February 2011 | ELDR News n°8 | www.eldr.eu
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ELDR launches the Associate membership for individuals The ELDR Party has taken a significant step forward towards citizens’ participation at EU level by launching associate membership of the ELDR Party for individuals. “Direct participation is all about nourishing the quality of future democracy. And with this initiative ELDR would like to add flesh to the bones to what was introduced in 1992 by the Maastricht Treaty: the European citizenship” commented Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, President of the ELDR Party. “Associate Membership for individuals – Neyts-Uyttebroeck added - is a sign of
support to the European liberal values of freedom and individual responsibility, democracy and the rule of law, respect for human rights and tolerance”. Our Associate membership is open to any European under the following conditions: • Adhere to the statutes of the ELDR Party as well as to the fundamental values as expressed in the founding document of the ELDR Party, the “Stuttgart Declaration”. • Not being a member of any national political party that itself belongs to any other European political party other than the ELDR Party. • Pay a membership fee of 25€.
There is an evident distinction in comparison to the individual membership of the European Socialists and People’s Party. ELDR in fact gives the possibility to sign up for membership not only to those already member of a national political party, but also to individuals not necessarily linked to political parties. The launch of Associate membership for individuals is unquestionably another step in the continuing development of the ELDR Party from a network of liberal parties into a fully fledged European political party. Once there will be truly pan-European election campaigns and European can-
didates in the elections for the European Parliament, ELDR will be ready to involve its associate members in our election campaign activities. Membership will give you: 1) An Associate membership card, 2) Home delivery of the quarterly ELDR newspaper, 3) The ELDR electronic newsletter. 4) Personalised invitations for selected events.
Furthermore, associate members will be able to participate and be a candidate in online elections that will select the delegate(s) representing associate members at the yearly ELDR Congress.
Marc Guerrero I Tarragó
Markus Löning
Leoluca Orlando
Vesna Pusić
Born in Barcelona. Married with one child. - PhD “Cum Laude” in Social Sciences. Thesis on Foreign Affairs and B.A in Business Politics, he is now ELDR Party Vice president; National Board Member of Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya (CDC); Patron and Head of the International Relations Dept. of CatDem Foundation and he is Board Member of the European Catalan Movement.
Spokesman for development policy of the FDP group in the German federal parliament from 2002 to 2005 and for European affairs from 2005 to 2009. Commissioner for Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid of the German government since 2010. ELDR vice president since 2005.
Member of the Italian Parliament Spokesperson of the Italia dei Valori Party; MEP and President of the Parliamentary Commission of inquiry in sanity field in the Italian Parliament. Former Mayor of Palermo, former MEP and member of Sicilian Regional Parliament.
Priorities
Priorities
If we stand united as Europeans we will be able to convince others in this world that human rights, democracy, rule of law and market economy are the very core of personal freedom and that they are worth fighting for. Convincing our own people to follow a path towards a highly integrated Europe leading up to the United States of Europe. We have more in common than we usually think and we will need to stand together to face the challenges of a changing world. These are the goals I am working towards.
I want to contribute to strengthening liberal values and social attention through an extension of the ELDR party’s membership, across Europe and especially in the Mediterranean area.
Vesna Pusić is parliamentary floor leader of HNS and a Chairwoman of the National Committee for Monitoring the EU Accession Negotiations, the parliamentary body in charge of overseeing the entire process of Croatian EU accession. She has been a member of the Croatian Parliament since 2001.She is a chairwoman of LIBSEEN - Network of South-East European Liberals, ELWN - European Liberal Women Network and vice-president of ELDR.
Priorities I want to promote liberal values and strengthen liberal political parties, especially in places where we have more difficulties such as Southern and Central Europe. Gain European public space influence through higher visibility in media and new IT tools. Increase the coordination between the European liberal family (ELDR Party, ALDE Groups in European institutions, ELF). Increase knowledge of the ELDR party among member parties, develop the individual membership and therefore to make ELDR stronger in «all senses».
OUR BUREAU MEMBERS’ GOALS Dick Roche Dick Roche, TD: Irish Minister for European Affairs since 2007, as well as from 2002 to 2004. Between 2004 and 2007, he served as Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. As Minister for European Affairs, 2002 – 2004, Dick was responsible for the Nice II Referendum Campaign, for the preparation of Ireland’s much acclaimed European Union Presidency and led Ireland’s delegation at the Convention on the Future of Europe. Dick was a leading member of the Irish Government’s highly successful 2009 Lisbon Treaty Referendum Campaign.
