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C:LH6 Quarterly publication - June 2010 | ELDR News n°6 | 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 SPECIAL # # # # # # # # # # # # ∼ `URonomics ∼ 2010 - Zero growth for the Baltic States ∼ The Greek Crisis: an end or a beginning for the euro? PAGE 3 SPECIAL # # # # # # # # # # # # ∼ Challenging Demographic Change – ELDR Focus Year 2010 ∼ SWEDEN : Research + Education ∼ Combating youth unemployment

6Wdji YZbd\gVe]^X X]VaaZc\Zh them as our FOCUS for the months to come, inviting our member parties and SROLWLFDO RIoFH KROders to comment on them via the ELDR Focus year website on demographic change – www.eldrfocus.eu.

PAGE 4 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ∼ Cyprus : Turkey still set on Cyprus talks - “a lack of constructiveness” ∼ Iberian Peninsula Does liberalism have its oQJHU RQ WKH SXOVH" ∼ Liberal migration policies – taming the paper tiger PAGE 5 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ∼ Liberal Democrat Success to Bring Real Change to Britain ∼ Poland’s tragedy and hope PAGE 6 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ∼ LYMEC Campaign ∼ Creating the European public sphere ∼ Electoral Reform of the European Parliament PAGE 7 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ∼ Russia-EU: reset or partnership ∼ Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina ∼ BOOK’S CORNER PAGE 8 # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ∼ Planning of ELDR upcoming events ∼ ELDR Vice President Löning appointed to high level position in German Government

In a European context, the challenges of demography and the ageing of the population are considered as almost synonymous. Combined with the decrease of birth rates since the nineteen sixties, the increase of life expectancy is transforming the demographic pyramid into a more barrel like structure. This means that an ever smaller number of active citizens must take care of and pay for an ever larger number of senior citizens, thereby straining the sustainability of the European social security systems and putting increasing pressure on intergenerational solidarity. This, in a nutshell, is the common view on the present day challenges of demography in Europe. These challenges will be at the heart of our next ELDR Congress and we choose

The above sketched view is broadly correct in the case of the native European population; the situation is different for those segments of our population that are of foreign origin. In several Belgian cities for instance, increasing numbers of children are reaching school age and we will need many more schools and classes to educate them properly. The same is probably happening in many other European cities with large populations of so-called new Europeans, that is large populations whose ascendants migrated to Europe one, two or three generations ago.

If we take a still broader look, we may wonder what the effects of the Chinese one child policy will be, as this means that relatively fewer adults of working age will need to take care of larger numbers of older people. And what about the consequences of the Indian preference for male babies, which will entail a surplus of young men over young women?

The consequences of demography are inexorable, as today’s babies are tomorrow’s adults, and as possible corrections will take literally at least a whole generation to produce effects. These are but a few of the considerations about demography in Europe and the world over. I hope that many readers will offer us their thoughts on these and related subjects.

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On the other shore of the Mediterranean, the demographic outlook of the population is the almost exact opposite of the (white) European one, although their populations also enjoy longer lives than in the past. These societies struggle to

<VoV Xg^h^h Following the attack on a ship heading for the Gaza strip carrying humanitarian workers and aid, Annemie Neyts MEP, ELDR Party President said “I support the position of the European Parliament that the blockade of Gaza constitutes a collective punishment which is contrary to international law and there are real and genuine concerns that it is causing a humanitarian crisis. The blockade should be lifted. Furthermore, The Israeli attack happened in international waters, which goes against

create enough jobs for their young women and men. Many of those aspire to leave their home countries and come to Europe to build better lives.

Gjhh^V":J/ gZhZi dg eVgicZgh]^e global law. There should be an independent and international inquiry into what happened”. While Israel’s ambassador to the EU, Ran Kuriel, has robustly defended his country’s actions in targeting the ships by saying they were “not a peaceful humanitarian mission, but a provocation that became a tragedy», the European liberals deplore this policy and see it as counterproductive to the aim of bringing lasting peace and stability to the region.

>h V cZl gdVY bVe edhh^WaZ ^c i]Z [jijgZ4 The current state of relations between Russia and the European Union can be described at best as «a bad peace.» The old framework partnership and cooperation agreement has long expired, and negotiations on a new one stagnate; the “road

maps” to create common spaces between Russia and the EU completely abandoned, and various rows - from the pending impact of the war in Georgia to the customs FRQpLFWV FRPH WR WKH IRUH See P. 7

June 2010 | ELDR News n°6 | www.eldr.eu

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`JGDCDB>8H 7V^adji dg 7jhi4 The bailout of Greece and questions about the longer-term stability of the single currency and ways to strengthen cooperation in the euro zone are among the most urgent topics for EU leaders to address with these issues affecting the prosperity of Europe’s economy as a whole. ELDR’s leaders have been clear in their recent comments that the situation in Greece combined with high budget GHoFLWV DQG IDOOLQJ FUHGLW UDWLQJV LQ RWKHU member states is not the beginning of the end for the euro and that a future oriented perspective must be taken.

Liberal Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Keskusta) has stated that “Greece is on the right track and must FRQWLQXH WR FXW LWV SXEOLF GHoFLW DQG IROlow the excellent example of Ireland in order to restore its credibility. On the future prospects for avoiding other member states ‘doing a Greece’ Vanhanen added, �we also need some stronger sanctions to ensure that Member States comply with the Commission’s framework, which could include suspending structural funds.�

“The idea behind the euro zone is to ensure European prosperity – why one has to look at the longer term effects for (XURSHDQ oQDQFLDO VWDELOLW\ UDWKHU WKDQ applying populistic short-term behaviour. Reliable policies are not built by turncoats� comments ELDR Party President, Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck MEP.

The long-term stability of the euro zone and European economic prosperity are being discussed at an ELDR conference “`URonomics – Bailout or Bust?� on 17th June, which will explore Estonia’s expected entry into the euro next year and whether this will provide stability for the single currency; how cooperation between euro zone countries can “What effects would the dissolution of be strengthened and what the European the euro zone have for the EU? What ef- Banking Federation has to say on the lafects would it have for the mutual trust test developments. To read more about and cooperation between European nei- Estonia’s euro perspectives see the artighbours? I believe that the longer term cle by Kristiina Ojuland MEP and MEP HIIHFWV ZRXOG EHQHoW QHLWKHU (XURSH QRU Ramon Tremosa’s views on the types Greece. President, Neyts-Uyttebroeck of reforms Spain could implement. To concludes. read a report from the ELDR conference visit our website – www.eldr.eu. Likewise, countries that share similar EXGJHW GHoFLWV WR *UHHFH PXVW LPSOHment the necessary austerity measures without delay. Ireland’s governing majority party Fianna Fail (ELDR member) is implementing a tough programme of reforms to improve the country’s economic outlook and is held as a good example of how to do this.

