ALDE Party Liberal Bulletin 01 2019

PARTY

liberal

ALLIANCE OF LIBERALS AND D E M O C R AT S F O R E U R O P E

FIRST ISSUE 2019

Calendar 11 May 2019

Dublin, Germany Institute of International and European Affairs debate

13 May 2019

Brussels, Belgium European Raw Politics debate

15 May 2019

Brussels, Belgium European Parliament & European Broadcasting Union debate

23-26 May 2019

European elections

26 May 2019

Brussels, Belgium European elections Night European Parliament

Contents Editorial by ALDE Party President Hans van Baalen MEP

03

About the ALDE Party EP2019 Campaign

04

Presentation of Team Europe

06

ALDE Party Manifesto in 10 key points

08

Heads of list for the European elections of ALDE Party member parties

14

Will politicians listen to me? OPINION Svenja Hahn LYMEC President

17

European elections – now is the time to act!

OPINION Thalia Ntoka, Chair of ALDE Party Individual Members

19

Social media highlights

20

Movers and Shakers

22

28 June 2019

Zürich, Switzerland ALDE Party Council

24-26 October 2019 Athens, Greece ALDE Party Congress

Save the date ALDE Party Council 2019 28 June Zürich, Switzerland

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party is the party representing liberal democrat values across Europe.

In conjunction with our liberal member parties throughout the European continent, we are translating the principle of freedom into politics, economics and across all other areas of our societies.

The ALDE Party provides an increasingly vital link between citizens and the EU institutions and is continuously growing in size and significance.

The ALDE Party is made up of more than 60 member parties and many individual members from across Europe. Liberal Democrats created their political family in 1976, ahead of the first European elections. ALDE was established as a truly transnational political party in 1993. In April 2017, the ALDE Party was legally recognised under European law as the first European political party.

Liberal Bulletin is a publication of the ALDE Party. It is published twice a year.

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party Rue d’Idalie 11 – box 2, 1050 Brussels Tel. +32 2 237 01 40 – Fax. +32 2 231 19 07 Editors: Iiris André, Daniel Tanahatoe , Andrew Burgess ALDE Party Publisher: Didrik de Schaetzen, ALDE Party Layout: Nadège Van Hoorde Printing: Printdeal.be With the support of the ALDE Party and the European Parliament. The sole liability rests with the organiser; the European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

editorial The European elections concern us all. The 9th elections will be taking place between 23 and 26 May 2019, when 350 million EU citizens will again have their chance to elect the members of the European Parliament.

These elections are vital. Our citizens will decide on our common future. It is also vital that the new parliament has a legislative majority. It is again vital that in this majority, ALDE with new partners will be a united parliamentary group which can secure a strong liberal influence in the EU decision-making. A strong social market economy, a strengthened internal market and trade agreements which provide economic growth and jobs for our young and senior citizens is one side of the coin. The other side is the rule of law, civil liberties, human rights and democracy. For us liberals, they belong together.

I am proud that at our Council meeting in Brussels on 21 March, we elected a strong ALDE Team Europe to represent the best of liberal democracy at the many debates, events and interviews. Nicola Beer from Germany, Emma Bonino from Italy, Violeta Bulc from Slovenia, Katalin Cseh from Hungary, Luis Garicano from Spain, Guy Verhofstadt from Belgium and Margrethe Vestager from Denmark are a well-balanced team: regionally, politically, age wise and with a considerable input of experienced, strong women. The best ALDE can offer. It was an honour to be able to invite them to join!

Our Team Europe, the ALDE Party campaign team led by our Campaign Director Didrik de Schaetzen, the ALDE Party staff under our Secretary General Jacob Moroza-Rasmussen and the ALDE Party Bureau have only one focus: to assist and to be at the service of our member parties and their candidates. They have to get the votes by reaching out to the heart and minds of our electorate.

