ELDR News 60

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C:LH7 October 2010 q ELDR News n°7 | 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 Stronger role for European parties means a more political ELDR âˆź Tackling the future: avoiding intergenerational clashes âˆź Broad toolbox needed to protect children

9ZbdXgVXn ^c :jgdeZ European populations are ageing rapid O\ WKDW LV (XURSHDQV OLYH PXFK ORQJHU RQ average than ever before. That is good QHZV EXW LW GRHV FKDOOHQJH WKH VXVWDL nability of our social security systems which evolved in periods of much shor ter life expectancy. Another important demographic challenge is that posed by the presence of large numbers of citi zens who migrated to our countries over the last half century. Both of these ma jor demographic challenges occur in a context of accelerating globalisation and RI D GHHS HFRQRPLF DQG oQDQFLDO FULVLV

PAGE 3 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź Reforming Europe – 5HoQLQJ WKH (8 EXGJHW âˆź European Liberals engage in direct dialogue with young citizens âˆź How to succeed as liberal political party âˆź Building a Liberal Europe

No wonder many citizens feel disorien WHG GHVWDELOLVHG DQG DOLHQDWHG 1R ZRQ der many citizens feel let down by their traditional political leaders and parties. Such a political and societal environment is a fertile ground for would be leaders ZKR SURSRVH VLPSOH VRXQGLQJ VROXWLRQV ZKR VLQJOH RXW DGYHUVDULHV RU HQHPLHV who pretend to better understand the SXEOLF WKDQ WKH HVWDEOLVKPHQW GRHV RU who do all of these things at the same WLPH :H KDYH VHHQ LW KDSSHQLQJ WLPH DQG DJDLQ LQ PDQ\ PHPEHU VWDWHV DQG the momentum seems to be gathering more force by the day.

PAGE 4 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź A direct European tax – realistic proposal or utopia? PAGE 5 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź Liberals succeed in Swedish elections âˆź (8523($16 :KR DUH WKH most politically engaged? âˆź .5(33$ 7KH ,FHODQGLF FULVLV – a unique case? PAGE 6 SPECIAL # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź Guide for Dummies Liberal highlights PAGE 8 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # âˆź A liberal drink with Dick Roche âˆź Reaching beyond Brussels : bridging the local with the European âˆź (/'5 93 QDPHG PRVW LQpXHQWLDO ZRPDQ LQ (XURSHDQ oQDQFH âˆź ELDR meetings in 2010

ÂŤ The Challenges of Demographic Change Âť was chosen as the main &RQJUHVV WRSLF PRUH WKDQ D \HDU DJR ,W was proposed to us by our two host par

ties and we adopted it because we felt that those challenges deserve more at tention than they generally receive from the other European political parties. The

G\ VHHPHG WR ERWKHU PXFK EXW QRZ WKDW UDGLFDO SHUVRQDOLWLHV PRYHPHQWV and parties are emerging and growing LQ PDQ\ PHPEHU VWDWHV TXHVWLRQV DUH oQDOO\ UDLVHG DERXW WKH IDWH RI GHPR cracy in Europe. Traditional political parties and opinion leaders of all kinds seem to be at a loss WR FRPH XS ZLWK HIoFLHQW DQVZHUV 7R brand such parties as “populist� clear ly does no good. Neither does it any good to proclaim that those who vote IRU WKHP DUH VWXSLG RU XQHGXFDWHG RU ill informed. 7R ORRN DZD\ LV QR VROXWLRQ HLWKHU QRU does it look like these waves of voter re volt will soon cease and everything will UHWXUQ EDFN WR QRUPDO L H WR D NLQG RI status pro ante. , LQWHQG WR XVH P\ ODVW \HDU DV (/'5 3UHVLGHQW WR ODXQFK D SURIRXQG GHEDWH on these and related issues. The Helsinki Congress should be the star ting point of this necessary and hope fully salutary refoundation of European liberalism.

7KH (XURSHDQ 8QLRQ KDV EHHQ D VFD , KRSH JUHDW QXPEHUV RI /LEHUDOV ZLOO SHJRDW RI FKRLFH IRU WKH ODVW oYH VL[ travel to Helsinki to participate in this \HDUV VR PXFK VR WKDW WKH YDULRXV (XUR new adventure. Sceptics now form a sizeable segment RI WKH (XURSHDQ 3DUOLDPHQW $V ORQJ DV the phenomenon seemed limited to âˆź Wn 6ccZb^Z CZnih"JniiZWgdZX` WKH IULQJHV RI WKH (XUR VSKHUH QRER :A9G EgZh^YZci

LZaXdbZ id =Zah^c`^ 7KH WKHPH RI WKLV \HDU V &RQJUHVV is “the challenges of demographic change�. The discussions will focus on how Europe will cope with issues such as its ageing population and strengthe ned global competition. These issues are extremely topical in (XURSH DV D ZKROH ,Q RUGHU WR PHHW WKH FKDOOHQJHV RI GHPRJUDSKLF FKDQJH Europe must choose to take the path of active involvement and succeed in the economic triathlon ahead.

7KH )LQQLVK &HQWUH 3DUW\ 6XRPHQ .HVNXVWD DQG WKH 6ZHGLVK 3HRSOH V 3DUW\ RI )LQODQG 6YHQVND )RONSDUWLHW have the pleasure of hosting the ELDR 3DUW\ &RQJUHVV LQ +HOVLQNL )LQODQG RQ q 2FWREHU

petitiveness and promoting sustai QDEOH JURZWK DUH FUXFLDO DV WKH\ DOVR facilitate balancing public expendi WXUH DQG VWDELOL]LQJ oQDQFLDO PDUNHWV 7KHUHIRUH ZH QHHG WR SURPRWH VWUXF tural changes necessary for econo mic reform.

$V IDU DV )LQODQG LV FRQFHUQHG ZH ZLOO be able to stabilize our economy by promoting growth and employment. These targets will be achieved by faci OLWDWLQJ ORQJHU FDUHHUV LQYHVWLQJ LQ 5 ' DQG LQQRYDWLRQ LPSURYLQJ SURGXFWLYL (XURSH V HFRQRPLF WULDWKORQ LQFOXGHV W\ HVSHFLDOO\ LQ WKH SXEOLF VHFWRU DQG three major targets: 1) stabilization by raising tax rates moderately. RI oQDQFLDO PDUNHWV EDODQFLQJ SX EOLF H[SHQGLWXUH DQG FRQWUROOLQJ GHEW ,Q RUGHU WR H[WHQG FDUHHUV DQG LPSURYH and 3) enhancing competitiveness and SURGXFWLYLW\ LW LV QHFHVVDU\ WR UHIRUP working life and to promote our em promoting growth. SOR\HHV DELOLWLHV WR FRSH DW ZRUN , EH There is a strong interdependence lieve that the ELDR can take a leading between the targets of this triathlon. role as regards reforming European ,Q WKH PHGLXP WHUP (XURSH V FRP working life.