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• Swedish and Scandinavian investors are becoming more optimistic about the Baltic States, with Estonia’s prospects of joining the Euro-zone in 2011, and the region’s improved international credit ratings. According to the economists, this year will be a year of zero growth for the Baltic States, and the recovery will come in 2011 while it is possible that the situation will normalize in 2012. Do you believe Estonia will be able to take the lead in the economic recovery ahead of Latvia and Lithuania? Indeed, Estonia has managed to recover from the economic downturn very well. 14,8% economic decline has turned by now into 0,2% of economic growth in the last quarter, which has already set us into a leading position in terms of econoPLF UHFRYHU\ $OVR WKHUH KDYH EHHQ VLJQLoFDQW PDUNV RI UHcovery in the other Baltic States. The global economic recession has improved the economic and political cooperation between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and I am convinced that our southern neighbours will be heading towards a dynamic economic growth with us sooner than expected. Just a couple of days ago we were assured by the OECD that they expect an economic growth of 5% in Estonia in 2011, if not more, when joining the Euro-zone. • What about the position of your party with regard to Estonia joining the Euro zone? What are the pros and the cons? The Estonian Reform Party has been at the forefront of bringing Estonia into the Euro-zone. Since the beginning of the global credit crunch, joining the Euro-zone has been for us priority number one. By now our goal is tangibly close. Recently we received very good news from the European Commission, who set a green light to our accession to the Euro-zone. The oQDO DSSURYDO ZLOO EH JLYHQ E\ WKH (FRQRPLF DQG )LQDQFLDO Affairs Council of the Council of the European Union in July. If we manage to hold our economic indicators as stable as they currently are, we will be using the euro in less than a year. • What is your political proposal to attract foreign investors and reactivate the EU internal market? Estonia has had one of the fastest levels of economic growth and development among post-Soviet countries. Estonia contri-

butes remarkably to its information technological development. Due to a small poSXODWLRQ ZH KDYH HIoFLHQWO\ LPSOHPHQWHG innovative social, political and economic solutions. The cost of Estonian labour and services are not over-estimated which makes us competitive in terms of production and export. The Estonian labour-market operaWHV LQ DFFRUGDQFH WR pH[LEOH OHJLVODWLYH IUDmework. Estonia is an important location for the EU in terms of geopolitics and economics being an EU border country to Russia. • In a previous interview of some time ago, you mentioned Margaret Thatcher as one of your heros because she was able to bring Great Britain out of a deep economic crisis by using liberal economic policies. Do you believe you can export some of the “Thatcheristâ€? policies to Estonia? Estonia has been successfully implementing ÂŤThatcheristÂť policies since 1992. On the other hand, if required, we must not stick to traditional neo-liberal understanding of the economy that once might have worked better than in the contemporary globalised world. The world is changing rapidly, especially in economic matters, and we must all act together in bringing about appropriate changes to reform the global economic structures even if it demands reinventing and reGHoQLQJ FXUUHQW VRFLDO HFRQRPLF DQG SROLWLFDO SDWWHUQV ZKHQ they cease to function. • How is living in Estonia and have you ever thought of moving elsewhere in Europe? If yes where? If not why? Regarding population, Estonia is one of the smallest in the European Union. We have plenty of space for living and for me there is a remarkable distinction between clean air in Estonia and Western-Europe. Moreover, Estonia has successfully preserved its forests and nature. Over 40% of Estonia is covered by forests which have even become tourist attractions for other Europeans. Health care is among the best in all of Europe as is technological innovation, education and e-solutions, which make life very convenient for an Estonian citizen - the bureaucracy is very minimal. My political career has been dedicated for the good of my country which means that the idea of a life elsewhere has not yet found its place in my thoughts. And to be honest, in time I have come to appreciate my home-country even more than ever before.

ÆI]Z <gZZ` 8g^h^h/ Vc ZcY dg V WZ\^cc^c\ [dg i]Z Zjgd4Ç very stability. That the eurozone was not an optimum monetary area was already known at the outset.

European unity has often moved forward on the back of crises, stumbles and sudden shocks to the system. Without the speculation against the pound sterling by George Soros in 1992, which in a few days drained the foreign reserves of the Bank of England, we would still not have the euro today, because no state central bank would have calmly given up its own monetary sovereignty. The crisis over Greece that took centre stage at the beginning of 2010 is also another opportunity. One can now see WKDW D IDLOXUH WR FRRUGLQDWH WKH oVFDO SRlicies of the eurozone can endanger its

It can appear as if Europe is always occupied with one treaty too late. The Lisbon Treaty is a valid instrument for managing the enlargement of the Union to 27 members (by eliminating the obligation of unanimity in decisionmaking), but it does not contemplate the minimum levels of oVFDO LQWHUGHSHQGHQFH WKDW DUH QHFHVVDry between the member states in order WR LPSURYH WKH HIoFLHQF\ RI WKH FRPPRQ monetary policy. As Nouriel Roubini has pointed out, a monetary union cannot be sustained in the long-term without a PLQLPXP RI oVFDO FRRUGLQDWLRQ EHWZHHQ its member states. The current crisis has brought into sharp relief the very low productivity of many workers in Mediterranean countries, to the point where they may not even generate enough income to cover the wages they are paid. While the advice of Paul Krugman may be that the only possible way out of the present situation for these countries is LQWHUQDO GHYDOXDWLRQ DQ DUGXRXV GHpD-

tion of prices and incomes drawn out over many years, since they cannot devalue their currency), there is also another possibility: to increase productivity. Obviously, this will not be easy. Reforms of this kind will clash head-on with the interests of important pressure groups. To ‘Europeanize’ the system of settling debts in Spain will clash with the giant Spanish construction companies, which continue to pay their sub-contractors only after 250 or even 300 days have past (contrary to the 60 days set down in European directives); reforming the educational system will disturb the teacher bureaucrats with their jobs for life; introducing greater flexibility into the labour market will bring a struggle with those great established powers in Spain, the unions (which, in effect, live off the public purse); and reducing excessive regulation will annoy the ecologists, in the same way that reforming the financial system will unsettle the banks. Reforms in the public sector will come up against the opposition of civil servants – and that’s without even begin-

ning to consider a reform of pensions. Nevertheless, the pension reforms carried out ten years ago in Holland and several Nordic countries give us an example to follow: less unemployment, more productive activity and higher capitalization of the assets of pension funds (in Holland the state pension exists alongside a new private pension, which is obligatory for all workers). The Mediterranean governments now KDYH D JUHDW RSSRUWXQLW\ WKDW RI GHonitively Europeanizing their economies,

taking advantage of the crisis to complete the reforms that can increase their countries’ productivity and competitiveness. This will require not populist governments, but clear and strong leadership, and leaders who will admit the severity of the immediate road ahead but can also communicate the ultimate prize to be won if all the homework is done well.

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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. Printed on recycled paper

June 2010 | ELDR News n°6 | www.eldr.eu

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The ELDR Party has launched its Focus Year on demographic change and the accompanying website: www.eldrfocus.eu. Around the theme of demographic change, the Focus Year aims to highlight the main talking points, what’s at stake and what our liberal democrat positions are on issues, such as; the type of social security systems and pension provisions that we need and how to achieve them; migration and immigration poliFLHV WKDW DUH WR WKH EHQHoW RI LQGLYLGXDOV and member states; and labour market policies that allow employers and emSOR\HHV DOLNH WR IXOoOO WKHLU SRWHQWLDO If you have an opinion on demographic change we want to hear it! Comment on the articles posted on our website and contribute to the discussions on the ELDR Facebook Fan Page with your opinions on the implications of demographic change.

:A9G EDAA Both Europe and the US face economic challenges as a result of demographic change: Europe will need to provide health care for an increasingly ageing population with a diminished workforce, while the US faces the prospect of having too many workers for the number of jobs available and needs economic growth to prevent the downward mobility of its people, especially the young.

NGURS RI WKH oQDQFLDO FULVLV DQG WKH FXUUHQW GLIoFXOWLHV RI WKH (XUR]RQH" <HV – undoubtedly so. Retaining and further improving our relative strength will be one of the most prominent challenges for Europe over the coming years.

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1. European Liberals focus 2010 on the challenges of demographic change. With a generally ageing population in Europe a sustainable funding of health care systems becomes a major reform task. What is your approach to introduce change in Sweden?