A strong ALDE+ group will make it possible that liberals will not be excluded from the main European functions such as the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council, the President of the Euro Group, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the President of the European Central Bank.

/hansvanbaalenMEP @hansvanbaalen

The new European Parliament, in close co-operation with our national parliaments, must change the European Union for the better, for our citizens. As an outgoing VVD delegation leader and as an outgoing MEP, I can only advise about the new EP priorities but as I continue as your ALDE Party President, I would opt for making clear decisions on effective external border control, a law based EU immigration, refugee and asylum policy that is effective and open for those who obtain a title to come and to stay in the EU and that is strict for those who will not obtain such a title. An EU that can defend its interests also by military means as an active part of NATO based on a coherent EU foreign and security policy. A Europe with a strong (digital) internal market and effective trade treaties. A Europe which fights global warming in an intelligent way. A Europe which solves problems at the benefit of its citizens.

Liberal Must Unite! Let us go forward together!

Hans van Baalen MEP ALDE Party President

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ABOUT THE ALDE PARTY EP2019 CAMPAIGN European values have never been so much at threat.

The liberal Europe we have fought hard to build is under attack by political paralysis and rising anti-liberal forces.

Armed with fake news, dangerous rhetoric, and undeliverable answers to complex problems, populist leaders have spread their power across Europe. Right before our eyes, they divide to conquer.

They wish to turn our liberal values inside out. They claim to protect our freedoms, by limiting them instead. They claim to defend security, but instead make us feel unsafe. They claim to be committed to human dignity, yet vilify and respond with hate to those who are different. They want to freeze societies, not free them.

Well we say enough!

In these critical times for the future of our continent, this is not the time for individual ambitions. Against creeping division and increasing polarisation, unity is the best possible response.

So while other candidates campaign for their next career move, we present to you a team of seven leaders as diverse as Europe itself who will promote our vision for a Liberal Europe, conversation after conversation, country after country.

These are not normal elections. It is time to let go of old campaign habits. It is time long-term ideas prevail over one-night promises. It is time to Renew Europe.

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CAMPAIGN INSIDER

by Didrik de Schaetzen, Campaign Director The European elections matter to us all, but this time for us Liberals in particular. We are very strong in many EU member states, and the message we are systematically putting across is that we will fight against those who want to destroy Europe – we won’t just sit down and watch. The threat to lose something is real, and we know what’s at stake. These elections are the chance for Liberals to show the solutions we can offer.

The challenge all pan-European parties face is that we are running a campaign that doesn’t exist: no one can directly vote for ALDE. This is why the work done at national level is so important. The good news is that the number of ALDE member parties running for the European elections has doubled since 2014. We are committed to respond to the European crowd in the form of electoral debates and events and we will provide support to the candidates and members of our member parties.

It’s the month of May, but it’s not too late! There are still days left to campaign and interesting debates, such as the Eurovision debate on 15 May, to come. You can follow us on social media, watch the live streaming, and some of you might even be lucky and win a seat to join the debate on the day.

These elections are not about converting anyone to liberalism. Instead, we are uniting all energies for a better, renewed Europe.

For more info of the Campaign Trail

https://teameurope.eu/campaign-trail/

GET INVOLVED! From sharing our posts on social media to becoming an ALDE individual member, there are many ways to contribute to our European elections campaign. You can find out more on how to play your part on our campaign website at teameurope.eu or see page 11.

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PRESENTING

NICOLA BEER

Secretary General and Lead candidate of FDP for the European Elections 1970: Born in Wiesbaden (Germany)

1999: Elected as member of the Landtag of Hesse 2009-2012: State Secretary for European Affairs at the Hessian State Ministry of Justice 2012-2014: State Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs in Hesse.