For the purposes of promoting sustai QDEOH JURZWK P\ LQWHQWLRQ LV WR KDYH a national growth programme drawn XS IRU )LQODQG FRYHULQJ WKLV GHFDGH This programme will include public sector actions for improving the ge QHUDO HPSOR\PHQW UDWH LQYHVWPHQWV DQG WHFKQRORJLFDO GHYHORSPHQW WKH reby creating favourable conditions for JURZWK DQG FRQoGHQFH EHWZHHQ WKH various economic actors. Another ma jor element in the growth programme will have to be the responsible mana JHPHQW RI SXEOLF oQDQFHV EHFDXVH it will enhance our external credibili ty and create a stable operating envi URQPHQW IRU HFRQRPLF DFWRUV 7KLUGO\ the programme will address issues re lated to our competitiveness.

continued p. 5

October 2010 q ELDR News n°7 | www.eldr.eu

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Higdc\Zg gdaZ [dg :jgdeZVc IVX`a^c\ i]Z [jijgZ/ Vkd^Y^c\ eVgi^Zh bZVch V bdgZ ^ciZg\ZcZgVi^dcVa XaVh]Zh eda^i^XVa :A9G :LWKLQ RXU RZQ QHWZRUN RI QDWLRQDO SROLWLFLDQV WKLV PHDQV HQJDJLQJ RXU QDWLRQDO 03V DQG QDWLRQDO H[SHUWV LQ SROLF\ GLVFXVVLRQ SURPRWLRQ DQG H[ change. There is a lot that our mem bers can learn from other European colleagues and ELDR can facilitate WKH SURFHVV RI SROLF\ H[FKDQJH DW the same time increasing its political RXWSXW VHH WKH (8 HOHFWLRQ 0DQLIHVWR which a few parties used as their own national manifesto for the European elections in 2009). ,Q , SURSRVH WKHUHIRUH WR DFWLYDWH even more our European network on a QXPEHU RI LVVXHV LQFOXGLQJ EULQJLQJ WRJHWKHU QDWLRQDO 03V DQG H[SHUWV RQ EXGJHW DJULFXOWXUH UHVHDUFK DQG LQ novation to discuss the liberal pers SHFWLYH IRU WKH IXWXUH (8 EXGJHW EXW 2YHU D \HDU KDV SDVVHG IURP WKH ODVW also call together key liberals in areas European elections and the debate on VXFK DV HGXFDWLRQ QRW D (8 UHPLW EXW how to increase their European dimen a fundamental issue for liberals) and VLRQ DQG SDUWLFLSDWLRQ KDV UH VWDUWHG GHIHQVH LVVXHV MXVW OLNH ZH GLG ZLWK fuelled by the proposals of Andrew RXU HQYLURQPHQW DQG oQDQFH H[SHUWV 'XII /LEHUDO 0(3 2Q 6HSWHPEHU in the past two years. D MRLQW (8 3DUOLDPHQW 1DWLRQDO 3DUOLDPHQWV GHEDWH ZDV KHOG LQ ([WHUQDOO\ LW ZLOO EH NH\ WR FRPPXQL %UXVVHOV RQ 'XII V SURSRVDO IRU WKH LQ cate effectively and reach even larger WURGXFWLRQ RI D FRPPRQ (8 HOHFWR audiences than we have been able to UDO ODZ HVWDEOLVKLQJ DPRQJVW RWKHUV do so far. This requires having a sharp WKLQJV DQ (8 ZLGH WUDQVQDWLRQDO PHVVDJH RQ D ODUJH UDQJH RI LVVXHV EXW constituency for the election of 25 also investing in a dialogue with natio 0(3V ZLWK FDQGLGDWHV OLVWV GUDZQ E\ QDO DQG ORFDO SUHVV QRW RQO\ (8 EDVHG SUHVV ,W DOVR PHDQV WDONLQJ WR WKRVH European political parties. OLEHUDO PLQGHG SHRSOH \RXQJ SHRSOH :KHWKHU WKLV SURSRVDO LI DFFHSWHG ZLOO who are interested in liberal politics reverse the trend of ever poorer turnout but are not necessarily active in a po DW (8 HOHFWLRQV DQG HQJDJH WKH SXEOLF OLWLFDO SDUW\ \HW in European and not only domestic af IDLUV LW LV KDUG WR VD\ ,Q LWV FXUUHQW IRUP ,W LV LQ WKLV OLJKW WKDW LQ (/'5 KDV KRZHYHU LW ZRXOG LQFUHDVH GUDPDWLFDOO\ SURPRWHG HYHQWV VXFK DV WKH (/) (/'5 the role of European political parties in /LEHUDO $FDGHP\ IRU VWXGHQWV D VHPL nar for national and local journalists in the European political sphere. %UXVVHOV DQG ZRUNVKRSV RI (/'5 03V ,I (/'5 UHDOO\ ZDQWV WR EH D YHKLFOH RI DQG QDWLRQDO H[SHUWV RQ KHDOWK FDUH European liberal ideas on the public VRFLDO ZHOIDUH DJHLQJ SRSXODWLRQ DQG VSKHUH ZH QHHG WR EH PRUH SROLWLFDO migration issues. and to get our ideas known outside Brussels and outside the circles of our Such initiatives have several advan tages: they reach new audiences for most dedicated members.

are witnessing constant attempts by po liticians and private companies to reduce individual rights and breach established civil liberties. Add to that an utter lack of knowledge about the new media on WKH VLGH RI ODZPDNHUV DQG \RX JHW D GDQJHURXV PL[ 2QH H[DPSOH DULVLQJ out of a lack of knowledge and best in tentions is the plan to block child porn 7KLUGO\ ZH ZLOO ORRN DW KRZ GHPRJUD ZHEVLWHV ,QVWHDG RI HIIHFWLYHO\ FRPED phic change affects the democratic pro WLQJ WKHVH DZIXO FULPHV WKH SURSRVDO E\ 2QH LPSRUWDQW DVSHFW RI WKLV LV RI cess: today there is a structural majori the European Commission basically asks FRXUVH WKH VRFLDO V\VWHPV IURP KHDOWK W\ RI ROGHU SHRSOH LQ (XURSH KRZ ZLOO member states to look the other way. WR SHQVLRQV ZKLFK QHHG WR EH KHDYLO\ this impinge upon our political system <RXQJ OLEHUDOV DUH FRQYLQFHG ZH VKRXOG reformed in most member states in or RQFH WKH SRSXODWLRQ LV IXUWKHU DJHG" :LOO OHDYH EORFNLQJ SDUWV RI WKH ,QWHUQHW WR der to be able to continue functioning reforms that are hard not only to the China and instead crack down on the with shrinking and ageing population young but also to pensioners even be SHUSHWUDWRUV RI VXFK WHUULEOH FULPHV WR OHYHOV 7KLV ZLOO DPRQJ RWKHU WKLQJV possible ten years down the road? How JHWKHU ZLWK D UXOH RI ODZ ZD\ RI GHOH mean raising overall live working time do we keep the necessary freshness as ting their illegal content. This is the most and in most member states raising the well as youthful idealism and boldness SURPLQHQW EXW MXVW RQH DPRQJ PDQ\ effective pension age. LQ WKH SROLWLFDO SURFHVV" <RX FDQV VHH WR examples of the challenges ahead. day that parliaments do not represent /<0(& ZLOO GR LWV VKDUH WR WDFNOH WKHP Another aspect is state debts: current VRFLHW\ DV D ZKROH EXW WHQG WR KDYH D GXULQJ WKH QH[W WZR \HDUV political leaders fund their presents to rather high average age level. the electorate largely by accumulating higher and higher levels of state debt. ,Q /<0(& ZLOO WKHQ IRFXV RQ WKH WR âˆź Wn 6aZmVcYZg EaV]g! EgZh^YZci d[ From an intergenerational point of view SLF RI FLYLO OLEHUWLHV LQ WKH GLJLWDO DJH :H ANB:8 Ă„ :jgdeZVc A^WZgVa Ndji] :KLOH (/'5 QRZDGD\V SODQV RQH \HDU ahead and lately introduced the concept RI \HDUO\ WKHPHV /<0(& UHFHQWO\ DGRSWHG D WZR \HDU ZRUN SODQ 2XU WKHPDWLF WRSLF IRU ZLOO EH LQWHUJHQHUDWLRQDO MXVWLFH RU UDWKHU WKH ODFN WKHUHRI &ORVHO\ FRQQHF WHG WR WKH WRSLF RI GHPRJUDSKLF FKDQJH EXW QRW FRQoQHG WR LW ZH ZLOO ORRN DW WKH question of how to achieve a just burden sharing between generations.