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8dbWVi^c\ ndji] jcZbeadnbZci mist Mathijs Bouman and youth activist Jeroen de Glas analysed the dichotomy of insiders and outsiders in the labour market. The publication of the research project, supplemented with speeches and workshop reports from the conference will be made available in July 2010. Please visit the ELDR Focus Year website for more information.

THE TEN POINT PLAN :

We need to invest in precautionary measures and use existing resources LQ DQ HIoFLHQW ZD\ 7KLV LV LPSRUWDQW for all age groups. Health care efforts need to be coordinated in a better way, not least for elderly people with multiple diseases. Medicinal maltreatment is all too common, and has unfortunate side effects not only for the patient, but is also generating high costs from medical complications or from achieving at best marginal effect. We need to phase out LQHIoFLHQW WUHDWPHQW DQG IRFXV RQ HYLdence based medicine. We must also upgrade our education for doctors and other health professions and take measures to facilitate their follow-up work on the results of their own treatments, so called therapeutic auditing.

1. Diminish bureaucracy. 0DNH LW HDVLHU WR kKLUH DQG oUHy IRU D PRUH pH[LEOH ODERXU PDUNHW 5DLVH LQLWLDO XQHPSOR\PHQW EHQHoWV ZKLOH limiting the period of eligibility.

This led a number of ELDR member parties and LYMEC to organize a conference to discuss best practices based on research they conducted to learn from each other how to combat youth unemployment. Liberal MEP, Marietje Schaake, presented a 10 points plan (see separately). She stressed that education and lifelong learning are key. Knowledge is Europe’s most valuable asVHW DQG VKRXOG EH LQYHVWHG LQ )XUWKHUPRUH PRUH pH[LELOLW\ in the labour market is essential. The existing inequalities between insiders and outsiders have to be dissolved. While the education sector and private actors should cooperate more closely as youth unemployment won’t be solved by government. MEP Ramona Manescu called for a more acWLYH FRRUGLQDWLRQ E\ WKH (8 LQ WKH oJKW DJDLQVW \RXWK XQHPployment but she also made it clear that the actual policies should be made at national level. D66’s Robert Farla and his CDC colleague Carles Llorens emphasised the crucial role of education, the recognition of the key role of private companies in the economy and the trust in the power of the individual while the econo-

Cast your vote on www.eldrfocus.eu

The recipe for improving health care in view of a demographic change

In an article originally published in the newspaper EP Today, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck MEP lays out in detail the importance of addressing demographic change, and why European Liberal Democrats have chosen as the topic to focus on this Year.

Youth unemployment is a serious problem in most EU member states and getting worse. Unemployment rates throughout Europe have been rising steadily since the economic crisis hit the continent in 2008 and young people are the main victims.

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SWEDEN Research + Education

But there is also other, perhaps less featured challenges, which unsolved will have similar repercussions for the wellbeing of Europe – namely the Challenges of Demographic Change. Europe is quickly getting older, which in turn sets immense pressure on the welfare systems we take great pride in having�.

“Vast challenges are facing Europe over the coming decades. Financial and technical, you might think, against the bac-

Who do you consider is best equipped to meet its respective challenges?

5HGXFH XQHPSOR\PHQW EHQHoWV ZKHQ HPployment is being rejected by jobseeker DQG UDLVH VRFLDO EHQHoWV ZKHQ MREVHHNHU reenters education 5. Encourage young entrepreneurship through tax reductions and awards 0DNH HPSOR\PHQW RI \RXQJVWHUV oVFDOO\ attractive for companies 7. Prevent early school dropouts by, amongst other measures, tutoring and monitoring. 8. In case of early school dropout, facilitate reentering education or alternative training 9. Establish closer cooperation between the HGXFDWLRQ DQG ZRUNLQJ oHOG RU SULYDWH companies) through internships and learnand-work programmes 10. Offer assistance to local initiatives

3. The health care sector is also an innovative business sector. How can Europe ensure maintains and increases the workforce in this sector? By improving the possibilities for clinical research. The persons currently active within the health care sector rarely have the time nor the resources to develop their ideas. In addition, the incentives for doing research within this important area are too small. Careerwise, it does not pay off to do research. 4. Do you see a need for joint European action on reforming health care systems and if so, what?

By implementing these steps, we will get much more value from our curUHQW UHVRXUFHV WKHUHE\ WDNLQJ WKH oUVW We should decide ourselves how we steps to a sustainable funding of health want to develop our respective health care systems. care systems in the Member States. 2. In view of the challenges of an ageing population: how do you view the debate on retirement ages? Do you see raised retirement ages, or even an abolishment of them as part of the solution? All studies conducted concerning projected need of funding for maintaining RXU OHYHOV RI ZHOIDUH DQG oQDQFLQJ RI current retirement schemes show that we need to work longer. Opinion polls conducted in Sweden show that up to one third of the respondents would like to work beyond the set date of retirement, would there be possibilities of doing so; for instance through cutting down their work load and going part-time during their oQDO \HDUV RI HPSOR\PHQW However, up to now, this has not been possible, largely due to the myths surrounding older people in the work market and a too literal understanding of retirement ages set through Parliamentary decisions and trade union deals.

However! The method of open coordination and an increased amount of transnational cooperation in research and development projects enable us to make good progress. 5. What is your liberal recipe for strengthening the prevention of illnesses and diseases in order to avoid exploding costs of treatment? Working with preemptive efforts requires a thorough gathering of knowledge about a certain health problem and its effects, so that it can easily be communicated to the public as education without it being perceived as sticks. The source of the information is important. In the case of Sweden, NGO’s opposing tobacco and the Swedish Cancer Society have been the most important sources of information about the adverse health effects of the harms of tobacco smoking. A central state authority can easily be perceived as a �moral big brother� and therefore not listened to.

June 2010 | ELDR News n°6 | www.eldr.eu

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jective approach and live up to its promises to speed up the process.