2013- present: Secretary General of FDP 2017-present: Member of the German Bundestag

EMMA BONINO

European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport

1948: Born in Bra (Italy)

1964: Born in Novo Mesto (Slovenia)

1976: Elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies 1979: Elected to the European Parliament 1995-1999: European Commissioner for Health, Consumer Policy and Fishery 2006-2008: Italian Minister of European Affairs and International Trade 2008-2013: Vice President of the Italian Senate 2013-2014: Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs 2018: Led the coalition +Europa in the Italian general elections

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VIOLETA BULC

Senator of Rome and founding leader of PiĂš Europa

2014: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister Responsible for Development, Strategic Projects and Cohesion, Government of Slovenia 2014- present: European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport

KATALIN CSEH

Doctor in obstetrics and gynecology and Lead candidate of Momentum for the European Elections

1988: Born in Montreal (Canada) 2014: Graduated as doctor at Sommelweis University in Budapest 2012-2016: International liaison officer of the Liberal Youth Association 2015: Founder member of Momentum Movement, International spokesperson and Head of Momentum Health Working Group

TEAM EUROPE

LUIS GARICANO

Head of Economic and Employment Policy at Ciudadanos, Vice President of ALDE Party

1967: Born in Valladolid (Spain) 2015: Economic Adviser, in charge of Economic, Knowledge and Employment Policy at Ciudadanos

GUY VERHOFSTADT

MARGRETHE VESTAGER

ALDE Group Leader in the European Parliament and Lead candidate of Open Vld for the European Elections

European Commissioner for Competition

1953: Born in Dendermonde (Belgium)

1998-2001: Danish Minister of Education and Minister of Ecclesiastical affairs

1982: President of the Flemish Liberal Party

2016: Vice President of ALDE Party

1999-2008: Belgian Prime Minister

2015- present: Responsible for the economic programme of Ciudadanos

2009-present: Member of the European Parliament & ALDE Group President

1968: Born in Glostrup (Denmark)

2001: Elected to Danish Parliament 2007: Leader of Social Liberal Party (Radikale Venstre) 2011-2014: Minister of Economy and Interior Affairs 2014 - present: European Commissioner for Competition

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ALDE PARTY MANIFESTO Our manifesto – adopted at the ALDE Party Congress on 10 November 2018 in Madrid, Spain – outlines our liberal vision for the European Union and its future.

In May 2019, European Citizens are presented with a fundamental choice. We are invited to decide in what kind of Europe we want to live in. It is a choice we face in the upcoming European elections, and the choice is this: do we update the European Union to develop individual freedom, prosperity and stability, or do we go back to the times of nationalism and growing authoritarianism?

The liberal vision is one built around a free, democratic, entrepreneurial, prosperous, sustainable and united Europe open to the world. A Europe anchored in the four freedoms of movement of people, goods, services and capital. A Europe where human rights, the rule of law, and democracy apply equally to all. We liberals believe in you, the individual. We trust in your own talents, entrepreneurial potential, moral conscience, and your right to make your own choices in life.

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The liberal vision is one built around a free, democratic, entrepreneurial, prosperous,sustainable and united Europe open to the world.

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We are more than 500 million citizens in the European Union, all children of European history. For centuries, even as European civilisation flourished, it was often interrupted by wars, division and outright repression.

Even in the 20th century, our parents and grandparents grew up in a continent still divided by walls and trenches. But in the past decades, we have been breaking down the barriers that divided us.

We, Europeans, have learned to cooperate, to make decisions together, and to shape our own future. We, Europeans, have built common understanding and institutions for democracy and justice, and have the responsibility to safeguard it.

We, Europeans, have achieved peace and prosperity on our continent. That is a tremendous achievement that should not be taken for granted. The European Union is a positive ideal for many others in the world; an example to follow.

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10 Priorities INVEST in research, security, environment and tackling youth unemployment Investments in research and innovation are investments in the future of Europe. Reaching the target of 3% of the EU GDP invested in research and development by 2020 is key to boost our competitiveness, productivity and sustainable job creation.

