Headlines

Verhofstadt: "2011 must be a year for decisive action"

In his New Year message in Brussels, Guy Verhofstadt states that 2011 must be the year when the Union shows leadership and decisive action.

ALDE Eurobonds proposal: everybody will pay less

Guy Verhofstadt, Liberal and Democrat group leader in the European Parliament, outlined his assessment of the latest attempts to forge a consensus on economic governance in the EU, during a January 18th press conference and summarised in two short papers arguing for a "a new and global economic governance Master Plan" and a concrete proposal for the introduction of a system of Eurobonds.

Liberals back case for stronger cross-border patients' rights

Patients will now be able to receive necessary medical treatment in a European country other than their own. On January 19th the European Parliament adopted its second reading recommendation on the proposal for a Directive on Patient's rights in cross-border healthcare, aiming at clarifying and strengthening the rights of patients who have to seek treatment in another Member State.

The time has come to act on Belarus

Commenting on the European Parliament's strong condemnation of the brutal oppression of opposition and civil society in Belarus in the aftermath of the presidential elections in December, ALDE MEP Kristiina Ojuland (Estonian Reform Party, Estonia) said: "The European Parliament is sending a strong message of support to the people of Belarus, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all political detainees and an immediate stop to all forms of harassment and threats against members of the protesting public.

Europe should step up research and funding to combat suffering from Alzheimer´s

On January 19th the European Parliament adopted a report on a "European initiative on Alzheimer´s disease and other dementias" which calls for concerted action not only in promoting awareness but also the need for public policies and concrete responses to this disability.

Serbia moves one step closer to EU

The January 19th ratification of the EC-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) in the European Parliament was welcomed by ALDE MEP Jelko Kacin (LDS, Slovenia), who said it would send a strong message of support to the country in its long and difficult path towards EU membership.

EU must address the issue of media freedom in Member States seriously

Following an extraordinary joint hearing of the Committees on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and Culture on the recently adopted controversial Hungarian Media law, ALDE Leader Guy Verhofstadt stated: "The European Commission must continue its analysis and come swiftly to its conclusions on the compatibility of this law with EU acquis, while the Hungarian government should live up to its commitment to change the law on the basis of the Commission's recommendations. It is high time for the Commission to come up with a legislation laying down minimum standards for media freedom, to ensure EU monitoring and application of the Charter of Fundamental rights in this field in all Member States".

MEPs call for better consumer and farmer protection in wake of German dioxin scandal

MEPs have called on the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli, to fully investigate the German dioxin scandal, look into improved traceability and quality controls of animal feed and processed food and discuss compensation for farmers disproportionately affected by the food scare.

ALDE pushes European Council to prioritise energy efficiency

In a letter to the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, the Liberal and Democrat group in the European Parliament (ALDE) has asked for energy efficiency to be put at the top of the agenda of the Council's special meeting on energy issues on 4th of February 2011.

EP delegation holds crisis talks in Lisbon and Madrid

In turbulent times a delegation of the Special Committee on the Financial, Economic and Social Crisis (CRIS), lead by ALDE member and CRIS chairman Wolf KLINZ (FDP, Germany), undertook a long planned, but timely, journey to the capitals of Portugal and Spain. From January 11th till the 13th, the delegation that includes ALDE member Olle SCHMIDT (Folkpartiet, Sweden), has met representatives from both national parliaments as well as social and industrial partners, first in Lisbon then in Madrid.

Food for thought on GMO debate

The evaluation of the risks of GMOs for health and the environment has been the key controversy in the GMO debate in Europe. The work of European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) GMO panel, has been criticised by Member States non-EFSA scientists and NGOs. The ALDE group has taken the initiative to bring together EFSA and non EFSA experts on biosafety to discuss how the risk evaluation of GMOs should be conducted in a seminar which will be attended by John Dalli, EU Commissioner on Health and Consumer Policy.

Verhofstadt: EU leaders leave glass half empty

Commenting on the outcome of the December European summit which agreed on a limited Treaty change to provide for a permanent stability mechanism for Eurozone countries facing liquidity problems, Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE group leader in the European Parliament) commented: "EU leaders have taken a step to reassuring the markets by providing the legal basis for a longer term solidarity and stability among the countries sharing the Single Currency, but more complementary measures will be needed to stabilise the Euro and calm the markets.