WKLV LV DQ DEVROXWH QR JR *RYHUQPHQWV should only spend as much as they earn though taxes and not create burdens for IXWXUH JHQHUDWLRQV (YHU\ QHZERUQ (8 citizen these days already inherits thou sands and thousands of Euros of state GHEW IURP KLV QDWLRQDO JRYHUQPHQW without being able to reject that debt.

the ELDR and create a “multiplier ef fect� at national level for our ideas. $W WKH VDPH WLPH WKH\ EULQJ DGGHG YDOXH WR RXU PHPEHU SDUWLHV FRQVROL date our role as link between the natio nal and European level and allow us to produce more political output to bring out the liberal voice in a coherent and strong message. :KHWKHU 'XII V SURSRVDO IRU DQ LQ creased role of European parties is ac FHSWHG QRZ RU RQO\ DW D ODWHU VWDJH LW will be a strong and cohesive ELDR that will be able to make the most of the RSSRUWXQLWLHV LW LV JLYHQ :H QHHG WR SUHSDUH IRU WKDW QRZ LQ RUGHU WR VHL]H that opportunity as soon as it arises.

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L: G:8DBB:C9### 7gdVY iddaWdm cZZYZY id egdiZXi X]^aYgZc 8dbb^hh^dcZg BVabhigÂŽb gZhedcYh id Vc Vgi^XaZ ejWa^h]ZY ^c i]Z aVhi ?jcZ ZY^i^dc d[ i]^h cZlheVeZg , DP FRPPLWWHG WR PDNLQJ WKH (8 EHW WHU DW SURWHFWLQJ FKLOGUHQ DW SUHYHQ ting these crimes from happening in WKH oUVW SODFH DQG DW SXUVXLQJ WKH FUL PLQDOV , DUJXH WKDW EORFNLQJ RI ZHE sites with child pornographic content could be one instrument to fight 3ODKU V VHFRQG FRQFHUQ LV WKH LVVXH RI WKHVH KRUULEOH FULPHV EXW LW LV QRW censorship and freedom of expression. the one and only solution and should 7KH PRUH HIoFLHQWO\ ZH FDQ WDNH GRZQ He fears that there will be a misuse or not replace or contradict other use WKH ZHEVLWHV LQ TXHVWLRQ WKH OHVV WKHUH an extension of the blocking instrument ful actions. will be the need to block access. The to other areas. This is a valid concern – process of notice and take down is freedom of expression must be the core KRZHYHU LQHIoFLHQW LQ PDQ\ FRXQWULHV RI HYHU\ GHPRFUDF\ , KDYH ZLWK OLEHUDO and child pornographic photos can be friends fought actively for this right in found online for too long. Cooperation &XED %HODUXV =LPEDEZH DQG LQ RWKHU with third countries to strengthen this countries. But child pornography cannot SURFHVV LV YLWDO DQG , KDYH UDLVHG WKH LV be described as subject to freedom of sue in contacts with Russia as well as expression. – it is not a human right to WKH 86 EXW ZH DOVR KDYH D UHVSRQVLELOL watch children being abused. Let me ty to protect the violated children here WKHUHIRUH PDNH LW FOHDU WKDW , KDYH QR ,Q 0DUFK , SUHVHQWHG DQ DPEL the proposal is blocking websites with and now. Blocking of websites can thus intention of extending the blocking of websites to any other area than child be a useful complementary tool. WLRXV DQG ZLGH UDQJLQJ SURSRVDO WR child pornographic content. pornography. Several safeguards will âˆź oJKW VH[XDO DEXVH VH[XDO H[SORLWD tion of children and child pornogra ,Q WKH -XQH HGLWLRQ RI (/'5 QHZV 3ODKU IXUWKHU DUJXHV WKDW EORFNLQJ LV guarantee that. The proposal is about Wn 8ZX^a^V BVabhigÂŽb! SK\ 2QH RI WKH PDQ\ LQVWUXPHQWV RI /<0(& 3UHVLGHQW $OH[DQGHU 3ODKU DU inadequate since skilled internet users blocking child pornography alone. :jgdeZVc 8dbb^hh^dcZg gued against blocking websites with are able to bypass the blockings. But [dg =dbZ 6[[V^gh FKLOG SRUQRJUDSKLF FRQWHQW WDUJHWLQJ P\ SURSRVDO $FFRUGLQJ WR 3ODKU WKH most adequate answer to those web VLWHV LV QRW WR EORFN WKHP EXW WR WUDFN the perpetrators and to take down the ZHEVLWH , FRXOG QRW DJUHH PRUH EXW , also believe that complementary mea sures are needed.

skilled car thieves do not prevent us from locking our cars. The method of blocking websites is in fact already in XVH LQ VHYHUDO PHPEHU VWDWHV ZKHUH it is considered useful both by law en IRUFHPHQW DXWKRULWLHV DQG E\ 1*2 V

October 2010 q ELDR News n°7 | www.eldr.eu

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FOCUS YEAR 2011

GZ[dgb^c\ :jgdeZ Ă„ GZĂ’c^c\ i]Z :J WjY\Zi What is a FOCUS YEAR? It is a platform to discuss liberal priorities on a special issue. The topic of the 2010 “Focus Yearâ€? is the challenge on Demographic Change. This is a debate on the sustainability of Europe’s pension system and intergenerational justice; on the impact of Europe’s ageing population healthcare; on migration and immigration policies. 7KH KDJJOLQJ KDV RQO\ MXVW EHJXQ And times are harsh in Europe. Rising unemployment and increased auste ULW\ PHDVXUHV DIIHFW XV DOO 3D\LQJ WKH monthly bills is an achievement for many Europeans. But what needs to be done to bring Europe back on track? 7KH SUHVHQW (8 EXGJHW YDOLG XQWLO WRWDOV DOPRVW (XU %LOOLRQ 7KH European Commission puts forward its formal proposal for the next pe

riod 2014 to 2020 in April 2011 and negotiations are expected to last un til late 2013.

FXVV OLEHUDO SULRULWLHV IRU WKH (8 V LQ come and expenditures and to build a common liberal consensus.

Looking at such amounts for almost an HQWLUH GHFDGH /LEHUDOV QHHG WR JHW WKH priorities right. 7KDW V WKH UHDVRQ ZK\ (/'5 KDV GH cided to embark upon a new focus year 2011k5HIRUPLQJ (XURSH q 5HoQLQJ the EU Budget!� D SODWIRUP WR GLV

How and by whom do European /LEHUDOV ZDQW WKH (8 WR EH onanced? What should be the Member States’ contributions and what resources should be directly generated by the EU? Does this mean that the EU needs to introduce a direct EU tax? Can the EU continue to give varying discounts for some Member States’ contributions? But does the EU also need to revise its spending – or is it in fact more European funds that are needed to counter the crisis? And where does the EU have to set its spending priorities? Agriculture subsidies? The creation of an EU army? Education? Research and innovation? To balance unequal economic developments between the EU member states?

/LEHUDOV DUH SDUW RI (8 JRYHUQ PHQWV D GHFLVLYH IRUFH LQ WKH (XURSHDQ 3DUOLDPHQW DQG VWURQJO\ UHSUHVHQWHG in the European Commission. Together we can build a strong Europe for tomorrow.