NEGOTIATE fair and sustainable international trade deals Modern and progressive free trade agreements are important to stimulate growth and jobs and the only way to guarantee that the European way of securing social, economic and production standards will prevail.

We support the efforts of the European Commission to negotiate more trade deals, and call on the negotiators to preserve human dignity and human working conditions, sustainability and anti-corruption in future agreements. Global trade from a European perspective must also be fair and sustainable.

ESTABLISH a new mechanism to monitor violations of fundamental rights, civil liberties and rule of law in EU Member States We shall establish a new effective mechanism outside the framework of Article 7 of the TEU to monitor violations of fundamental rights, civil liberties and the rule of law in the member states of the European Union on a regular basis. We call on the European Commission, as the guardian of the EU Treaties and on the basis of objective criteria, to enforce sanctions in cases of violations and create stronger conditionality between the rule of law and receipt of European funding.

CREATE a solid legal framework for new technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, etc.

We believe the EU should be the first to create a solid legal framework for new technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and others to be used in the economy and public life. Legislation should however be focused on applications that use these new technologies and not on the underlying technologies themselves, since this would otherwise limit innovation and the creation of new applications.

GIVE every European a trusted and secure digital identity to log in and sign documents safely Every European should get a trusted and secure digital identity to be able to log in and sign documents safely, in a 21st century manner. We aim for making digital the default solution for all public services to make things easier for citizens and increase effectiveness of the public service.

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MAKE migration agreements with safe countries in the Middle East and Africa to process and host refugees outside the EU The EU should make migration agreements with safe countries in the Middle East and Africa. These agreements consist of three elements. First, the EU commits to financially support safe countries in hosting refugees.

Second, the EU will work to facilitate the resettlement of refugees in a safe, humane, and legal way. Third, we must ensure the return to these safe countries of those migrants for whom, as quick as possible, an effective return decision following due judicial process has entered into force.

ESTABLISH more legal ways to Europe for those that seek jobs, education or want to invest in our economies Liberals commit to establish more legal ways to Europe for those that seek jobs, education, or want to invest in our economies. To meet future demographic challenges, we cannot become a Fortress Europe. We want to extend the scope of the EU blue card to act as an EU- wide work permit based on objective criteria.

STRENGTHEN and expand the EU Emissions Trading System We need to strengthen the EU Emissions Trading System. As the key instrument for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and where possible, it should be extended to cover more sectors, such as transport. We want to see an end of the obsolete fuel tax exemptions for international aviation by updating the Chicago Convention.

By 2050 the EU will be a carbon neutral economy. Its energy system will be highly efficient and fully based on renewable energy.

BOOST investment in sustainable infrastructure projects, particularly for rail We want to see greater investment in smart mobility, cross-border and sustainable infrastructure projects including Trans-European Networks, in particular for railroads. This enables us to travel seamlessly from any EU corner to another and efficiently connect people in our Union.

GIVE the EU Parliament the right to initiate legislation and make voting in the Council more transparent We want to see greater involvement of the European Parliament in decision-making by giving it the right to initiate legislation, and a greater degree of transparency of negotiations and voting within the European Council, and the Council of the EU. A more open, legitimate, and democratic European Union, closer to its citizens, can only be a good thing.

The full manifesto is available on the ALDE Party website at aldeparty.eu/manifesto The manifesto currently exists in English, Finnish, German, Italian, Slovenian and Swedish.

How did we establish this Manifesto?

To gather insight and expertise, a series of ten forum meetings were organised across Europe from March to May 2018 to gather input from different stakeholders and European citizens.

As part of an inclusive and consultative process, a Manifesto Drafting Committee was convened to draft an initial text which was then open and subject to amendments tabled by ALDE Party member parties and individual members before its adoption. The Manifesto Drafting Committee brought together senior liberals from across Europe and was chaired by the former Prime Minister of Estonia Taavi RĂľivas MP. liberal bulletin 10 FIRST issue 2019

YOU + US = RENEW EUROPE You, us and our 7 lead candidates. Together, we make up Team Europe.