Priorities I believe that there is a real opportunity for the ELDR to play a pivotal role in the development of a stronger, more democratic Europe. The parties within the ELDR represent a huge and diverse range of political talent. I believe that by bringing together the widest range of political experience within the Bureau, the ELDR can play a crucial role in charting the way forward for the European Union. I believe member parties need to work together, sharing ideas and experiences to achieve Liberal solutions to meet our current challenges. I am anxious to play an active role to realise this, and to bring Liberals to the forefront of politics at a regional, national and European level.
Annemie Neyts
Priorities My focus inside the ELDR Bureau is South Eastern Europe, where I hope to contribute to Europeanization and liberalisation of all countries in the region and work on its stable and progressive development. My aim is to create a platform for exchange of economic and political solutions for actual problems and obstacles, similar in all of the neighbouring states, and mutual support for the EU accession of all countries in South Eastern Europe.
Annemie Neyts, MEP (Open Vld, Belgium) ELDR party President (September 2005 to present). She belongs to the ALDE Parliamentary Group since 2004, for which she coordinates the fields of foreign affairs. Minister, deputy for Foreign Affairs, in charge of European Affairs, International Trade and Agriculture, 2001-2003; President of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of representatives, 2003-2004. She is former president of the Liberal International (1999-2005).
Political priorities
One priority for me is the support to our member parties to strengthen their party work and organization capacities through various schemes. Based on our successful Prime Ministerial meetings and press conferences, we intend to broaden such meetings to the ministerial level to further discuss and coordinate liberal policies. In 2011 individual citizens will have the opportunity to join the ELDR party as associate members. This is a further step in the development of ELDR as a true political party, and I hope to contribute with making this as good as possible, thereby widening and deepening the European liberal Lousewies van der Laan family. I also intend to use my last year as ELDR President to assess the state of democracy in Originally trained as a Roman Jakic Europe – and find successful liberal solutions lawyer, Lousewies van der to improve it. Laan is currently chef de After (re)founding (in late cabinet of the President of 80’s) the Slovenia Student the International Criminal organisation, he was first Court in The Hague. After a elected to the National distinguished career in the EU, she was elected Parliament in the first free Graham Watson to the European Parliament and subsequently and democratic elections the Dutch Parliament, where she became leain 1990. He served 15 years in national parGraham Watson has serder of the Dutch Democratic Party D66. She is liament (as head of delegation to the Parliaved in the European Para passionate environmentalist and activist for mentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, liament since 1994. human rights and justice. Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee, EU-SLO He cut his political teeth Joint Parliamentary Committee as well one with the Scottish Young mandate as MEP). He is currently a Councillor Liberals and the InternaPriorities of the City of Ljubljana, where he is chairing tional Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) of As one of the few Bureau members not in the Foreign Affairs Committee. which he was General Secretary from 1979 professional politics, I try to keep our activities -81. He served from 1983 - 1987 as Head of grounded to the daily concerns of our voters. the Private Office of UK Liberal leader, Sir David One of my key assets as a national MP was Priorities (now Lord) Steel. having a broad European network to check back As Treasurer and Chairman of the Steering Leader of the Liberal Group in the European with, making it impossible for the government Committee my first priority is to keep the Parliament from 2002 - 2009. He is currently to blame “Europe” for its own policies. I feel ELDR finances in balance as well as to find toa member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, this is where the ELDR can have a real added gether with the help of the Secretary General, Chair of the India Delegation and Chair of the value: giving our national and local liberals administrative staff, Bureau members and Global Climate Parliament Initiative. the contacts and know-how to give them real member parties, ways to increase income impact to serve their voters. Last year D66 and rationalise the spendings. seminar in Rotterdam on youth unemployment Secondly I would like to be helpful with my Priorities was a great example, because we shared expolitical experience in the topics that concern I hope to contribute to building the strength of periences as well as business cards. In addition Central and Eastern parts of Europe, espeEurope’s liberal family through an extension we need to keep supporting our liberal friends cially to help those member parties that of the ELDR party’s membership, both in the in Eastern and central Europe, who are under are defending the path of their respective member party and the individual member huge political pressure. countries to join the EU. categories.