The Irish newcomer will see the ELDR party establish itself as a key player for the forthcoming European elections and finds in ELDR a partner in view of the Lisbon Treaty referendum in Ireland, scheduled probably for the end of October 2009. For ELDR, Fianna Fail's membership will bring to the liberal family a new and interesting perspective from a strong party currently in government, an additional strong voice in the European Council and a crucial contribution to European liberal politics.

The number of parties belonging to the European liberal family has risen to 58 with the inclusion of two new observermembers: Spanish Centro Democratico Liberal (CDL) and Slovakian Free Forum.