As Team Europe we will renew our environment, our economy, our jobs… our Europe There are many ways how you can get involved in our European elections campaign!

VOTING I pledge to vote liberal in the EU elections in May 2019

MY LOCAL CANDIDATE I will help my local candidate to succeed in the European elections

SOCIAL MEDIA I will Retweet ALDE Party on Twitter (@ALDEParty) and add a comment or translation in my national language I will follow ALDE Party on Facebook (@ALDEparty) and add a comment or translation in my national language I will tune in to the live electoral debates on the ALDE Party Facebook page I will add the ALDE Party “Renew Europe” frame to my social media I will use ALDE Party’s GIF stickers on Instagram stories

DONATING I will make a difference by contributing to the ALDE Party campaign I will ask my friends and family to donate to the ALDE Party EU campaign Don’t hesitate to request our free fundraising guide

MEMBERSHIP I want to become a member of the ALDE Party To find out how to become a member, visit joinus.aldeparty.eu For more information, contact ALDE Party Fundraising and Engagement Manager Laura Owen, lowen@aldeparty.eu FIRST issue 2019 11 liberal bulletin

www.teameurope.eu

Heads of list for the European elections of ALDE Party member parties CLAUDIA GAMON

JOZO

RADOŠ

VALTER FLEGO

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GUY VERHOFSTADT

SAŠA

POLJANEC-BORIĆ

IVICA PULJAK

OLIVIER CHASTEL

MATIJA POSAVEC

DITA

CHARANZOVÁ

MORTEN HELVEG PETERSEN

ANDRUS ANSIP

DOMINIQUE RIQUET

MORTEN

LØKKEGAARD

Finland: in Finland, the vote for European elections is a combination of individual and list voting

JEAN -CHRISTOPHE LAGARDE

YANA TOOM

Finland: in Finland, the vote for European elections is a combination of individual and list voting

NICOLA BEER

KATALIN CSEH

PETRAS

IVARS IJABS

VIKTORAS USPASKICH

AUŠTREVIČIUS

CHARLES GOERENS

ANTHONY BUTTIGIEG

SOPHIE IN ‘T VELD

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MALIK AZMANI

RICARDO ARROJA

IRENA JOVEVA

LUIS GARICANO

ŠIMEČKA

ANGELIKA MLINAR

PERIČ

FREDRICK FEDERLEY

At the time of printing, the candidates from MRF (Bulgaria), Alliance (Northern Ireland) and the Liberal Democrats (UK) had not been announced. For up to date information visit:

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MICHAL

NORICA NICOLAI

GREGOR

KARIN KARLSBRO

www.aldeparty.eu/EPcandidates

Will politicians listen to me?

OPINION

Svenja Hahn LYMEC President

Many young people I meet on the campaign trail tell me that they are extremely worried about the direction the European Union might be taking. And they are right to be concerned.

The European elections this May will take place at a crucial time, as the EU’s future and unity is being questioned and challenged every day. Europe is experiencing a crisis of solidarity, a crisis of togetherness and a crisis of short-sighted visions. We have experienced a time of rising national egoism, populist agendas and hate speech. Recent geopolitical shifts have made it clear that the EU can no longer rely on some of our default allies. It is more than evident that to protect our Union of freedom, justice and democracy, we need to reform it.

young people, because the opportunities in life still depend on the Member State where you are born. Access and recognition of education are the keys for individuals to create their own future. Every young European should have the opportunity to live, learn and love in the whole of the Union, and having experiences and awareness of wider Europe significantly increases young people’s competitiveness in the labour market. To this end, we need to strengthen educational programmes, such as Erasmus and vocational training.

Combatting climate change is for sure the biggest challenge for our generation.