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By objectiveness, I mean that both parties on the island should be represenanything in common with Turkey’s mem- needed for EU membership for its own ted and listened to in the European insbership aspirations. sake. From a geopolitical point of view, titutions. Unfortunately, this is not the Turkey stands in a very dynamic geogra- case. We should at least have watchmen Turkey showed its willingness during se- phy that corresponds to the EU’s imme- from the Turkish Cypriot Community in veral decades to solve the Cyprus pro- diate neighbourhood. Hence, it is to the the Parliament, for instance. This would EOHP ,W V VXIoFLHQW WR ORRN DW WKH QXP- (8 V EHQHoW WR NHHS 7XUNH\ RQ LWV VLGH 7KH allow us to debate and analyse the prober of negotiations, summits, meetings Turkish Government has proved its willin- blem from both points of view without and discussions held on the issue over gness to continue its EU path through the taking sides. We need more concrete more than 50 years. The latest good- recent constitutional reforms, but I consi- steps of this sort from the EU for a quick âˆź >ciZgk^Zl l^i] BZi^c @VoV`! will shown by Turkey was its encoura- der that clear political signals are needed and durable solution to the problem. B:E gement to Turkish Cypriots to support to accelerate the reform process in Turkey. .Ro $QQDQ V 3ODQ ZKLFK ZDV DSSURYHG In any case, Turkey’s way to the EU should 3. According to the 2009 EU Progress 1. It is now, more than ever, clear that by 65% of Turkish Cypriots and rejected not pass by Cyprus and these two issues Report on Turkey, this country is the EU’s seventh biggest trading parTurkey wants to be considered se- by 76% of Greek Cypriots. should be considered separately. riously for entry into the EU and tner and almost half of Turkey’s total trade is with the EU. What are your therefore is very willing to speak The political attempts to put the Cyprus 2. What can be done to facilitate a about peace, trust and equality. issue as an obstacle to Turkey’s memresolution to the Cyprus issue and views on the importance of Turkey as an EU trading partner and vice-versa? Do you believe there is renewed bership, therefore, lack all kind of which actors should be involved in this, such as NATO, US, European urgency for Turkey to accelerate constructiveness. This is an issue to be Does the Cyprus issue limit or adverUnion, The EU High Representative along the road to EU membership, resolved by the two leaders on the issely affect trade opportunities? for Foreign Affairs, or, more than including resolving the Cyprus land under the auspices of the UN. issue ? ever, Cypriot politicians, who now Turkey’s role as a world trade actor The accession criteria didn’t involve a have a major role to play? is more and more important, due to Turkey’s bid for the EU is a rightful and condition on the resolution of the Cyprus its geographic position between the long one. Turkey applied for associate issue and that’s how Turkey could be- The negotiations on Cyprus were laun- Mediterranean, the Middle East, the member status of the European Economic come a candidate and a negotiating sta- FKHG EHWZHHQ 7DODW DQG &KULVWRoDV XQGHU Black sea and the Caucasian region and, Community (EEC) in 1959 and signed in WH , oQG WKDW ZH VKRXOGQ W PDNH 7XUNH\ the auspices of the UN on 11 September above all, to its privileged relationship 1963 the Ankara Association Agreement, pay for the entire price of the EU’s contro- DQG FRQWLQXHG LQ DQ LQWHQVLoHG with the European Union. which includes a membership perspec- versial move to admit a divided island manner during the last two years in six tive. In my opinion, Turkey hoped to be in 2005. The EU could have facilitated a GLIIHUHQW FKDSWHUV (URJOX DQG &KULVWRoDV Turkey is a key commercial partner of the considered seriously for the entry into solution in the island but it missed that are expected to continue these negotia- EU, ranking 7th in the EU’s top imports the EU ever since. It’s true that the pro- unique opportunity. Nevertheless, both tions at the end of May 2010. There is and 5th in the export markets. Trade vocess was accelerated with its entering the EU and Turkey should continue to need for strong political will for a resolu- lumes between the EU and Turkey have into accession negotiations since 2005. support the talks in Cyprus. tion which should come from the island reached 100 billion EUR per year; itself. Hence, Cypriot politicians have a The problem of Cyprus was a quasi-nas- In my view, there is an urgent necessity great role to play. On the other side, the Its long-standing economic relations cent one in the 1960s and didn’t have that Turkey makes progress on reforms EU should adopt a constructive and ob- with the EU have been since 1996, based

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A lack of communication between different liberal organisations has been idenWLoHG DV D NH\ LVVXH WR DGGUHVV Joint events, such as conferences, seminars and workshops should aim to promote and develop Iberian liberalism. A regular Iberian Liberal Congress could be a forum for discussion about common policies and positions. Iberian /LEHUDOLVP ZRXOG EHQHoW FRQVLGHUDEO\ from pan-Iberian events.

Is Liberalism still an exclusive thinking scattered untidily in the Iberian Peninsula? What can be done to spread liberal ideology in this area?

The main idea of such initiatives would be to raise public awareness of Liberal ideology. Stay tuned to ELF for more details. info@liberalforum.eu

In order to reply to those urgent questions the European network of foundations has inaugurated a new season of discussions, initiatives and seminars with the aim of triggering awareness. The European Liberal Forum (ELF) and its SDUWQHU IRXQGDWLRQV DUH oQGLQJ D QHZ way of channeling the liberal ideology among Spaniards and Portuguese people; giving effectiveness to the many liberal organizations located in various places throughout the Iberian Peninsula and engendering awareness by organizing joint initiatives. During a recent meeting held at the fringe of the ‘200 Years of Common Liberal Identity’ Liberal International conference in Cadiz, participants exchanged views about what future steps need to be taken to strengthen Liberalism in the region.

on a Custom Union, one of only four (the other three being Andorra, San Marino and Monaco) the EU has entered into and the only one with a candidate for accession. To this day, a considerable degree of market integration has been achieved, especially as regards the free movement of goods and capitals. Of course, the EU should seek to improve its trade and economic relations with a partner RI VXFK VLJQLoFDQFH When it comes to trade with Cyprus, it is true that Turkey falls short of fuloOOLQJ LWV FRPPLWPHQWV ZLWK UHJDUG WR the Additional Protocol-that is to open its ports and airports to all EU member states. The opening of the borders would not only have economic but also serious political repercussions for both EU and Turkey. Turkey calls for the EU to keep up to its promises concerning the Turkish Cypriot Community before taking any steps in this direction. The conclusions of the Council on Cyprus and announcements of previous Commissioners justify this demand. The Council is resolved to put and end to the isolation of this comPXQLW\ DQG IDFLOLWDWH WKH UHXQLoFDWLRQ of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community’. The Green Line Regulation, The Direct Trade Regulation and Financial Aid Regulation were put in place to this aim. To my information, for 5 years, there has been little progress concerning these promises. I expect more commitment from both the EU and Turkey to oQG D FRPSURPLVH WR WKLV ORQJ VWDQding problem.

A^WZgVa b^\gVi^dc eda^X^Zh Ă„ iVb^c\ i]Z eVeZg i^\Zg $W WKH KHLJKW RI WKH oQDQcial crisis, with rising unemSOR\PHQW oJXUHV DQG GLUH IXWXUH SURVpects, a discussion about the importance of migration is not on top of the agenda. While populists on the right fuel prejudices and populists on the left ignore social UHDOLWLHV OLEHUDOV oQG WKHPVHOYHV FDXJKW LQ WKH PLGGOH RI WKLV SROLWLFDO PLQHoHOG To counter cultural and religious prejudices and to avoid socio-economic clashes European and Arab liberals took the lead to address the issues. New ground was broken with the adoption of the “Rabat Declarationâ€? in the Moroccan Parliament. We Arab and European Liberals established a joint cross-continental dialogue on the socio-economic and human rights dimension of migration, comprising the following key points: Migration is a natural phenomenon that has contributed to the progress of human civilization, and is a natural part of today’s globalised world. Yet, massive rates of immigration beyond the ability of one society to successfully integrate the newcomers, may pose many problems at local levels. There is little doubt that an increasingly DJHLQJ (XURSHDQ SRSXODWLRQ ZLOO oQG LWself in dire need of a younger and well educated workforce in the near future. Yet, the mechanisms now in place are at best acceptable.

Education is crucial for making informed decisions and raising awareness of the situation facing many citizens of countries ZLWK KLJK PLJUDWLRQ GHoFLWV /DFNLQJ HGXcation risks alienating people and contribuWLQJ WR D VSLULW RI FRQpLFW DQG H[WUHPLVP Yet, we need to put a focus on the issues of development, education, democracy and human rights creating opportunity and hope for people in migrant societies. Representing core liberal values as tolerance and cooperation, Arab and European liberals together strongly call for an increased level of general education, as well as an increased presenWDWLRQ RI IDFWV UDWKHU WKDQ oFWLRQ RQ these issues, so as to avoid regrettable prejudice. Protecting the rights of immigrants is a fundamental part of human rights, therefore: • It is necessary to respect all the rights of immigrants, including civil, cultural DQG VRFLDO ULJKWV 6SHFLoFDOO\ WKH ULght of an immigrant to enjoy and express his/her identity, while, respecting the prevailing values and laws of the country he/she is residing in. • It is necessary to protect an immigrant from all forms of discrimination, including economic and racial discrimination, and revisit all legislations and procedures that are discriminatory to all native and immigrant workers guaranteeing the right to promotion and equal treatment.