-RLQ WKH GHEDWH RQ ZZZ HOGUIRFXV HX 5HIRUPLQJ (XURSH q 5HoQLQJ WKH (8 %XGJHW )ROORZ WKH GHEDWH RQ (/'5 V IDFH book fanpage “European Liberal 'HPRFUDWVy

“If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem�. AdjhZl^Zh KVc 9Zg AVVc! :A9G K^XZ EgZh^YZci

:A9G IG6>C>C< LDG@H=DEH :jgdeZVc A^WZgVah Zc" \V\Z ^c Y^gZXi Y^Vad\jZ =dl id hjXXZZY Vh a^WZgVa eda^i^XVa eVgin l^i] ndjc\ X^i^oZch European Liberals successfully held a (/) (/'5 /LEHUDO $FDGHP\ IRU young people in Brussels in August 2010. ,Q WKH ILUVW RI ZKDW ZLOO EHFRPH DQ DQQXDO HYHQW WKH /LEHUDO $FDGHP\ was bringing together 40 students from across Europe to the European 3DUOLDPHQW LQ %UXVVHOV RQ WKH EDVLV of an essay competition. The Liberal Academy 2010 allowed participants to intensely debate current political de YHORSPHQWV LQ WKH (8 RI FUXFLDO LP portance together with prominent (XURSHDQ OLEHUDO SROLWLFLDQV DPRQJ WKHP (/'5 3DUW\ 3UHVLGHQW $QQHPLH 1H\WV 8\WWHEURHFN DQG OLEHUDO JURXS OHDGHU LQ WKH (XURSHDQ 3DUOLDPHQW *X\ Verhofstadt.

ÂŤThis is part of our efforts to deve ORS WKH (/'5 3DUW\ LQWR D WUXH SROLWLFDO SDUW\ RUJDQL]DWLRQ z H[SODLQHG (/'5 Secretary General Federica Sabbati. Beyond the ELDR framework of national PHPEHU SDUWLHV WKLV IRUPDW DOORZHG European Liberals to discuss directly with interested students on how they envision the future of the European 8QLRQ DQG ZKDW UROH DQG VKDSH WKH\ ZDQW WKH (8 WR KDYH /LEHUDO 0(3V DQG the students therefore mutually bene oWHG IURP GLVFXVVLQJ SROLF\ SURSRVDOV and their possible implications on the OLIH RI (8 FLWL]HQV The European Liberal Forum and the (/'5 3DUW\ ZLOO EXLOG RQ WKLV VXFFHVVIXO experience and further intensify such programmes in the future.

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them. <Zdg\Z 7ZgcVgY H]Vl

Drawing on the experience of many VXFFHVVIXO OLEHUDO SDUWLHV LQ (XURSH ELDR offers its member parties the pos sibility to get the best ideas and prac tices from sister parties on a range of practical issues. How? By helping your party organise thematic workshops to be held in your country. Themes that you might find useful include:

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and many other issues‌at your UHTXHVW ,I \RX WKLQN \RXU SDUW\ FDQ LPSURYH LWV SHUIRUPDQFH LQ WKHVH oHOGV (/'5 ZLOO KHOS \RX GHVLJQ D WDLORU PDGH programme.

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7DD@ G:K>:L How did the Liberal family rise to occupy so important a place on the European political stage within the space of so few years? How did Liberals UHDFW WR (8 GHYHORSPHQWV VXFK DV WKH VFDQGDOV LQ WKH 6DQWHU &RPPLVVLRQ WKH proposal to make Rocco Buttiglione the European Commissioner for justice and home affairs and the rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution? And how did Liberals use their new found LQpXHQFH LQ WKH (XURSHDQ 3DUOLDPHQW the European Commission and the European Council? This month sees the SXEOLFDWLRQ RI D QHZ ERRN Building a Liberal Europe E\ *UDKDP :DWVRQ WKH ORQJHVW VHUYLQJ /HDGHU HYHU RI the Liberal group in the European 3DUOLDPHQW

1979 to 2009. He describes how the libe ral policies and personalities of the pe ULRG KHOSHG WR VKDSH WRGD\ V (XURSHDQ 8QLRQ &RQFHQWUDWLQJ RQ WKH SHULRG DIWHU SDUOLDPHQW JDLQHG SRZHUV RI FR GHFLVLRQ RYHU (8 ODZPD NLQJ KH WUDFHV WKH JURZWK RI /LEHUDO UH SUHVHQWDWLRQ DFURVV WKH (8 V LQVWLWXWLRQV and the increasing discipline and effecti veness which have boosted our impact.

The book is partly a chronological ac FRXQW RI WKH (8 GXULQJ WKHVH \HDUV SDUW O\ D VWXG\ RI /LEHUDO LQpXHQFH LQ GLI IHUHQW SROLF\ DUHDV SDUWO\ D SHUVRQDO memoir of one of the leading Liberals of WKH GD\ ,W LV QRQHWKHOHVV DQ HPLQHQWO\ readable and often gripping account of how Liberal ideas were advanced by dif IHUHQW DFWRUV :DWVRQ GUDZV RQ KLV RZQ *UDKDP :DWVRQ FKURQLFOHV WKH KLVWR experience of 35 years as a Liberal ac ry of the Liberal group in the European tive in European affairs and 15 years as 3DUOLDPHQW RYHU WKH WKLUW\ \HDUV IURP D 0HPEHU RI WKH (XURSHDQ 3DUOLDPHQW

to illustrate the unique contribution which Liberals can claim to have made to European integration. Nor does the author hide some of WKH WHQVLRQV RI WKH SHULRG HYHQ ZL thin Liberal ranks. From the machia YHOOLDQ PDQRHXYULQJV EHKLQG 0DUWLQ %DQJHPDQQ V HOHFWLRQ DV WKH ILUVW Liberal Leader in Strasbourg to the fric tion between Liberal leaders over the LQYDVLRQ RI ,UDT WKLV DFFRXQW GHWDLOV WKH LQQHU ZRUNLQJV RI (8 GHPRFUDF\ LQ DF WLRQ ,W LV D PXVW UHDG %X\ LW

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Building a Liberal Europe E\ *UDKDP :DWVRQ 0(3 LV SXEOLVKHG E\ -RKQ +DUSHU 3XEOLVKLQJ RI /RQGRQ &RSLHV of the book are available from the pu blisher and will be on sale at the ELDR Congress in Helsinki.

October 2010 q ELDR News n°7 | www.eldr.eu

PAGE 4

6 Y^gZXi :jgdeZVc iVm Ă„ gZVa^hi^X egdedhVa dg jide^V4 9jg^c\ i]Z :A9G 8dc\gZhh dc &("&* DXidWZg! i]Z :A9G EVgin ^h hZi id aVjcX] ^ih hd XVaaZY ;dXjh NZVg [dg '%&& l^i] i]Z i^iaZ “Reforming Europe – Refining the EU Budgetâ€?! I]^h ^h ^ciZcYZY Vh V eaVi[dgb id Y^hXjhh a^WZgVa eg^dg^i^Zh VcY id Wj^aY V Xdbbdc a^WZgVa XdchZchjh dc i]Z :JÉh ^cXdbZ VcY Zm" eZcY^ijgZh# HZZ Vahd dc eV\Z (# GZXZcian i]ZgZ ]VkZ WZZc bVcn Y^hXjhh^dch VgdjcY V Ă’cVcX^Va igVchVXi^dc iVm VcY l]Zi]Zg i]^h h]djaY WZ V cVi^dcVa! :jgdeZVc! \adWVa dcZ dg cdi ^cigdYjXZY Vi Vaa# I]^h ]Vh Vahd aZY id i]Z l^" YZg fjZhi^dc d[ i]Z ^cigdYjXi^dc d[ V \ZcZgVa :jgdeZVc iVm# :jgdeZVc A^WZgVah l^aa Y^hXjhh i]Z egdh VcY Xdch d[ gV^h^c\ gZkZ" cjZh VcY heZcY^c\ iVm bdcZn ^c YZiV^a dkZg i]Z XdjghZ d[ '%&&# Id `^X`hiVgi i]Z YZWViZ! ^c i]^h ^hhjZ d[ i]Z :A9G CZlheVeZg! lZ Vh` i]gZZ egdb^cZci :jgdeZVc A^WZgVah i]Z^g de^c^dc dc l]Zi]Zg V :jgdeZVc Y^gZXi iVm ^h Vc ZhhZci^Va eVgi d[ gZ[dgb^c\ i]Z :jgdeZVc WjY\Zi! VcY l]Vi di]Zg gZ[dgbh! ^[ Vcn! i]Z :J WjY\Zi ldjaY WZcZĂ’i [gdb jcYZg\d^c\#