Now, more than ever, it is vital to stay in line with the Paris Agreement and to prioritise the sustainable use of natural resources. The second development with radical implications for our societies is digitalisation: We must insist on the principles of neutrality, transparency and freedom of expression in the digital field in addition to pursuing the new technologies and robotics. It is essential that we boost competitiveness in this field by deepening the Digital Single Market and that we foster development by increasing EU funding for research and innovation.

As young Europeans of today, and the generations to come, will be most affected by today’s political decisions, we deserve and need to be listened to. Over the past years, my generation has been let down by political decisions, either by the of lack of taking real action or by politicians trying to adapt the rules of the past to a world of tomorrow. We were made to bear the brunt of the consequences of the financial and economic crises and are still facing increasing challenges and barriers.

Inequality is another topic that affects

These are just some of the topics young Europeans are most concerned about ahead of the elections, but for young people these elections are as well about one simple question: Will politicians listen to me and take my concerns seriously?

Many have said that young people are uninterested in politics. But in the last months, we have seen young people out in the streets protesting for a variety of

topics, such as fighting climate change, giving people a voice in the Brexit drama or for a fair and modern copyright that doesn’t contain the threat of limiting the freedom of speech. Those who still claim that young people don’t care about politics really want to say: they don’t share my opinion.

Being loud and passionate is a privilege of young people and, of course, activists can’t offer all solutions to problems that even politicians couldn’t solve yet. But politicians need to take young people seriously because it’s the youth whose future they are shaping. The upcoming European elections are a perfect opportunity for young people to get their voices heard – either as candidates themselves or at the ballot boxes – and to put forward their hopes and expectations for the future.

Young people will support politicians who listen to their concerns, represent their expectations and hopes for Europe and provide concrete and credible solutions.

In these elections, the youth will vote for leaders who inspire them. Liberals have the ideas and the passion to set a spark to young people’s hearts and minds and it is of utmost relevance that we now act united to create a forward-moving Europe.

There is no other way forward – the future is Europe.

The author is on the second place in the FDP list for the European elections FIRST issue 2019 17 liberal bulletin

More and more citizens think and act across borders.

ALDE Party’s individual membership allows us to engage and involve individuals to help us build a stronger pan-European party. Join us today!

NOT YET A MEMBER joinus.aldeparty.eu

European elections - now is the time to act!

OPINION

Thalia Ntoka Chair of the Steering Committee of ALDE Party Individual Members 23-26 May 2019: save these dates in your calendar and go vote in the European elections.

Before sharing information on ‘how’ and ‘who’, let’s remind ourselves that 2019 can become our year. If not from the perspective of dynamics, then definitely from the basis that the result of these European elections will probably change the way we live.

It is true that people are not interested in the European elections. They seem boring – more than 700 new (and some old) faces will relocate for five years, will get high salaries, will disappear from their countries for a long time, will vote for some legislation we do not understand and five years later, many of them will come back, probably asking for your vote. So, what is the point?

We belong in Europe. For many, Europe is just an idea or a place with boundaries that occasionally change whilst our rights and obligations strictly remain inside the country we live in. This is the biggest myth populists use to convince someone that Europe is just a geographic area with no other function or point.

But let’s first have a look at some facts and then decide whether European elections mean anything at all.

- We have the freedom to travel, live and work everywhere – select one of the EU Member States, and there you are! You think it’s the national parliaments which achieved that? Wrong!

Thanks to Europe, around 500 million

people can cross the borders easily and travel without fear. Our common market works no matter what populists say and recently, data became accessible free of roaming charges, so thank you Europe!

- Do you think that the Single Market is not a European achievement? Well, think again! We now cherish the biggest Single Market in the world when it comes to goods and services. You like a camera and want to purchase it but can’t find it in your country? Go ahead and buy it from Germany, there is no import tax.

Big companies work better, millions of employees relocate all the time with no issue, so thank Europe again!

