Headlines
Multiannual Financial Framework:ALDE welcomes the convening of an Inter-Parliamentary Conference
 Guy VERHOFSTADT confirmed during the July Strasbourg plenary debate support by Liberals and Democrats for the European Commission proposals on the Post-2013 Multiannual Financial Framework. The ALDE President particularly welcomed the proposal on own resources, which was one of the requests that the group had formulated in 2009 to support the nomination of José Manuel Barroso. "We are grateful that he has kept his promise," said Verhofstadt
 Data transfers on cross-border traffic offences must protect privacy rights
 Commenting on the July 6th vote at the European Parliament on cross-border traffic offences directive on a second reading, ALDE spokesperson Vilja SAVISAAR-TOOMAST (Eesti Keskerakond, Estonia) said:
The EU must send a firm message to Russia to uphold multi-party democracy
 The European Parliament adopted on July 7th a resolution on the preparations for the Russian Sate Duma elections in December this year. Nine political parties have been refused the chance to participate in these elections making the forthcoming elections a state managed campaign between Kremlin friendly parties. The ALDE Group urges the EU to put pressure on the Russian authorities to reconsider their decision to ban opposition party registration.
Syria and Bahrain: Europe should take the lead- in the name of humanity
 Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe called on the EU High Representative to take further action immediately in Syria and Bahrain.
Better Schengen governance but no new rules enabling border checks
 "In the July Strasbourg plenary session Parliament has backed what ALDE has been repeating for months. We do not want and will not accept any new mechanism that may weaken the Schengen acquis guaranteeing the principle of free movement between Member States - the very essence of our Union." said Renate Weber (PNL, Romania) ALDE coordinator in the Civil Liberties Committee after today's vote on a resolution on the "Changes to Schengen" as called for by the June European Council conclusion.
Body scanners must respect minimum standards of privacy
 On July 6th the European Parliament approved a report on the controversial installation of security scanners at airports. The proposal, due soon from the Commission, will not be subjected to full legislative scrutiny as it is likely to be presented as a delegated act under a framework decision on aviation security. Parliament will therefore only be able to give consent or reject it.
New food labelling rules : more for consumer rights
 Food labels are to become clearer for consumers. During the July Strasbourg plenary session the European Parliament adopted a report negotiated with EU Member States which defines the new rules and principles for food labelling in the EU. The main issue is to update an existing regulation and provide new information on food packages against misleading the consumer (nutritional and energy content of products like ingredients, use by date, conditions of use, origin etc).
EP sets out proposals to avoid further economic crises
 "The EU is at a critical juncture: it must decide either to increase its rate of integration or regress to an economic zone", said CRIS chairman Wolf KLINZ (FDP, Germany), after the European Parliament on July 6th adopted by a large majority the final report of its 'Special Committee on the Financial, Economic and Social Crisis' - established in 2009 in response to the crisis that had followed the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
ALDE has confidence in the Polish Presidency
 European Liberals and Democrats are impressed with the first steps of the Council's Polish Presidency of the EU, whether its commitment to reach a compromise on economic governance, its refusal to detract from Schengen gains, or its support for the holding of an Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the next multiannual financial framework. This pro-European position taken in the July Strasbourg plenary session of the European Parliament by Prime Minister Donald Tusk was warmly welcomed by Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group leader.
Member States should be able to ban or restrict the cultivation of GMOs
 The European Parliament adopted on July 5th a report which allows Member States to ban or restrict the use of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) on environmental and agricultural grounds (eg. pesticide resistance, the invasiveness of certain crops and threat to biodiversity).
Cheaper roaming calls to apply from today
 As of July 1st, mobile phone roaming charges will become cheaper as part of an EU regulation agreed 2 years ago to gradually reduce the costs of making and receiving calls from abroad.
Economic Governance package must contain strong sanctions to be credible
 On June 23rd the European Parliament voted on the text of the crucial package of legislative measures on economic governance, as amended, without voting on the final resolution that would have closed the first reading procedure. In this way, the Parliament has clearly expressed its main request, notably the inclusion of automatic sanctions for those countries that do not comply with the Stability and Growth Pact and left to the Council to make the last effort in this sense without going already through a long second reading procedure.
![]() MEP Theodoros Skylakakis welcomes the approval of the mid-term reform package
 In the framework of the vote on the mid-term reform package by the Greek Parliament, MEP Theodoros Skylakakis, Member of the Democratic Alliance party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe stated the following:
CAP reforms must deliver sustainability and competitiveness
 The Liberal and Democrat Group (ALDE) in the European Parliament made a firm political statement in favour of a market-orientated and sustainable agriculture in Europe by voting against the Dess report on reforming the Common Agricultural policy (CAP) after 2013.
