magistris scored the second highest number of votes amongst all Italian candidates in the last European elections.

In 2007 Andrew Duff, one of the three delegates of the European Parliament to the Convention designed to salvage the ill-fated EU Constitution, published his True Guide to the Lisbon treaty. $W WKH WLPH LW ZDV WKH oUVW FRPSUHhensive yet very condensed guide for understanding the innovations brought about by the new treaty from a practical point of view. His latest book Saving the European Union is a very welcome extension of this guide. Contrary to usual publications by the actors of the EU constitutional history, his book is certainly not a self-glo-

lity of the new treaty to address the new political and institutional challenges. Here starts a welcome examination of prejudices and myths that took ground in the political landscaWhile expanding the necessary context pe mainly in UK and Ireland. His ratioto fully seize the potential of the new nal argumentation makes it clear that text, Andrew Duff analyses how the an ill-informed overly eurosceptic apnew treaty provides the EU with the proach can as a result lead to an imWRROV WR PRUH HIoFLHQWO\ WDFNOH QHZ SRUWDQW GHFUHDVH RI LQpXHQFH LQ WKH (8 important challenges encountered at RQ PDWWHUV WKDW DUH RI YLWDO LQpXHQFH home and abroad. He explains his mis- to both countries. sion in the following way : “European Union treaties are quite complicated 1H[W 'XII WXUQV WR PDMRU SROLF\ oHOGV and yet terribly important, especially that the new treaty transforms : nafor a European Union legislator to un- mely EU action abroad and justice and derstand explain and try to justify�. home affairs. The new text clearly provides for more coherent and visible exHe explains that, despite somewhat ternal action with the new European byzantine structure, the treaty retains External Action Service in the hands most of the achievements proposed by of the new external policy chief. The the Constitutional Treaty, including the author draws particular attention to the status of the Charter of Fundamental major innovation of structured, permaHuman rights. It breathes in more de- nent cooperation that would allow for mocratic principles, by promoting invol- the establishment of a more effective vement and participation of citizens in European defence policy. In addition its democratic life, strengthening the WR WKDW LQ WKH oHOG RI IUHHGRP VHFXpowers of the European Parliament, ULW\ DQG MXVWLFH E\ WKH GHoQLWLYH DERfostering European political parties, lishment of Maastricht’s pillar structuwhile increasing the transparency of UH /LVERQ EULQJV PRUH HIoFLHQW WRROV the decision-making process and poli- notably in combating organized critical accountability of its actors. me and ensuring a common immigration policy. Following chapters are useful explanation of the distribution of compeWHQFLHV DV ZHOO DV RI LQFUHDVHG pH[LEL-

:jgdeZVc a^WZgVah Vi i]Z (%i] :A9G 8dc\gZhh ^c 7VgXZadcV aVhi CdkZbWZg½

European liberals upcoming events 2010 âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź âˆź

25 February liberal breakfast, ELDR HQ, Brussels, Belgium 26-27 February FNST/ALDE PACE/ ELDR Eastern Partnership, Berlin 12-13 March ELDR Council Meeting in Rome, Italy 25 March ELDR Prime Ministers meeting, Concert Noble, 82 rue d’Arlon, 1040 Brussels, Belgium Sat 17 April ELF-ELDR-FNF workshop liberal survey, Prague, Czech Republic

Working Group

Plenary

Elisabeta Petrova

Graf Lambsdorf, ELF president

Reynders, Mas

Vassiliou, Roche

Congratulations

Ladies delegation

Final results

Abdoul Diallo, CoR

Vasile, Petrova, Loening

Finnish delegation

24-25 April FDP : National Party Congress in Cologne, Germany April National parliamentary elections in Hungary 30 April - 1st May LYMEC congress, Sinaia, Romania 9 May Regional parliamentary elections in Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany 28 May 128th VVD Congress, Papendal, The Netherlands May National parliamentary elections in the UK (tbc) June Liberal breakfast, ELDR HQ, Brussels, Belgium June National parliamentary elections in Czech Republic 12 June National parliamentary elections in Slovakia 17 June ELDR Leaders meeting, Concert Noble, 82 rue d’Arlon, 1040 Brussels, Belgium End August – early September ELF-ELDR Liberal Academy, Brussels September Liberal Breakfast, ELDR HQ 19 September National parliamentary elections in Sweden 2 October National parliamentary elections in Latvia 13 –15 October ELDR Congress 2010, Helsinki, Finland 28 October ELDR Prime Ministers meeting, Concert Noble, 82 rue d’Arlon, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

âˆź 16 December ELDR Leaders meeting, Concert Noble, 82 rue d’Arlon, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

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