EU Economic Governance: Commission sets the yearly priorities for EU growth

President Barroso said: "A new phase of European integration begins with the Annual Growth Survey. We are setting out to break new ground and to decisively improve the way in which we manage and coordinate our interdependent economies in the European Union. This is the EU model.  This is our economic governance in action. The Annual Growth Survey is a coherent and comprehensive plan to return Europe to growth and higher employment. If it is fully implemented, I'm confident that Europe can return to strong economic growth and higher employment".

This first Annual Growth Survey marks the start of a new cycle of economic governance in the EU. It brings together the different actions which are essential to strengthen the recovery in the short-term, to keep pace with our main competitors and prepare the EU to move towards its Europe 2020 objectives. 

In the main Communication the Commission focuses on an integrated approach to recovery concentrating on key measures in the context of Europe 2020 and encompassing three main areas:

- The need for rigorous fiscal consolidation for enhancing macroeconomic stability
- Structural reforms for higher employment
- And growth enhancing measures

This first Annual Growth Survey is designed to apply to the EU as a whole and it will be tailored to the specific situation of each Member State.

To read more please go to link below.

ALDE Reaction to Commission´s Annual Growth Survey

Guy Verhofstadt, Liberal and Democrat group leader in the European Parliament, outlined his assessment of the latest attempts to forge a consensus on economic governance in the EU, during a press conference and summarised in two short papers arguing for a "a new and global economic governance Master Plan" and a concrete proposal for the introduction of a system of Eurobonds.

"We back the ambitious proposals of Commissioner Olli Rehn in the Annual Growth Survey .  It is time to move forward with economic governance in general and with the reduction of the EU's total debt in particular. As it is clear that with the foreseen 0,5% deficit  reduction  per year, overall debt will remain over 100% of the GDP,  our proposal is therefore to double the reduction effort to at least 1% per year."

Concerning the concrete proposal on a system of Eurobonds, Verhofstadt explained: "In what we propose, every single country will pay less due to higher liquidity and a deeper bond market meaning that the interest rate on the common bond will be lower than the average of national interest rates. In our proposal, where only the first 60% of debt of GDP is pooled, AAA countries will pay less then the average while low rating countries will pay a bit more than the average. Our system will provide an additional incentive for compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact, reduce overall EU debt, add stability to the Euro zone while injecting market confidence but, above all, it will free resources for boosting EU growth."

Dr. Antonyia Parvanova MEP, (NMSP, Bulgaria)

Dr Antonyia Parvanova (1962), Bulgarian, Paediatrician and Public Health policy expert, is currently Member of the European Parliament, Vice-President of the Alliance of the Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), and sits as a full Member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. She is also the ALDE group coordinator for the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality.

Following her career as a clinician and researcher both in Bulgaria and in the UK, Dr Parvanova started her political career when elected Member of the Bulgarian Parliament in 2001. There she was Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Public Health and worked actively on public health and healthcare legislation on a national level. After being elected to the European Parliament in 2004, she initiated several public health policy actions, notably the campaign on patients' rights in Europe in 2007. At the same time, she also took part in the debate on Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union, stressing the need to combat the spread of the epidemic in neighbouring countries from central Europe.  She now continues to be actively involved in public health dossiers currently being discussed in the European Parliament, such as the pharmaceutical package and the proposal for a Directive on Patients' rights in cross-border healthcare.

Throughout her professional and political activities, she has been actively involved in the Women's Rights debate, focusing particularly on societal and health related issues, at both national and EU levels. She focuses her attention on sexual and reproductive health issues, with a specific emphasis on those most affecting women. Looking at access to care and treatment, she notably initiated in Bulgaria the establishment of a national fund facilitating and reimbursing in-vitro fertilisation treatments for women and couples affected by reproductive disorders.

For more information, please contact:
ALDE Press Service and Inter-institutional relations unit

neil.corlett@europarl.europa.eu
willem.vandenbroucke@europarl.europa.eu