Sharon Bowles MEP and Chair of the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, Liberal Democrats (United Kingdom) 1. Levying taxes touches upon the fundamentals of state sovereignty. How do you assess this discussion on European taxes in view of the key democratic principle “no taxation without representation�? Is the EU ready to levy taxes on its own? 7KLV LV D YHU\ VHQVLWLYH LVVXH :H GR RI FRXUVH KDYH UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ LQ WKH (8 0(3V DUH HOHFWHG $Q\ FKDQJH WR WKH WD[DWLRQ UHTXLUHV XQDQLPLW\ LQ &RXQFLO DQG 0HPEHU 6WDWH *RYHUQPHQWV DUH HOHF WHG 7KH (8 DOVR VHWV WKH EDVLF UDWH RI 9$7 DOUHDG\ ZKLFK LV ZK\ RQH FRXOG DGRSW WKH view that this concept is partly accepted DQG LI D UDWH RI 9$7 WKDW ZHQW WR WKH (8 were set by unanimity that would not KDYH EHHQ XQGHPRFUDWLF , JXHVV VRPH SURYLVLRQ IRU FKDQJLQJ LW HYHQ UHGXFLQJ LW FRXOG EH ORRNHG DW ,W LV VWLOO D ELJ KXUGOH

which is already used as part of the ba sis for contributions. A mach larger pro portion of VAT could be permanently hy SRWKHFDWHG WR WKH (8 EXGJHW LQVWHDG RI WKH *'3 FRQWULEXWLRQ DQG ZRUN LV EHLQJ done to see how that compares with current contributions.

All the member states have chosen to give up bulk of its sovereignty for a common good already. Going fur WKHU ZRXOG EH KDUG WR VHOO 7KH (8 LV currently going through a process of VWUHQJWKHQLQJ oVFDO DQG PDFURHFRQR mic surveillance and increasing the SRZHUV RQ WKH (8 OHYHO 2QH FRXOG DV 2QH HIIHFW RI WKDW ZRXOG WKHQ EH WKDW VXPH WKDW DQ\ SURSRVDO RI DQ (8 WD[ LQ the current range of national exemptions a current situation would be very dif would need tightening to ensure a level oFXOW WR KDQGOH SOD\LQJ oHOG 3DVW H[SHULHQFH VKRZV WKDW IRU H[DPSOH H[HPSWHG KDLUFXWV DQG EL 2. In a recent interview with the cycle wheels in the Netherlands or chil Financial Times Deutschland the GUHQ V FORWKLQJ LQ WKH 8. DUH KLJKO\ SR European Budget Commissioner litical and impossible to get conceded Janusz Lewandowski floated the – someone always has an election possibility of a European wide tax. somewhere – making achieving harmoni Did he break a taboo by proposing VDWLRQ WDQWDPRXQW WR LPSRVVLEOH ,W ZRXOG this? Is your party in favour of a dinot require harmonisation of the VAT rate rect European tax? because it would be expressed in terms RI VD\ RI WKH WD[ EDVH LUUHVSHFWLYH of the national rate of VAT. However we should also be looking at other ways of UDLVLQJ UHVRXUFHV IRU WKH (8 DQG WR VRPH extent that has had to be addressed in the rescue funds for the Eurozone. There is more work that could be done using the PDUNHWV HVSHFLDOO\ LI WKHUH ZHUH D PRUH GHoQHG EDVH IRU WKH LQFRPH 'RHV WKH (8 QHHG RZQ GLUHFW onancial resources or should the Union be funded by member state’s payments? Do you think a reform of the current system of payments is necessary? Reform to a system that is in some way automatic would certainly make OLIH HDVLHU

3URSRVLQJ YDULRXV RSWLRQV LV DQ LQKH rent job of the Commission. This is how we see the proposal. Not as a battle or a provocation.

4. EU member states are compelled -also by the EU institutions- to severely cut their national budgets. What reforms does the EU budget need to undergo?

:H DUH QRW LQ IDYRXU RI D GLUHFW (XURSHDQ 7D[ DOWKRXJK WKHUH DUH ORJLFDO DUJXPHQWV that can be made for having a procedure that is better than the current one.

The question is not about being in fa YRXU RU DJDLQVW ,W LV DERXW ZKDW ZRXOG be the added value and what policy implications the potential changes ZRXOG KDYH ,I WKHUH ZDV D FRPPRQ SROLF\ SURSRVDO IRU ZKLFK D FRPPRQ (8 7KH (8 VKRXOG FRPSUHKHQVLYHO\ UHIRUP WD[ ZRXOG EH WKH EHVW ZD\ RI GRLQJ ZH LWV EXGJHW IURP VFUDWFK HYHU\ VR RIWHQ ZRXOG DQDO\]H LW +RZHYHU RQH VKRXOG rather than following a template of pre EHDU LQ PLQG WKDW WKH (8 WD[ ZRXOG QRW vious years. UDLVH WKH SRSXODULW\ RI (8 LQ 0HPEHU States. Nor would it be a consistent VWHS IURP WKH SRLQW RI YLHZ RI (8 FRP petitiveness as it would inevitably en JĂźrgen Ligi tail the cognition of increasing the tax Estonian Minister of Finance EXUGHQ RI (8 Estonian Reform Party - Liberals

7KHUH PD\ ZHOO EH D FDVH IRU D oQDQ cial levy of some kind for funding the PHDVXUHV QHHGHG WR HQVXUH D VDIHU o QDQFLDO V\VWHP EXW QRW DV D PHDQV RI general taxation. The same may be true RI DYLDWLRQ DQG &2 )RU D GLUHFW WD[ WKH most sensible tax to use would be VAT

1. Levying taxes touches upon the fundamentals of state sovereignty. How do you assess this discussion on European taxes in view of the key democratic principle “no taxation without representation�? Is the EU ready to levy taxes on its own?

2. In a recent interview with the Financial Times Deutschland the European Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski floated the possibility of a European wide tax. Did he break a taboo by proposing this? Is your party in favour of a direct European tax?

,Q DQ\ FDVH WKH SURSRVDOV IRU WKH q FXU rently imaginary – tax base should be seen and analyzed in a comprehensive way taking into account all the regula tory measures and policy choices im plemented for relevant sectors by the (8 DQG PHPEHU VWDWHV QRW WR PHQWLRQ

JOREDO VSLOORYHUV DQG FRPPRQ (8 SULQ FLSOHV IRU WD[ VRYHUHLJQW\ 7KHUHIRUH we could not support debates on the oQDQFLDO WUDQVDFWLRQV~ WD[ RU DQ\ GLUHFW WD[ EXW FRXOG EH RSHQ WR IXUWKHU DQDO\ sis on the options of consumption and contamination taxation. 'RHV WKH (8 QHHG RZQ GLUHFW onancial resources or should the Union be funded by member state’s payments? Do you think a reform of the current system of payments is necessary?

2. In a recent interview with the Financial Times Deutschland the European Budget Commissioner -DQXV] /HZDQGRZVNL pRDWHG WKH SRVsibility of a European wide tax. Did he break a taboo by proposing this? Is your party in favour of a direct European tax? The VVD is against any form of European taxation. This would restrain the citizens of Europe in their freedom.