Therefore, we need to confront, rather than shy away from putting needed improvements in place that would be While this Rabat Declaration is a source EHQHoFLDO IRU ERWK SDUWLHV (XURSH QHHGV of pride, we remain humble. All too ofto improve on this. ten, similar initiatives are launched with

great pomp, yet once back in the grey reality, they become forgotten. European Liberals are therefore eager to take responsibility! We currently run a campaign focusing on ageing population and migration called “ELDR Focus year 2010 – Challenges of Demographic Change� – www.eldrfocus.eu. We have also repeatedly called for The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) to be taken seriously, so that it becomes a major tool rather than a paper tiger. What is needed, not least to counter prejudice and misunderstandings, is an increased dialogue – not only intra-European, but also cross-regional. The UfM should serve as the natural forum for cooperation on migration and development in and around the Mediterranean. This can also be achieved by joining regional efforts together to make migration a force that serves stability, growth and development for both home and host countries. This is especially important for Southern European Mediterranean countries to make them more capable of absorbing migrants. Also, it will attract Arab diasporas to participate in the development process.

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Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck is a member of the European Parliament and President of the ELDR Party. Mohammed Tamaldou is President of the Network of Arab Liberals (NAL)

June 2010 | ELDR News n°6 | www.eldr.eu

PAGE 5

A^WZgVa 9ZbdXgVi hjXXZhh id Wg^c\ gZVa X]Vc\Z id 7g^iV^c It didn’t start that way, however, with the Conservatives on 38%, Labour 31%, and the Lib Dems on 19% in the opinion polls the day the election was called. The turning point in this election and what has already gone down DV DQ KLVWRULFDO PRPHQW ZDV WKH oUVW ever live televised debate among the leaders of these three main political parties on 15th April. The public knew Gordon Brown, the prime minister, knew David Cameron, the leader of the opposition, but who was this third guy standing there promising a real change in British politics, promising that there was an alternative to the “pass the parcelâ€? style of governing between Labour and the Conservatives? The answer‌ Nick Clegg and thus “Cleggmaniaâ€? was born! Opinion polls conducted immeGLDWHO\ DIWHU WKH oUVW WHOHYLVHG GHEDWH showed that Nick Clegg had won the The common desire to form a stable debate with 51% of people thinking he and lasting government to bring the had performed the best. While this inUK through the post recession period is pDWHG oJXUH IHOO GXULQJ WKH IROORZLQJ what has brought together the Liberal weeks, the Lib Dems support soared Democrats and Conservatives to form and maintained a score of 28% in the WKH oUVW FRDOLWLRQ JRYHUQPHQW LQ WKH opinion polls going into election day, UK since the Second World War. D oJXUH KLJKHU WKDQ DW WKH VWDUW RI the campaign. The quite remarkable scenes that characterised six days in British poli- Few national election campaigns captics between the general election on ture the imagination of a European 6th May to the declaration of a hung audience, yet this British election parliament a day later, the opening did just that with Nick Clegg not only of formal talks between the Liberal bursting onto the political mainsDemocrats and the Conservatives, ri- tream radar in his own country but ght up to the resignation with imme- courting support and interest right diate effect of prime minister, Gordon across Europe. Swedish Deputy Prime Brown on 12th May, will be looked Minister Maud Olofsson, Centre Party back upon as a relatively short period (ELDR member), praised Clegg’s efof time, but one that is set to bring las- forts during the campaign in a video ting change to British politics. message of support sent shortly before polling day; and a Dutch TV station May’s election was a genuine three showed up on the Lib Dem campaign horse race bet ween the Liberal trail one Sunday morning wanting to Democrats, Conservatives and Labour. know more about the man that had

transformed this election. European Liberal Democrats across the continent were commenting on the UK election on Facebook and updating their status to “I agree with Nick�. The election ended in a hung parliament with none of the three main parties securing enough seats to form a governing majority. The Conservatives did win the most seats (306) and vo-

Mr Brown resigned on 12th May knowing the game was up, a formal coalition between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives was imminent. Talks between the parties concluded with the Liberal Democrats winning some key policy battles, including agreement that a referendum will WDNH SODFH RQ PRYLQJ IURP WKH loUVW past the postÂť voting system currently used in the UK to the more represen-

out the usually euro-sceptic views of the Conservative Party. Nick Clegg stated, I’d like to say something directly to the nearly seven million people who supported the Liberal Democrats in the General Election. I am now acutely aware that I carry your hopes and aspirations into this coalition agreement. I am sure you have many questions, maybe many doubts. But I can assure you I would not have entered into this agreement unless I was genuinely convinced it was a unique opportunity to deliver the changes you and I believe in. Clegg has been named deputy prime minister, with other cabinet appointments including Vince Cable as Business Secretary; Danny Alexander as Chief Secretary to the Treasury; Chris Huhne as Energy and Climate Change Secretary; and Michael Moore as Scottish Secretary. An additional 14 ministerial posts have also been allocated to the Liberal Democrats.

tes in the election and invited the Liberal Democrats (57 seats) to begin formal talks over the possibility of forming a new government. The Labour Party (285 seats) was not going to relinquish power easily, however, with Gordon Brown launching a last ditch attempt to form a coalition between his own party and the Lib Dems by announcing he would mediate between the two parties to try to find an agreement before standing down for a new Labour leader to take over. The Lib Dems spoke to Labour but did not reach an agreement to form a government.

The ELDR Party commented in the early stages of the campaign that this election could fundamentally change the British political landscape. With the tative, ÂŤAlternative VoteÂť method. The IRUPDO FUHDWLRQ RI WKH oUVW FRDOLWLRQ negotiations also resulted in a com- government since the Second World mitment to adopting a fairer tax sys- :DU DQG HOHFWRUDO UHIRUP oUPO\ RQ WKH WHP ZLWK WKHUH VHW WR EH D lVLJQLoFDQW menu of the new parliament, there is moveÂť towards raising the income tax no doubt about it that British politics WKUHVKROG WR d LQ WKH oUVW EXG- is undergoing a monumental changet, a key Lib Dem election pledge. ge, the ÂŤreal changeÂť that Nick Clegg Often a divisive issue in British poli- and the Liberal Democrats have been tics, Europe is not set to be high on the calling for and which they can now political agenda but with Clegg’s insi- help to deliver as key members of the de knowledge of the EU, he studied at British Government. the College of Europe and has worked as an adviser in the Commission and as an MEP, he is a huge asset in the âˆź GdWZgi EajbbZg new government and somebody that :A9G EVgin Eda^i^XVa 6Yk^hdg can be the voice of reason to balance

EdaVcYÉh igV\ZYn VcY ]deZ The year 2010 will be marked in the history of Poland as a year of tragedy and misery. On 10th April 2010 Polish President Lech Kaczyĸski, his wife Maria and a substantial number of the members of the political, cultural and mili-

WDU\ HOLWH FUDVKHG ZKLOH p\LQJ WR .DW\ĸ near Smolensk in West on Russia. None of 96 people on board survived. They ZHUH p\LQJ WR FRPPHPRUDWH WKH WK anniversary of the mass murder on more than 21 000 Polish soldiers, members of the elite and intelligentsia, executed on Stalin’s orders. Many pundits were quick to observe that the name Katyĸ proved yet again to symbolize a terrible curse, a source of torment and a cry of anguish for the Polish nation. If that was not enough, in mid-May many parts of Poland, especially in the south, VXIIHUHG IURP D GHYDVWDWLQJ pRRG GHpriving thousands of Poles of their homes and property. Early estimations suggest that damages could be over 10 billion Polish zloty (about 2.5 billion (XURV DQG LW LV QRW GLIoFXOW WR SUHGLFW VHvere consequences for the state of the Polish economy.