Hans van Baalen MEP, re-elected as President of Liberal International, receives Friedrich-Naumann-Medal for freedom
 ALDE MEP Hans van Baalen (VVD, Netherlands) has been re-elected for a second term of 18 months as President of Liberal International during the 57th Congress of LI in the Philippine capital Manila.
Consumer rights to be enhanced in online contracts
 The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) of the European Parliament adopted on June 16th a proposal for a new consumer rights directive that sets up a single framework in the field of distance selling (via online, telephone) and off-premises selling (doorstep). ALDE has been working to create a level playing and a unique set of roles enabling both consumers and traders to benefit from the internal market.
Parliament´s environment committee calls for limit of phosphorus in household detergents
 On June 15th the European Parliament Environment Committee voted to limit the amount of phosphorus permitted in household detergents.
Ending legal uncertainty in foreign property purchases
 Buying property in another European country can go horribly wrong for many people caught out by differences in legal systems and different concepts of property rights.
 | | European Commission President's Statement on proposals for Multiannual Financial Framework
Investing today for growth tomorrow
Brussels, 29 June 2011 - The European Union has a small budget, but with a big impact for Europe's citizens. The Commission's proposal for a multi-annual budget for 2014-2020 responds to today's concerns and tomorrow's needs. It focuses on priority funding at the EU level that provides true added value. For instance, a Connecting Europe Facility that funds cross-border projects in energy, transport and information technology to strengthen the backbone of our internal market; significantly more money for Research and Innovation to invest in our competitiveness; and more funds for Europe’s youth. These are just some of the new elements in the Commission proposal. At the same time, this innovative EU budget remains focused: The overall amount proposed for the next seven years is €1,025 billion in commitments (1.05% of the EU GNI) and €972.2 billion (1% of EU GNI) in payments.
In the current times of fiscal austerity all across the EU, the Commission has presented an ambitious but realistic proposal for the next MFF, explains commissioner for financing programming and budget Janusz Lewandowski:. "Through smart reallocation of the budget we have created room to finance new priorities such as cross-border infrastructure for energy and transport, research and development, education and culture, securing external borders and strengthening our neighbours to the South and East. Furthermore, we have modernised virtually all our policies by simplifying our programmes and by putting more conditionality on how funds are being spent."
ALDE Response to Commission Communication on the Multi-annual Financial Framework
Post 2013 Financial Framework contains courageous and innovative proposals
European Liberals and Democrats have reacted positively to courageous and innovative proposals presented on June 29th by the European Commission for the next multi-annual financial framework and the system of own resources.
Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group leader, stated in a preliminary analysis that "these proposals are worthy of serious consideration as a bold and coherent contribution to the discussions on the future of the EU budget. I am particularly pleased at the Commission's acceptance of our idea to launch an inter-parliamentary conference, modeled on the Convention, allowing national parliaments and governments to take part in the debate with the EU institutions. Parliament and Commission will bring a joint initiative before the Council's Polish presidency asking that it organise and start this inter-parliamentary conference in the coming months. I have spoken with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Secretary of State Mikolaj Dowgielewicz and there is a positive attitude surrounding this initiative."
"I am also satisfied with the proposals concerning a new system of own resources, something I have long pleaded for. The attitude of European citizens toward the EU will change greatly if it is the taxpayers who directly fund the European Budget and no longer the member states who secretly negotiate for each to have their "fair" return. This new approach which is fiscally neutral, will also permit the abolition of 43 dispensations, exceptions, rebates and other returns which make the current system incomprehensible and curb the financing for policies."
Anne JENSEN (Venstre, Denmark), ALDE coordinator for the Parliamentary Budget Committee, added: "Europe really needs improved networks in the field of energy and transport, and I salute the Commission suggestion to increase investments in this area more than 400%. This is completely coherent with the orientations of the EU 2020 Economic Strategy which European Liberals and Democrats support."
Carl Haglund (Svenska Folkpartiet, Finland), ALDE coordinator on the SURE committee added his appreciation of the new emphasis in the budget:
"The proposal by the Commission is a good starting point for the negotiations. I am especially pleased that there is considerably more emphasis on research and development than in the current budget framework."
