E-newsletter

The financial situation in eurozone countries, the European External Action Service; migration; and freedom of press in Europe are the main topics that will be discussed by ELDR’s member parties on 12-13 March in Rome. Hosted by Italia dei Valori, more than 150 liberal delegates will gather in the Italian capital for two-days of discussions and networking on the eve of the Italian local elections.

A debate on Freedom of press will take place at the IdV HQ on Saturday 12th with the participation of Annemie Neyts MEP, ELDR Party President; Antonio Di Pietro, IdV Party Leader; Leoluca Orlando MP, ELDR Vice President; Niccolo Rinaldi MEP; and Emma Bonino, Radicali italiani Party Leader. For more details, please click here.

If on one hand Yabloko, Russia, is still struggling against the Russian authorities because of its last non-registration in the regional election race in two key regions (please click here for more details), on the other Radicali Italiani, scored a good goal on the path of the rule of Law and protection of civil rights.
The Italian party, after a careful investigation, reported the numerous irregularities over the list of the centre- right candidates in Rome and Milan- two crucial strongholds of Berlusconi’s party - and seeing them finally erased from the competition. 

 
European Liberals discussed the Eastern Partnership Initiative at a joint conference in Berlin over the past weekend.  With member parties in three of the countries of the Eastern Partnership, ELDR has an interest in promoting this initiative, something also underlined by ELDR President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck: "for us, the Eastern Partnership is not an alternative, a second best to EU membership - rather the opposite. ... Provided that the countries work eagerly and successfully together with the EU ... the EU should have no reason to exclude them from potential accession talks, would they be interested in it". Click here to read more.

A number of high profile politicians and supporters are becoming friends with the ELDR Party on Facebook. Amongst those Herve Morin, French Minister of Defense, who recently became friends with the ELDR secretariat profile “Rue Montoyer”. Since its inauguration, one week ago, our Facebook FAN PAGE registered already 500 friends. The Fan Page will enable a better exchange of views and news between ELDR and its supporters.
Join our Fan Page NOW!

On Saturday 6 March, in the prestigious “Academiegebouw” of the university of Utrecht,  the Dutch social-liberal party D66 will organize an “international day” to promote its European and international cooperation and activities, which will be introduced by former D66 International Secretary Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy MEP. Three workshops will address topics such as development cooperation, international security and defence, and European cooperation. The results of these workshops will feed into the party’s manifesto for the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for 9 June 2010. Furthermore, D66 will promote its membership in ELDR and Liberal International. Political advisor Daniel Tanahatoe will represent the ELDR Party. More information here.

ELDR deplores the role of the Cuban regime in the death of the political prisoner, Orlando Zapata, who died in a hospital in Havana last week after an 85-day hunger strike to put pressure on the authorities to knowledge his designation by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience. ELDR expresses its support for human rights organizations in ensuring freedom of expression in Cuba.

Erratum:
The book “La tradition de la liberté”, mentioned in the previous newsletter is a joint collaboration between Centre Jean Gol and the European Liberal Forum. To receive a copy please contact Centre Jean Gol, cjg@cjg.be or ELF secretariat info@liberalforum.eu.

The March edition of the ELDR newspaper N E W S is online! Check out the special focus on the SWIFT agreement and data protection! New food for our liberal minds!