Civic Platform (PO) and the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) went on an unconstrained, unscrupulous politiFDO oJKW ORQJ IRUJHWWLQJ WKHLU FRPPRQ Solidarity roots. All means of political oJKW QR PDWWHU KRZ 0DFKLDYHOOLDQ how iniquitous, were allowed. Such a style has certainly had an effect on VRFLHW\ E\ FUHDWLQJ DUWLoFLDO GLYLVLRQV The feeling of belonging to a community was harshly undermined.

The massive, true and all-embracing national mourning after the tragic air crash was therefore seen as a chance to recover this lost sense of community. Politicians of all colours declared the end of political wars, calling for unity and a new phase of political life for the common good of the citizens. They were hoping that not only should there EH QR XQUHVWUDLQHG SROLWLFDO FRQpLFWV DIter the death of the President and during Shocking as it may sound, many ob- WKH WUDJLF pRRG EXW VXFK DQ DWPRVSKHservers hope that both the death of re should last much longer. It certainthe Polish president and the tragic ly does not mean that political parties pRRG PLJKW FDXVH VRPH SRVLWLYH HI- should be dissolved, or that they should fects. Since about 2005, the level of refrain from selecting their candidates SROLWLFDO FRQpLFW KDV EHHQ WKH ZRUVW LW IRU SXEOLF RIoFH EXW WKH KRSH LV WKDW has been for many years. The two lar- the styles of much more curtailed poligest political forces, the centre-right tics will now rule.

It is a great pity that Poland needed such tragedies to come to this conclusion and it is not sure whether politicians will stick to their promises. But let’s hope for a brighter future for Poland, with a new president to be elected by the latest on

4th July, able to unite, rather than to divide, the Polish nation.

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The latest books of Gagatek include European Political Parties as Campaign Organisations: Toward a Greater Politicisation of the European Parliament Elections (Centre for European Studies, Brussels 2009).

June 2010 | ELDR News n°6 | www.eldr.eu

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9ZaZiZi^dc! cdi WadX`^c\ On 29 March, Commissioner Cecilia Malmström published proposals for a directive to block access to websites that VKRZ LPDJHV RI FKLOG DEXVH :KLOH WKH oght against this cruel and loathsome crime deserves the support of every righteous individual, this recent initiative is deeply worrying. The approach of blocking websites is counter-productive and outright dangerous. Blocking access to these websites does not make them go away. They are still on the internet and can be accessed by anybody FDSDEOH RI FLUFXPYHQWLQJ WKH oOWHUV $QG VLQFH FLUFXPYHQWLQJ WKH oOWHUV LV DV HDV\ DV HQWHULQJ D QHZ '16 VHUYHU LQ \RXU FRPputer, it can be done in 10-15 seconds. The proposal of the European Commission requires the instalment of a censorship infrastructure. Experience tells us that such infrastructure can easily be misused and that it-once in placewill whet politicians’ appetite to extend it to other areas such as copyright violations, hate speech, and many more. Even without misuse, the mechanisms employed to censor access and the technical infrastructure of the internet make it quite probable that when blocking some websites, which you want to target, you also block numerous others, which are located with the same webhost. This is what is called overblocking and which certainly is not desirable. For all these reasons, the European Liberal Youth, LYMEC, has started a campaign against the proposal of website blocking. With press statements, open letters and street actions across the European Union, we are advocating our cause.

PAGE 6

8gZVi^c\ i]Z :jgdeZVc ejWa^X he]ZgZ :jgdeZVc^hVi^dc d[ i]Z eda^i^XVa eVgin hnhiZb / djg iVh` [dg i]Z Xdb^c\ nZVgh# Today’s challenges deserve a coherent response from the Institutions that govern the world’s largest internal market. Euro-barometers show that voters also demand European action on climate, energy and security.

all EU-citizens to vote for a European list. Will it be possible to create a pan-European democracy in a European Union with so many languages? We believe it is! There is much more to Europe than the skeptics are aware of. The internal market is already so much part of our life! Europe amazes when we notice young people studying all over Europe! In Europe, what seemed impossible, has often become possible.

The EU is the level to address these challenges. National parties should be honest about the fact that it is at that level where solutions should be found. We believe political parties should organise themselves at the level where major political issues need to be solved. The recent EP-elections showed a low turnout of voters. Voters have little enthusiasm for the political level that is responsible for the solution of their key problems. We believe this turnout was caused by national political parties campaigning with two struggling souls in their breast: one soul that knows that we need to Europeanise to solve today’s problems and the other soul that tries to stick to its national focus. The resulting campaigns lack a convincing message to inspire voters. While the national political sphere is losing relevance, we see a slow development of a European public sphere matching the increasing relevance of the European Union. How can we develop a European public sphere?

European voters should be informed. Sharing of political thinking should not be held back by national boundaries. Voters deserve to be informed about liberal views. ELDR and its political foundation, the European Liberal Forum, DGGUHVV WKLV GHoFLHQF\ E\ FRRSHUDWLQJ ZLWK national parties and liberal think tanks and by conveying the liberal message to voters, even in those countries where there are no liberal parties. A next step should be introducing a trans-national list for a portion of the seats in the EP. Liberal MEP Andrew Duff will submit a proposal, which would create the possibility for

European political parties need to come of age. If the proposal for European lists is adopted, a new impetus could come about. We campaign for pan-European political participation. Please, join our campaign and let’s create European political sphere.

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7KH (XURSHDQ SROLWLFDO SDUW\ V\VWHP LV pHGJLQJ Rather an informal grouping than a formal system of disciplined structures. We believe this is a missing link in European integration, that needs to be faced. Steps in this regard have been made, more should be made. A major step was a reference to European political parties in the Treaty of Maastricht. A second step was the introduction of an EU Regulation on funding European political parties and foundations. National liberal parties should use this opportunity to strengthen the bonds within the European liberal family. Europeans face hard times. They need political parties that work on solutions at the level where solutions need to be found. That is why we need to develop European parties.

:aZXidgVa gZ[dgb d[ i]Z :jgdeZVc EVga^VbZci LYMEC members protesting against website blocking in front of the Brandenburg Gate

%ORFNLQJ ZHEVLWHV LV WRR HDV\ DQ DQVZHU WR D GLIoFXOW SUREOHP DQG QRW DQ DPELWLRXV SROLF\ JRDO ZKLFK UHDOO\ ZRXOG EHQHoW the victims or prevent further crimes. Instead of easy populist answers, the policy must be to remove pictures of child abuse from the Internet and to investigate the perpetrators. Priority must go to hunting the culprits down through international cooperation of law enforcement agencies.

EgdedhZY Wn 6cYgZl 9j[[! A>7 9:B B:E! J@ • Creating an EU wide constituency from which 25 extra MEPs will be elected: each elector to have two votes; • Establishing regional constituencies within the larger EU states; • Allowing electors to vote either for a party list or for an indiYLGXDO FDQGLGDWH IURP D OLVW VHPL RSHQ

The European Parliament enjoys the right of initiative over this whole agenda, the right to insist on a Convention to prepare the Intergovernmental &RQIHUHQFH ,*& ZKLFK ZLOO KDYH WR DJUHH WKH UHOHvant treaty changes, as well as the right of consent to the decisions on the electoral procedure and the new composition of Parliament. The timetable foreseen is as follows:

Sexual abuse of children is one of the few crimes that is outlawed on a global scale. Experience from leaked blocking lists indicates that most websites in question are located in the USA and Western Europe. Taking them down and getting information on who uploaded them is not black magic, but rather should be the standard.