Simplifying and optimizing the fun GLQJ V\VWHP RI WKH (8 EXGJHW FRXOG EH DFKLHYHG ZLWKRXW DQ (8 WD[ DV ZHOO 7KH FXUUHQW V\VWHP VKRXOG EH UHYLHZHG ,W FRXOG EH PDGH VLPSOHU PRUH WUDQVSD UHQW DQG PRUH HTXDO $QG FKHDSHU WR DGPLQLVWHU :H VXSSRUW DEROLVKLQJ WKH 9$7 EDVHG RZQ UHVRXUFH DQG oOOLQJ WKH JDS E\ WKH *1, EDVHG UHVRXUFH DQG reviewing the misalignments caused E\ WKH FRUUHFWLRQV ZKLFK DUH RXW RI season. 4. EU member states are compelled -also by the EU institutions- to severely cut their national budgets. What reforms does the EU budget need to undergo? 7DONLQJ DERXW (8 EXGJHW LW LV QRW FRQVR OLGDWLRQ RU FXWV ZKLFK ZRXOG EH WKH XU JHQW LVVXH DV WKH (8 EXGJHW LV D WLQ\ SUR SRUWLRQ RI WKH *'3 RI (8 FRPSDUHG WR WKH EXGJHWV RI WKH (8 06 )LUVW DQG IRUHPRVW ZH VKRXOG PDWFK WKH (8 EXGJHW ZLWK WKH (8 VWUDWH gy. Not only on paper.

Hans van Baalen MEP and Head of Delegation VVD (The Netherlands), President of Liberal International 1. Levying taxes touches upon the fundamentals of state sovereignty. How do you assess this discussion on European taxes in view of the key democratic principle “no taxation without representation�? Is the EU ready to levy taxes on its own? Taxation is a core competence of the JRYHUQPHQWV RI 0HPEHU 6WDWHV XQGHU VFUXWLQ\ RI WKH 1DWLRQDO 3DUOLDPHQWV 7KH (8 VKRXOG QRW OHY\ WD[HV 7KH LQFRPH RI WKH (8 VKRXOG FRQVLVW RI D SHUFHQWDJH RI WKH *'3 RI WKH PHPEHUV VWDWHV ZLWK D FDS RI

'RHV WKH (8 QHHG RZQ GLUHFW onancial resources or should the Union be funded by member state’s payments? Do you think a reform of the current system of payments is necessary? ,QGHHG WKH FRQWULEXWLRQ RI WKH 0HPEHUV States should be the sole income of the (8 4. EU member states are compelled -also by the EU institutions- to severely cut their national budgets. What reforms does the EU budget need to undergo? 7KH (8 VKRXOG EH D FRPPXQLW\ RI IUHH GRP :H VKRXOG OLIW DOO UHPDLQLQJ EDU ULHUV WR WKH FRPPRQ PDUNHW :H VKRXOG QRW IRUFH WKH 0HPEHU 6WDWHV LQWR HTXDOLW\ E\ DOO NLQGV RI VXEVLGLHV ZH propose to cut these. The Common $JULFXOWXUDO 3ROLF\ DQG WKH 5HJLRQDO 3ROLF\ VKRXOG EH EDVHG RQ FR oQDQFLQJ and should be reduced to lower levels. 2QO\ ZKHQ WKH (8 KDV DQ LQGLVSXWDEOH DGGHG YDOXH WKH (8 VKRXOG EH DFWLYH

October 2010 q ELDR News n°7 | www.eldr.eu

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),Q WKH WLJKWO\ IRXJKW 6ZHGLVK HOHF WLRQV RQ 6HSWHPEHU WZR FOHDU alternatives were put against each RWKHU ZKHQ WKH JRYHUQLQJ IRXU SDU W\ OLEHUDO FRQVHUYDWLYH $OOLDQFH ZDV FKDOOHQJHG E\ WKH WKUHH SDUW\ 5HG *UHHQV 7KHUHE\ YRWHUV ZHUH RIIHUHG a possibility to vote for the preferred government. Early polls predicted a clear tilt to ZDUGV WKH 5HG *UHHQV DQG D IDLUO\ HDV\ VWUROO WR PDMRULW\ LQ WKH 3DUOLDPHQW 5LNVGDJHQ DQG GLIoFXOW WLPHV IRU WKH SDUWLHV LQ WKH $OOLDQFH DPRQJ WKHP ELDR member parties Centerpartiet and Folkpartiet Liberalerna. Reality ZRXOG SURYH GLIIHUHQW ODUJHO\ WKDQNV WR D JRRG IRXU \HDU PDQGDWH RI SROLF\ FKDQJH ZLWK FOHDU OLEHUDO LQpXHQFHV 7R KLJKOLJKW RQO\ D IHZ H[DPSOHV Sweden under the mandate of the Alliance managed to: 6 X F F H V V I X O O \ F R Q G X F W W K H L U 3UHVLGHQF\ RI WKH (8 LQ DXWXPQ XQGHU WKH OHDG RI (XURSH 0 L Q L V WH U & H F L O L D 0 D O P V W UĂ„ P )RONSDUWLHW QRWDEO\ DFKLHYLQJ DQ HQG WR WKH ORQJ VWDQGLQJ VDJD RI WKH /LVERQ 7UHDW\ $ FUHGLEOH PDQDJHPHQW RI WKH FRXQWU\ V HFRQRP\ WKURXJK WKH o QDQFLDO FULVLV KDLOHG E\ VHYHUDO DV RQH RI WKH EHVW LQ (XURSH

3 URPRWH OLEHUDO SROLF\ DFWLRQ VXFK DV KLJKOLJKWHG LQ 'HSXW\ 30 DQG 0LQLVWHU IRU (QWHUSULVH 0DXG 2ORIVVRQ V &HQWHUSDUWLHW FOHYHU management of the crisis in the 6ZHGLVK DXWRPRWLYH LQGXVWU\ UHIX sing to give immediate state bailout WR WKH DLOLQJ PDQXIDFWXUHU 6$$% OD ter instead sold to a Dutch consor tium without having to be paid by tax payers. 2QFH LQLWLDWLYHV OLNH WKHVH JRW D SUR per breakthrough among the Swedish SRSXODWLRQ DSSURYDO UDWHV RI WKH Alliance gradually started to grow. All VDLG DQG GRQH E\ WKH WLPH RI HOHFWLRQV the Alliance had managed to turn the tide and secure more votes than the 5HG *UHHQV DQG (/'5 PHPEHU SDU ties Centerpartiet and Folkpartiet had oQLVKHG WKHLU UHVSHFWLYH HOHFWRUDO FDP SDLJQV ZHOO ERWK VHFXULQJ DURXQG of the votes and thereby roughly main taining their relative strength. The Alliance is now likely to continue their work from the past four years and IRUP D JRYHUQPHQW +RZHYHU DV WKH ULJKW ZLQJ 6ZHGLVK 'HPRFUDWV DOVR HQ WHUHG 3DUOLDPHQW WKH $OOLDQFH GRHV QRW RZQ D PDMRULW\ LQ 5LNVGDJHQ ZKLFK is why negotiations may drag on for D ELW ORQJHU WKDQ H[SHFWHG k,W ZDV D truly historic election with the Alliance once and for all breaking the Social 'HPRFUDWV QHDU PRQRSRO\ RQ SRZHU This important shift should not be un GHUHVWLPDWHG , DP VDG KRZHYHU WKDW the extremist Swedish Democrats gai QHG HQWU\ LQWR WKH 5LNVGDJHQ :H ZLOO never cooperate with the Swedish 'HPRFUDWV RXU YDOXHV JR FRPSOHWHO\ DJDLQVW WKHLUVk FRPPHQWHG /HQD (N 0(3 &HQWHUSDUWLHW 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH (/'5 3DUW\