The European Parliament meeting for its Strasbourg plenary session held a debate on the Commission's proposal on July 5th.  | | European Summer School, 29 - 30 June 2011, Brussels, "Future of the EU Energy Policy" In light of the recent events in Japan
In late June the ALDE Group organized its annual Summer School, on the 'Future of the EU Energy Policy' in the light of the recent events in Japan", addressing themes such as, the "Environmental, Economical and Security impacts of Nuclear energy and other energy sources", "The European Union’s view of the Energy problem in Europe" and "Renewable energies the way forward". In addition to ALDE MEPs, representatives from the European Atomic Forum, the European Renewable Energy Council, Greenpeace and other environmental and energy agencies, participated.
The ALDE Summer Schools started in 2007. As of the first edition the ALDE Group aspired to create an important contact opportunity with Members of the European Parliament, Commission and experts in the area related to the subject. Also this year the ALDE Summer School brought together young liberals from all over Europe as well as from the Western Balkans, the Caucasus and Russia. Moreover we welcomed the participation of two young representatives from the Council of Asian Liberal and Democrats (CALD) and a representative of the Organization of African Liberal Youth- Liberals Energizing Africa's Democracy (OALY-LEAD).
We hope through these events to further expand networks of young liberals and promote closer interaction with the ALDE Group.
ALDEPAC Visitor: Mr. Diallo
ALDEPAC visitor
Mr. Cellou Dalein Diallo, ALDEPAC honorary Co-President, former Prime Minister of Guinea-Conakry, (2004-2006) paid a visit to the European Parliament last week. Mr C. Dalein Diallo was elected ALDEPAC honorary Co-President last February during the annual ALDEPAC Conference held in Djibouti.
At a meeting during his visit, new developments for ALDEPAC and future contributions of Mr. C. Dalein Diallo were addressed.
ALDE Contribution to Green Week
In early June in the context of Green Week, the European Parliament raised awareness amongst its staff of the importance of conserving energy and resources (light, paper, heat etc) through the institutional EMAS scheme (Eco management and audit scheme). This time the theme was " There is no planet B!"
The ALDE group was the only political group participating, showing our commitment to a more sustainable way of working.
We gave away a "boost your budget" game in the form of a leaf shape CD which teaches ways to be more environmentally friendly at home.
In addition the new ALDE comic strip entitled "Storm over green finance", addressing the whole issue of international carbon trading was also a big hit with visitors to the stand.
For further information see:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/emas/index_en.htm
 | | Theodoros Skylakakis (Democratic Alliance Party, Greece)
Mr. Theodore Skylakakis (MEP) is a member of the Greek party of Democratic Alliance (Δημοκρατική Συμμαχία) and on May 30th 2011 he joined the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and has worked on the preparation of the ALDE proposal "Greece and the eurozone" which was presented just before the June summit. Being a former member of the New Democracy Party, he was expelled following his public statements expressing his support for the European Rescue Plan for the Greek economy, and his disagreement with ND´s president who claimed in 2010 that he could "zero the Greek deficit in 18 months without (fiscal) sacrifices". Mr. Skylakakis insists that a combination of cutting public expenditure and deep structural reforms is the only way to boost the Greek economy and at the same time fight recession and unemployment.
His parliamentary activities include his membership in the Committee on Budgetary Control, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, substitute membership in the Committee for Economic and Monetary Affairs and active participation in the Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development where he chairs the Working Group on the Mediterranean.
Before becoming a Member of the European Parliament, he was appointed Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Special Representative of the MFA on climate change from 2006 to 2009. From 2003 to February 2006, he served as Alternate Mayor of the City of Athens and Deputy Mayor for Finance, while also chairing the Mayoral Executive Committee. From 2003-2004 he was responsible for preparing the Municipality of Athens for the Olympic Games. He has also served as advisor to the Prime Minister and Director of the Prime Minister's Planning and Communication Bureau (1989-1993), being responsible for the PM’s speeches and opinion polls for the government.
From 1985 Mr. Skylakakis worked extensively in the communication and advertising sectors, having founded two communication companies. From 1994 to 1999, he worked as Director General of the E21 Research Centre, a think tank which proposed liberal reforms for the Greek economy.
He graduated with honours from the Economics Department of the University of Athens in 1981. In 2010, he was awarded a Ph.D. from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science and Technology of the National University of Athens for his work on "Social tolerance to corruption". He also holds an MBA from the City University of London and a Diploma in Market Research from the British Market Research Society. He is the author of the book «In the name of Macedonia» (1995) and has published a great number of articles for the Greek and the foreign press.
Mr. Theodoros Skylakakis was born in October 1959, is married to Mrs. Eleni Papapanou who is a lawyer, and has two daughters. He enjoys reading, cooking and sports.
www.skylakakis.gr
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