• Establishing an EU electoral authority to set rules and oversee the elections; • Finding a mathematical formula to settle the distribution of the 751 national seats by degressive proportionality;

• European Parliament decision on the Duff Report, JulySeptember 2010; • European Council decision to accept Parliament’s proposals as the basis of negotiation, December 2010;

• Restricting polling days to Saturdays and Sundays; Unlawful content should be deleted, not simply hidden by creating censorship infrastructure! Perpetrators should be investigated and jailed, not provided with shopping lists in the form of leaked blacklists.

• Bringing forward the election from June to May;

• Convention on parliamentary reform involving European Council, Commission, European and national parliaments, Spring 2011;

• Recommending harmonisation of minimum ages to vote and to stand as a candidate;

• IGC Summer 2011;

Instead of employing a useless but dangerous tool, Liberals have WR PDNH VXUH WKDW (XURSHDQ ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW DJHQFLHV oQDOO\ VWDUW FRRSHUDWLQJ LQ oJKWLQJ WKHVH DZIXO FULPHV

• Establishing a supranational regime for MEPs’ privileges and immunities;

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• Widening electoral participation, especially for EU citizens living in states other than their own.

• Implementing legislation by July 2013 in time for the May 2014 elections.

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June 2010 | ELDR News n°6 | www.eldr.eu

PAGE 7

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ned technical standards and regulations; and Europe has a lot to offer in this regard. In other words, the EU, which is truly interested in Russia’s modernization, is urged to take an active part in its promotion.

The current state of relations between Russia and the European Union can be described at best as ÂŤa bad peace.Âť The old framework partnership and cooperation agreement has long expired, and negotiations on a new one stagnate; the “road mapsâ€? to create common spaces between Russia and the EU completely abandoned, and various rows from the pending impact of the war in *HRUJLD WR WKH FXVWRPV FRQpLFWV FRPH to the fore.

Union with the grand title Partnership for Modernization. The strategy lists Russian priorities of the partnership: technological development and mutual exchange of technology, achieving compatibility of technical standards and regulations; practical support of Russia’s accession to the WTO; facilitation of human contacts and progress towards visafree regime. The urgent need of attracting European smart investments and highly skilled labour is also stressed.

However, a natural question arises: why WKLV PXWXDOO\ EHQHoFLDO SURJUDP LV QRW IXOoOOHG QRZ" 7KH PDLQ SUREOHP RI UHlations with the EU is currently neither “Russophobia�, nor a complete failure of the Europeans to take concerted decisions, nor even the excessive focus of EU member states on their ongoing and very serious economic troubles, as Russian politicians and diplomats so like to allege. The Georgian war, murders and persecutions of independent journalists, lawyers and human rights activists, energy cut-offs, bellicose rhetoric and saber rattling, prison torture and judicial abuses, trade and investment scandals, outrage of the pro-Kremlin youth - all this could not help but generate for many in Europe durable distrust of Russia as a partner.

The abnormal situation in the relations with the EU, including the lack of a fulO\ pHGJHG LGHRORJLFDO EDVH KDV DOUHDdy become evident. So a new policy strategy submitted by the Ministry of Foreign affairs to President Medvedev sets a goal of reaching an agreement between Russia and the European

Such an approach to cooperation with the major economic and political partner of Russia in the international arena appears as fully pragmatic. We are indeed ODFNLQJ H[WHQVLYH VFLHQWLoF DQG HGXFDtional exchanges, direct investment in processing industries, new technoloJLHV DQG SURGXFWLRQ PHWKRGV WKH UHo-

It is appropriate to recall that the stated intention to borrow European technical standards and regulations is vivid evidence of failure of one of the most important reforms – of technical regulation. That Russia has recently experienced a sharp increase in the withdrawal of foreign capital, and the share of fo-

reign direct investment against this background has reached a record low. That the EU actually has always showed support for Russia’s WTO accession despite permanent erratic behavior on the Russian side. Not expecting to win laurels in earnest on the main directions of cooperation, Russian negotiators decided to resort at the recent summit with the European Union to their favorite trump card - a demand to introduce a visa-free regime. The EU is not in principle opposed to a visa-free regime, but expresses concern at the transparency of the Russian borders to illegal immigration and requires to introduce additional safeguards. Unfortunately, today the problem canQRW EH o[HG EHFDXVH RI WKH SHUYDVLYH corruption of power structures and the Russian authorities, despite their militant rhetoric, lack real determination to overcome it. It is impossible to combat corruption effectively without real and not simulated political competition, without a genuine freedom of media and public scrutiny of the government. But these factors, without which life is unthinkable in EU member states, are absent in Russia today. They are not even mentioned in all sorts of modernization programs, which turn out to be regular hopeless attempts to pour new wine into old bottles. Here lies the main reason for contradictory positions of the parties. Article 2 of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Russia and the EU

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(1994) says that ÂŤadherence to democratic principles and human rights ... underpins the domestic and foreign policies of the Parties and constitutes an essential element of the partnership.Âť As in recent years, Russian authorities did their best to deprive this wording of DQ\ FRQWHQW WKH (8 QRZ IDFHV D GLIocult dilemma: to continue to insist that Russia should respect generally accepted democratic norms, or try to ÂŤresetÂť the relationship, that is to close eyes to the gaping chasm between Russian and Western understanding of these basic values. $QG LI LQ WKH oUVW FDVH WKH (8 UXQV WKH risk not to obtain lucrative contracts for the supply of high-tech equipment for half-hearted Kremlin ‘modernization’, alternatively the EU just looses face and once again strengthens the Russian leaders in their sincere belief that money runs the world and values do not mean anything. This will only alienate Russia from Europe and marginalize even further the prospects of its European development. $ WUXO\ HIIHFWLYH DQG PXWXDOO\ EHQHocial cooperation is only possible on the basis of common values. The strategic partnership between Russia and the EU can not be built without the restoration of their normal base.

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2Q 0D\ WKH (XURSHDQ &RPPLVVLRQ oQDOO\ DGKHUHG WR FDOOV IURP LQWHU DOLD European Liberal Democrats and its youth organization LYMEC and proposed to scrap visa demands for travels up to 90 days for the holders of biometric passports in Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina, pending certain improvements in their respective judicial sectors. (XURSHDQ /LEHUDO 'HPRFUDWV ZKR KDYH ORQJ EHHQ oJKWLQJ IRU D IDLU WUHDWPHQW RI FLWLzens in the South Eastern part of Europe warmly welcome this development, and hope that it will be an integral part in the general European strive of these countries. ÂŤToday is a big day on the long path to peace, stability and progress in South Eastern Europe- ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts commented. The visa-free regime is a direct result of good societal and legislative progress in the region, and the bigJHVW EHQHoFLDULHV RI LW ZLOO EH WKH \RXWK ZKR DUH WRPRUURZ V OHDGHUV 7KLV GHYHORpment will allow them to travel to the rest of Europe to exchange ideas and visions for the future without the hassles and costs involved with visasÂť. Although delighted, President Neyts was also eager to point out the challenges still facing the process, notably relating to further development of the judiciary and combating organised crime in these countries as well as not forgetting other areas ZKHUH YLVD IDFLOLWDWLRQ VKRXOG VWLOO EH D WRS SULRULW\ l7KLV VWHS LV PHUHO\ D oUVW VWHS RQ D ORQJ VWULYH %RWK $OEDQLD DQG %RVQLD +HU]HJRYLQD QRZ KDYH WR IXOoOO WKH benchmarks set out by the European Commission, so as to ensure fully functioning European standards and equal treatment of its citizens - which, if handled properly, ultimately can lead to EU accessionÂť. ÂŤI also urge us not to think that this is it and get complacent. There are still a numEHU RI FRXQWULHV ZKLFK ZRXOG EHQHoW IURP UHFHLYLQJ IDFLOLWDWLRQ PHDVXUHV 7KLV JRHV for the Republic of Kosovo on the Balkans as well as the countries involved in the Eastern Partnership whenever they make similar progress and are up to our set standards. The EU must be fair on this and not apply double standardsÂť, President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck concluded.