- Many of us don’t really know what wars or border controls are, and if we take a look at the history, we should be thankful for that. It is Europe that managed to create one of the most democratic and peaceful regions in the world and that gave us the ability to not just feel but actually live in freedom.

- Are you aware of the Paris Agreement?

No matter what climate change deniers say, climate change is here and thanks to the policies of the European Union, we can reduce CO2 emissions to protect our planet and the generations to come.

Only recently, an EU strategy on reducing plastic use by 2030 was adopted.

things could be if there was no common voice or strategy.

As ALDE Individual Members, we are not just seeking for answers but solutions, which will keep Europe and our future safe.

We know how difficult it is to build communities and share our values, but we also know this is not time lost, and we must make up ground the best we can.

The time for this has come!

With less than a month to go before the European elections, it is time to become more active than ever. Thankfully, all of us can take action.

You can start small by telling your friends to join and support liberal ideas. You can organise events and share the message on why these elections are so important.

You can use social media for the right cause, by spreading the message all over Europe. You can get involved in the ALDE Party’s electoral campaign. You can write articles or become vloggers.

Whatever you do, do not stay silent. Do not leave the ground to those who hate Europe, as they are many and they live where we live. We can do better and must show that liberalism is not just an idea but a way of life.

There are many other achievements, of course, but also many challenges.

I won’t tell you who to support, you know better, so go and make the right choice for the future of Europe.

Brexit, migration, youth unemployment and data privacy issues have recently harmed the trust many have in the European project, but think of how much worse off

On 26 May I will personally celebrate, not only for my birthday, but I will dedicate this special day to you, to us, to Europe!

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Social media highlights Facebook /aldeparty

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Twitter @aldeparty

Instagram @aldeparty

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Movers & shakers Zuzana Čaputová Zuzana Čaputová, one of the founding members of ALDE Party member party Progressive Slovakia, was elected the next President of Slovakia in March. Her success is a strong sign of growing liberal forces in Slovakia and in Central Europe. In her acceptance speech, she stated: “I am happy not just for the result but mainly that it is possible not to succumb to populism, to tell the truth, to raise interest without aggressive vocabulary.”

Jasna Gabrič Jasna Gabrič, Mayor of Trbovlje, Slovenia, and the ALDE CoR Vice-President, was awarded the title of Mayor of Distinction in the 2018 World Mayor Prize. The youngest female Mayor of her country, she was also the only member of the European Committee of the Regions to make the list.

Reacting to the award, she said: “I’m proud that together with my team we achieved so much, and that our work inTrbovlje is recognised all over the world.”

Lieve Wierinck

Hakima El Haite Hakima El Haite was unanimously elected last November as the new President of Liberal International, the world federation of liberal political parties. She is the second woman to hold this role, and the first-ever President from the African continent in the history of the federation. An internationally-recognised leader in environmental sustainability and climate change, and a former Minister of Environment for the Kingdom of Morocco, she is a member of the executive board of Mouvement Populaire Morocco.

She has also been named as one of the world’s 100th most influential people in climate policy in 2019. liberal bulletin 22 FIRST issue 2019

Lieve Wierinck was awarded the MEP Award for Health earlier this spring. Currently Shadow Rapporteur in the ITRE Committee for Horizon Europe and a substitute member of the ECON committee, her goal is to ensure that research and innovation continue to flourish in a competitive atmosphere.

Thanks to her passion for health matters, she is committed to deliver progressive and affordable healthcare across Europe. “I am extremely honoured and grateful for the recognition I have received for my work,” she said.

ALDE PARTY

CONGRESS

ATHENS, GREECE

24-26 OCTOBER 2019

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party Rue d’Idalie 11 - Box 2 1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 237 01 40 Fax: +32 2 231 19 07 info@aldeparty.eu www.aldeparty.eu

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Cover photo: CC BY-NC-ND Š ALDE Party

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ALDE Party - Produced: April 2019 - With the support of the European Parliament

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