Stockholm, 30/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in congress in Stockholm on Thursday 30 and Friday 31 October, the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR) will adopt a 12-point political manifesto to guide the action by national Liberal Parties during the European elections of June 2009. Deliberately as concise as possible, the manifesto tackles four themes: civil liberties, the single market, energy and environmental policies, and common foreign, security and defence policy.
Financial crisis. The Stockholm Congress was the occasion for drawing up a first account of the role of the European Union in responding to the financial crisis. “European cooperation has passed the crisis test”, said Jan Björkelund, who is leader of the Folkpartiet Liberalerna and current education minister in Sweden. He was convinced that “no European country on its own could have perfected a package of measures” to overcome the financial turbulence. Recent events have also shown the risks run by European countries that have not adopted single currency. In Sweden, we have a “small currency” evolving in an “immense ocean” and people prefer to cross the financial storm on a “big ship”, Mr Björkelund said. Evoking the recent poll results showing a considerable decline in Sweden's hostility towards the euro, he stressed the need to reactivate discussion on his country's membership of the eurozone. In Sweden, a consequential majority of parties are in favour of single currency, with the noteworthy exception of Centerpartiet, also in power and a member of the European Liberal Party. It is the opinion of its president, Maud Olofsson, that “the Swedes are not yet ready”. In Denmark, reflection on belonging to the eurozone has also taken on a new dimension. “The financial crisis has shown the political and economic cost entailed by remaining outside the eurozone”, said Liberal Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Denmark has not been able to influence decisions that have had an effect on its own currency and its own economy, he said. The Danish government hopes to organise a referendum on joining the eurozone by the end of its mandate in November 2011, but the uncertainties with regard to the Lisbon Treaty do not for now allow a precise date to be set.
Should the financial system be more regulated? The position of the Liberals in favour of market opening does not mean having “deregulated markets”, said Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, ELDR President. Finland's Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said it was necessary to actively reflect on reform of the international financial architecture. “Solutions and institutions perfected for the 1940s should be modernised (and adjusted) to the needs of the 21st century”, he added. Mr Rasmussen called for better public governance and not more public intervention, increased transparency of financial markets and greater requirements when it comes to capital for banks. “Proud of the importance of a strong currency” especially during these times of strong economic upheavals, the Belgian finance minister, Didier Reynders, supported the efforts aimed at increasing supervision of the financial institutions at European and international levels. In his view, the organisation of a new Bretton Woods should not result in more rules but on acceptance of “common rules” with a minimum threshold.
Manifesto. Reference will be made in the political manifesto of the Liberals to the financial crisis and to the responses called for. On Thursday morning, an amendment by the German Liberals was bitterly discussed. It concerned the importance of European Central Bank (ECB) independence and the need for sound budgetary policies to ensure the prosperity of citizens. The British called for reference to be made to the action taken by the central banks of member states that have not adopted single currency. A Swedish delegate stressed the importance of stressing respect of the market economy, in response to the current French hyperactivity concerning the setting in place of increased coordination of economic policies.
The ELDR Party also expresses its resolve to make energy and environmental challenges an opportunity consisting of massively investing in technology that promotes sustainable use of resources, and allowing development of renewable energies. The financial crisis must not be an excuse for reducing the ambition of the climate/energy package, Mr Rasmussen stressed. The Swedish environment minister, Andreas Carlgren, said investment in favour of a low CO2 economy was part of the solution to the financial crisis. He sounded a note of caution against the “cost of inaction” that would be comparable to “a new world war”.
The Liberals express unrelenting support for the fundamental freedoms of the person such as freedom of expression, respect of private life and minority rights. They restate their attachment to the four freedoms inscribed in the European treaties since 1957: freedom of movement for persons, services, capital and goods. In their view, a fifth freedom should be added - that of the free movement of knowledge with a view to bolstering investment in research and innovation. What is more, they say, the internal market should be extended to the energy sector, postal services, financial services, railway and health. Finally, the Liberals want in-depth reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in order to meet the growing international demand and to release additional means to finance so-called “future” spending. A brochure by the Young Liberals entitled “CAP is crap!” was being circulated in the corridors of the Stockholm Congress on Thursday. (M.B./transl.jl)