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$V /HQD (N QRWHV VKRXOG WKH $OOLDQFH FRQWLQXH LQ SRZHU LW ZRXOG LPS ly quite a remarkable and welcome VKLIW LQ 6ZHGLVK SROLWLFV )RU WKH oUVW WLPH LQ PRGHUQ KLVWRU\ VXFK D FRQWL QXDWLRQ E\ WKLV IRXU SDUW\ FRRSHUD tion would break the Social Democrat rule in Sweden and continue its man GDWH IRU DQRWKHU IRXU \HDUV DQG ZRXOG thereby indeed be of historical impor WDQFH k,W LV D SOHDVXUH WR ZKROHKHDU tedly congratulate both Centerpartiet and Folkpartiet for a magnificent teamwork in coalition. Seeing liberal forces write history is naturally highly SOHDVLQJ DQG WKH OHVVRQV OHDUQHG ZLOO EH KHOSIXO IRU WKH (/'5 3DUW\ DQG RXU PHPEHUVy FRQFOXGHG $QQHPLH 1H\WV 8\WWHEURHFN 0(3 The fellow citizens of John Locke? The descendents of Immanuel Kant? The compatriots of the liberal Benedetto Croce? None of them and the answer âˆź Wn ?dV`^b ;gVcio! :A9G EVgin could surprise you.

)RU WKH ODVW HLJKW \HDUV WZR &]HFK VR FLRORJLVWV RI WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 3UDJXH have submitted randomly a question QDLUH WR SHRSOH LQ (XURSHDQ countries asking them if they over the ODVW \HDU KDG VLJQHG D SHWLWLRQ GRQD WHG WR D SROLWLFDO SDUW\ RU SDUWLFLSDWHG in a demonstration. 7KH FRPSDUDWLYH VWXG\ oQDOO\ GHmonstrates that the most political-

ly active Europeans are Norwegians, Swedes and Finns ZKLOH WKH 6ORYDNV 3ROHV DQG +XQJDULDQV DUH DW WKH ERW tom of the list. The study also revealed that among the citizens of the former &RPPXQLVW HDVWHUQ EORF FRXQWULHV WKH Czechs are the most active politically. Recent research suggests that tradi WLRQDO FODVVURRP EDVHG FLYLF HGXFDWLRQ FDQ VLJQLoFDQWO\ UDLVH SROLWLFDO NQRZOH GJH 6HUYLFH OHDUQLQJ D FRPELQDWLRQ RI FRPPXQLW\ EDVHG FLYLF H[SHULHQFH DQG V\VWHPDWLF FODVVURRP UHpHFWLRQ RQ WKDW H[SHULHQFH LV D SURPLVLQJ LQQR vation as suggested by liberal parties in Scandinavia.

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.UHSSD PHDQV FULVLV LQ ,FHODQGLF Commenting following the turmoil in ,FHODQG DQG FRPSDULQJ LW WR WKH UHVW RI (XURSH GXULQJ WKH oQDQFLDO FULVLV RQH RI WKH ERRN V WKUHH FR DXWKRUV 'DQLHO *URV VWDWHV kWKH FULVLV WKDW KLW ,FHODQG in 2008 is not comparable with the cases that we have now in European FRXQWULHV LQ 7KH ,FHODQGLF FULVLV E\ DOO DFFRXQWV VKRXOG QRW EH FRP SDUHG ZLWK *UHHFH EHFDXVH WKH JR YHUQPHQW V DFWLRQV ZHUH QRW DV LU UHVSRQVLEOH DV LQ *UHHFH <HV q WKH breadth and depth of the crisis are of WKH VDPH FDOLEUH DV LQ ,UHODQG %XW LW LV PRUH OLNH WKH FDVH RI 6ZLW]HUODQG heavily dependent on the banking sec WRU EXW EDVHG RQ OLDELOLW\ q QRW RQ IR reign assets�. Even though there are no direct si milar cases because of the nature of

WKH ,FHODQGLF HFRQRP\ ZKLFK LV RQH RI WKH ZRUOG V VPDOOHVW OLEHUDO HFRQRPLHV ZLWK LWV RZQ FXUUHQF\ WKHUH DUH KRZH YHU OHVVRQV WR EH OHDUQHG IURP ZKDW happened.

DOVR VHHPV WR KDYH ERRVWHG WKH (8 V FUHGHQWLDOV RQ ,FHODQG q IROORZLQJ WKH FULVLV ,FHODQG KDV EHFRPH DQ RIoFLDO candidate for E.

7KH ERRN .5(33$ FRQWULEXWHV WR WKH GLD logue and understanding of this. The fo cus is set on a forward looking approach and tries to analyse what could have been done differently. Through four ar ticles covering different topics and ap SURDFKHV .5(33$ JLYHV D YDVW LQ GHSWK view on the crisis effects – from the mi cro to the macro level. ,I QRWKLQJ HOVH WKH ,FHODQGLF FULVLV KDV served as a reminder of what liberals in WKH (8 KDYH ORQJ DGYRFDWHG q WKH FXU UHQW (XURSHDQ FURVV ERUGHU HFRQRPLF surveillance mechanisms need impro YHPHQW $V D ZHOFRPH VLGH HIIHFW LW

â€œâ€Ś if we want education for all to improve, we mustn’t be tempted by the reassuring spin that the public sector can hope to match the incentives of the private sector for innovation and efficiency. The way forward for education is to bring in the incentives that push forward quality and innovation in all other areas of our lives. Children, especially disadvantaged children, deserve more than to be trapped in an industry forever sidelined.“ James Tooley in: “Should the Private Sector profit from education?â€? Educational Notes No. 31, London: Libertarian Alliance, 1999.

continued from p. 5

,W LV FKDOOHQJLQJ WR HVWDEOLVK D IRXQ dation for the proposed growth pro JUDPPH DV PDQ\ RI RXU WUDGLWLRQDO growth factors have weakened. The size of our labour force will decline along with the ageing of the popula WLRQ DQG WKH JURZWK LPSXOVH IURP WKH electrical engineering industry is fa GLQJ $W SUHVHQW ZH DUH D KLJKO\ LQGXV WU\ LQWHQVLYH FRXQWU\ DQG DV VXFK DUH very vulnerable to the faster structural change brought about by globalisation. Although our employment situation has not deteriorated to the extent that was HVWLPDWHG DW WKH VWDUW RI WKH oQDQFLDO FULVLV LW LV D IDFW WKDW XQHPSOR\PHQW has increased above the preceding le YHO :H DUH WKUHDWHQHG E\ SHUPDQHQW ly increasing structural unemployment which would further add to the pro blems related to public economy sus tainability and social inclusion. 2Q WKH RWKHU KDQG WKH IRXQGDWLRQV ZH have will open up many opportunities for us. Finland can develop into the number one country within the green HFRQRP\ :H KDYH QDWXUDO UHVRXUFHV DQG UDZ PDWHULDOV DQG WKHLU GHPDQG

will continue in the wake of the growth of developing countries. Finland has a highly educated and competent labour IRUFH 6LPLODUO\ ZH KDYH D YDVW QXP ber of excellent businesses and plenty RI LQQRYDWLYH HQWUHSUHQHXUV :H DOVR KDYH D ZHOO IXQFWLRQLQJ VRFLHW\ DQG infrastructure. 0RVW RI WKH FKDOOHQJHV DQG VROXWLRQV mentioned above apply to the whole RI (XURSH $OO RYHU (XURSH WKH JURZWK RI SURGXFWLYLW\ DQG ZHOIDUH ZLOO LQ WKH IXWXUH KDYH WR UHO\ LQFUHDVLQJO\ RQ RXU own innovations and our ability to ap ply foreign innovations. Growth must EH EDVHG RQ KLJKO\ VNLOOHG SHRSOH FRP petence and creativity. , ZDUPO\ ZHOFRPH \RX WR +HOVLQNL WR IXUWKHU GLVFXVV WKHVH WRSLFV

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October 2010 q ELDR News n°7 | www.eldr.eu

PAGE 6

INTEGRATION

FOLKPARTIET (Sweden)

OVERCOME

FIANNA FĂ IL (Ireland)

)RU PDQ\ \HDUV ,UHODQG ZDV NQRZQ WKURXJKRXW (XURSH PDLQO\ IRU WKH YLR OHQW FRQpLFW LQ WKH 1RUWK )URP WKH PRPHQW LW ZRQ WKH HOHFWLRQ XS WR WRGD\ HQGLQJ WKLV FRQpLFW KDV EHHQ WKH SULRULW\ DQG JUHDWHVW VXFFHVV RI )LDQQD )DLO LQ JRYHUQPHQW 7KH 1RUWKHUQ ,UHODQG 3HDFH 3URFHVV VWDQGV RXW as an example of how to overcome even the most intractable problems.