Edited by the new Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, “Why vote Liberal Democrat?� was published in the run-up to the general election. It is a collection of twenty-six short essays preceded by a foreword from Nick Clegg. Floella Benjamin and Colin Firth probably have the most public star value amongst the twenty-six, but contributions from people such as former Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, friend of Stephen Lawrence (and now Lib Dem councillor) Duwayne Brooks and Janis Sharpe, mother of Gary McKinnon, all bring expert and personal knowledge to the party’s case. Nick Clegg’s foreword starts with addressing the question, “What is Liberalism?� Not surprisingly freedom and fairness features in his answer, but he also captures that contrarian mindset which means, for all the changes in policy and society, one can easily imagine Charles James Fox being a member of the party even now, over 200 years after he was its leader. Clegg writes: “[Growing up] we were expected always to assume that there is a better way of doing things if you only bother to look for it. That’s the spirit I believe is right at the heart of Liberalism ... The Liberal Democrats have always been an anti-establishment party, demanding change right at the top and campaigning for power to be taken out of the hands of the elites.� Clegg balances social and economic liberalism as he goes on to say:

“You are only free to do things you are capable of doing – things for which you have the resources and understanding. So any effort to increase freedom must also increase people’s capacity, resources and understanding.� Fair taxes, better education, more generous pensions, economic recovery, political reform and a green tinge to it all are the policy areas picked out with VSHFLoF SURSRVDOV LQ 'DQQ\ $OH[DQGHU V subsequent piece. It is no great surprise then that these have been key coalition demands by the Liberal Democrats since the election. Indeed, with the advantage of hindsight this book sketches the outlines of the subsequent policy agreement remarkably clearly – and so still acts as a guide to how coalition policies may play out over the next few years as details of policy are negotiated day by day in the coalition.

not only policies but also a particular approach to politics. On this Floella B enja m i n writes, “While detailed Liberal Democrat poliFLHV PDNH PH FRQoGHQW , DP LQ WKH ULght party, it is our different approach to politics which makes me sure I am a Liberal Democrat through and through.� The book provides a sure guide to what that approach means, even as it is now being played out in the unexpected circumstances of coalition government.

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There is a better way of doing things if you only bother to look for it C^X` 8aZ\\! 7g^i^h] 9Zejin Eg^bZ B^c^hiZg VcY AZVYZg d[ i]Z A^W9Zbh Although the chapters that follow are from a wide range of authors, they form a coherent whole – presenting views of a range of experts but with a common set of liberal values frequently stated and applied. This is not a collection of technocrats all saying “we should get things right�; it’s a collection of experts all saying “liberalism is the solution� and that liberalism is about

Mark Pack is co-editor of Liberal 'HPRFUDW 9RLFH ZZZ /LE'HP9RLFH org) Blog: www.MarkPack.org.uk

June 2010 | ELDR News n°6 | www.eldr.eu

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PAGE 8

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A^WZgVa 9ZbdXgVi AdXVa VcY GZ\^dcVa Eda^i^X^Vch 6lVgYh President van Rompuy, asked about the impact of the Treaty, quoted Zhou Enlai, the former Chinese Prime Minister, who, when asked for his opinion on the success of the French Revolution, said ‘it is far too early to say’.

;^ghi VccjVa VlVgYh XZgZbdcn id WZ ]ZaY dc 15 November 2010 An event organised and hosted by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the Committee of the Regions

Categories of awards:

Nominations

• Local Leader of the Year • Regional Leader of the Year

8]^aYgZc d[ i]Z½ Zkdaji^dc I would stress the evolutionary rather than the revolutionary nature of the treaty changes brought by the Lisbon Treaty EgZh^YZci kVc Gdbejn

The national board of ELDR member parties or their local and regional branches can submit nominations, which must reach the ALDE-CoR secretariat by 30th of September 2010.

4 awards in each category: • Achievement in Government • Achievement in Opposition • Most effective party engagement with citizens • Most effective EU ambassador A jury of key liberal and democrat leaders in Europe will select the winners.

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For more information about eligibility and submission of candidates, please see our website www.alde.eu/cor or e-mail: alde@cor.europa.eu

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Subscriptions for the seminar on liberal policies and the functioning of the European institution are open. Are you a journalist? Should you have any local journalists to recommend, do you want to know more about Liberalism in Europe, European Institutions and the functioning of the European parties? ELDR is organizing a two-day seminar in Brussels dedicated to journalists. Reimbursement for the travel costs is foreseen. The seminar will be organized during the third week of September and is open to English or French speaker journalists.

The bail out of Greece and questions about the longer-term stability of the single currency and ways to strengthen cooperation in the euro zone are the most urgent topics for EU leaders to address at their upcoming summit in June. These issues affect not only countries in the euro zone, but the prosperity of Europe’s economy as a whole. On Thursday 17th June, the ELDR Party is organising a public conference about the present situation in the euro zone, in view of the developments in Greece and other member states, and what our liberal views

Upcoming ELDR events ∼June Liberal Breakfast, ELDR HQ ∼17 June ELDR Conference on the situation in the euro zone, Brussels,

on this subject and the way forward are. The speakers include Siim Kallas, European Commission Vice President (Estonia), who will present the Estonian perspective of the state of play in the euro zone in view of Estonia’s expected entry into the euro at the beginning of next year. This event will take place at the Concert Noble, rue d’Arlon 82, 1040 Brussels, Belgium between 12:30 and 15:00, including a networking lunch between 12:30 and 13:00. For more informaWLRQ DERXW WKH FRQIHUHQFH DQG WR FRQoUP \RXU participation please contact Robert Plummer, rplummer@eldr.eu, +32.2.2370147.

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Belgium

∼25 June European way for Russia – decision or a natural choice? Moscow PDU conference

∼29 June Meeting of Heads of ELDR delegations in EP, Brussels, Belgium ∼29-31 August ELF-ELDR Liberal Academy, Brussels ∼September Liberal Breakfast, ELDR HQ ∼September ELDR seminar for journalists ∼21 September Meeting of Heads of ELDR delegations in EP, Strasbourg ∼13 – 15 October ELDR Congress and Council Helsinki, Finland ∼28 October Liberal Prime Ministers lunch (informal EU summit), Brussels ∼November «Restart 2: Liberty in Estonia and the EU» - Reform Party, Estonia, Conference

∼16 December ELDR Leaders Lunch Summit (EU Summit), Brussels ∼December Liberal Breakfast, ELDR HQ

In April 2010 ELDR Vice President Markus Löning was appointed as the new Human Rights Commissioner of the German federal government. European Liberals are proud of this appointment and will lend all their support to Mr. Löning’s new challenges. Since his appointment he has also already represented European Liberals in Turkey, Moldova and China.

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