)RONSDUWLHW ZDV D NH\ LQLWLDWRU RI WKH OLEHUDO FRQVHUYDWLYH $OOLDQFH WKDW HQGHG WKH VRFLDO GHPRFUDWLF GRPLQDWLRQ (GXFDWLRQ LQWHJUDWLRQ DQG European affairs have been of top on the agenda and our policies have successfully been implemented. Cigdem GĂźnes Office of MEP Olle Schmidt

EDUCATION

Paul Sammon Internal Communications Officer

HNS - CROATIA PEOPLE’S PARTY- LIBERAL DEMOCRATS (Croatia)

PEACE PROCESS

HNS initiated and implemented the building of the “Highway A1� connec WLQJ QRUWK DQG VRXWK &URDWLD JLYLQJ WUDGH WRXULVP DQG WKH HFRQRP\ WKH SRVVLELOLW\ WR pRXULVK LQ DOO SDUWV RI &URDWLD +16 KDV ZRUNHG IRU D FRQVHQVXV UHJDUGLQJ DFFHVVLRQ WR WKH (8 DQG LV QRZ VWHHULQJ &URDWLD WR wards membership.

CONSENSUS

Vedrana Gujic LYMEC Bureau member

D66 - DEMOCRATEN 66 (Netherlands)

GAY MARRIAGE

EU MEMBERSHIP

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A>7:G6A

RIGHT TO ABORTION

We asked our member parties to highlight some of their achievements

SELF-DETERMINATION

FDP – LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY

NMSP - NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR STABILITY AND PROSPERITY (Bulgaria)

(Germany) The matrix of our overwhelming success in 2009 was the common message DOO OLEHUDOV SURPRWHG :H RIIHUHG D SURQRXQFHG SURJUDPPH D SURPLVLQJ SHUV SHFWLYH LQ WHUPV RI VWUDWHJ\ DQG SRVLWLYH SHUVRQDOLWLHV 7KH FLWL]HQV QRW WKH state or public media were the guarantors of our success. German liberals NQRZ WKHLU PHVVDJH :H NQRZ RXU DXGLHQFH DQG LWV QHHGV $QG ZH DGGUHVV SHRSOH LQ D VWUDLJKW ZD\ 7KDW RIIHUV ZKDW SHRSOH DVSLUH PRVW WKHVH GD\V D FOHDU FRXUVH 2XU UHFRPPHQGDWLRQ &RPPXQLFDWH FOHDU FRQWHQW FRQWLQXRXVO\ Helmut Metzner Head of Party Chairman’s Office

POSITIVENESS SUCCESS COMMUNICATE

:H OHDG WKH UHXQLoFDWLRQ RI %XOJDULD EDFN WR (XURSH 2Q $SULO WKH 3ULPH 0LQLVWHU DQG WKH /HDGHU RI 1063 0U 6LPHRQ 6D[H &REXUJ VLJQHG WKH %XOJDULDQ 7UHDW\ RI $FFHVVLRQ WR WKH (XURSHDQ 8QLRQ 7KLV act deeply affected the destiny and the perspective of our country and of Bulgarian people. Ralitza Kostova NMSP International Officer

DESTINY PROSPECTIVE ISTRIAN DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY (IDA) (Croatia) 7KH ,'$ KDV REWDLQHG D PDMRULW\ LQ WKH ,VWULDQ 5HJLRQ DQG DGPLQLVWHUV LW KDV UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ LQ WKH 1DWLRQDO &URDWLDQ SDUOLDPHQW DQG KDV IRXJKW IRU GH mocratic values guaranteeing FLYLF HFRQRPLF DQG FXOWXUDO prosperity and integration into the European Community.

DEMOCRATIC VALUES CULTURAL PROSPERITY

DuĹĄko KiĹĄberi Head of Department of public relations

October 2010 q ELDR News n°7 | www.eldr.eu

PAGE 7

MOUVEMENT RÉFORMATEUR

LIBERAL PARTY OF MACEDONIA

(Belgium) 7KH /LEHUDO 3DUW\ RI 0DFHGRQLD SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ WKH DGRSWLRQ RI WKH DPHQGPHQWV WR WKH &RQVWLWXWLRQ SURSRVHG WKH 'HFODUDWLRQ RQ $SRORJ\ WR WKH 9LFWLPV RI WKH &RPPXQLVW 5HJLPH WKH /XVWUDWLRQ /DZ DQG WKH 'UDIW 6WUDWHJ\ RQ 5HVROYLQJ WKH 1DPH 'LVSXWH ZLWK *UHHFH

7KH 05 KDV WDNHQ UHVSRQVLEOH DFWLRQV WR WDFNOH WKH oQDQFLDO FULVHV H J WKH %HOJLDQ VWDWH DFTXLUHG RI )RUWLV %DQN %HOJLXP IRU ELOOLRQ HXURV DQG WKHQ UHVROG WKHP WR %13 3DULEDV a week later which meant that the banking sector in Belgium avoided bankruptcy and helped stabilize the rest of Europe.

Ivon Velichkovski Vice-President Liberal Party of Macedonia

Francis Burstin International officer

TACKLING CRISES FINANCIAL REFORM

APOLOGY TO VICTIMS OF THE COMMUNIST REGIME VENSTRE (Denmark)

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT

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DECREASE PUBLIC ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Venstre MEPs

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INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

Find here some selected examples! UNITED DEMOCRATS (Cyprus)

YABLOKO (Russia)

SECURITY

,Q PDQ\ LQVWDQFHV ZH PDQDJHG WR SURWHFW WKH rights of our citizens despite the resistance of the DXWKRULWLHV $OVR VHYHUDO <$%/2.2 SURSRVDOV VXFK DV PRYLQJ WRZDUGV D YLVD IUHH UHJLPH EHWZHHQ 5XVVLD DQG WKH (8 DQG FUHDWLQJ D MRLQW 5XVVLDQ )HGHUDWLRQ 1$72 $QWL %DOOLVWLF 0LVVLOH V\VWHP ZHUH oQDOO\ WUDQVPLWWHG LQWR 5XVVLD V IRUHLJQ SROLFLHV

Praxoula Antoniadou Kyriacou, President of United Democrats

Olga Radayeva YABLOKO’s International Officer

PUBLIC AWARENESS

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FREE MOVEMENT

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FIGHT AGAINST THE SYSTEMATIC ILLEGALITIES

PEACE UNIFICATION

October 2010 q ELDR News n°7 | www.eldr.eu

PAGE 8

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EU summit), Brussels 3. 10-11 November Local and national media seminar, Brussels 4. 16 December ELDR Leaders meeting (EU Summit), Brussels

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