Press releases from ALDE

Freed Chinese dissident launches Transatlantic Human Rights Link

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:34:00 +0200

The blind Chinese activist who escaped house arrest and whose freedom in the USA was organised by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has marked the anniversary by launching a transatlantic project for parliamentarians to adopt individual human rights defenders worldwide.

Mali: International donor support only effective if elections deliver stable government

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:59:00 +0200

Leading ALDE MEP Louis Michel (MR, Belgium), who has been recently nominated as Head of the EU's observer mission for the presidential elections in Mali says that the forthcoming elections are a vital opportunity to start rebuilding this broken State.

Combatting Homophobia: time for concrete actions long overdue

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:30:00 +0200

Tomorrow is the International Day against Homophobia and also marks the 23rd year since the World Health Organization (WHO) deleted homosexuality from the international list of classified diseases. Unfortunately though lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people worldwide still suffer from discrimination, persecution and violence. The ALDE group reiterates its commitment to combat this persistent hatred both in Europe and in the wider world

Verhofstadt strongly condemns MEP Mario Borghezio's racist remarks about Italian Minister of Integration

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:34:00 +0200

At the request of the ALDE group, the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament (which comprises President Schulz and all political group Presidents) discussed the insulting remarks made by Italian MEP Mario Borghezio (Lega Nord) in a recent interview for Italian radio 24, regarding the new Italian Minister for Integration Cécile Kyenge, who is of Congolese origin.

Rethinking education to address the skills gap

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:50:00 +0200

Even amid the economic crisis, Europe is facing acute shortage of skilled labour. Parallel with the unemployment queues, an estimated 2 million unfilled jobs are available across Europe. While the problem has traditionally been linked to low-skilled jobs, filling jobs in high-skill sectors, such as engineering and IT, is also becoming increasingly challenging. Europe can only end the crisis and resume growth if it delivers the right skills for the future. But European education and training systems need investment, updating and reform if the right skills for employability are to be delivered.

Window of opportunity opens up for Ukraine

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:35:00 +0200

On the day the European Commission has given the green light to the Council for the signature of the Association Agreement with Ukraine, ALDE hosted a "Ukraine day" to discuss the current situation in the country.

Towards a better deal on the EU’s long term budget

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:40:00 +0200

The political deal on the next Multi-annual Financial Framework falls short on what is required to ensure the growth and investment that Europe needs in the years ahead.

2014-2020 MFF: Negotiations have started but still a long way to go

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:34:00 +0200

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe takes note that Council has committed to reinstate a first part of the payment appropriations necessary for 2013 commitments and considers that the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 must now intensify.

The future of the Common Fisheries Policy hangs in the balance

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:49:00 +0200

Following a marathon Fisheries Council meeting to establish a mandate for further negotiations with the European Parliament on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, the Council is moving towards Parliament's position but the deal is still not done according to ALDE MEPs.

Road transport: smart tachographs for greater competition and safety

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:36:00 +0200

Last evening, the European Parliament, Council and Commission reached a second reading agreement on the new technical standards for digital tachographs used to record and monitor driving times, breaks, and rest periods of professional drivers for both goods and passenger transport. The idea behind the introduction of 'smart' tachographs which are integrated with the GNSS and other Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) applications within Europe is to ensure a level playing field and proper working conditions for drivers.

Trialogue on the 2014-2020 MFF: ALDE warns the Council against any duplicity

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:02:00 +0200

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe supports the opening of negotiations with the Council today on the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The European Liberals and Democrats do however warn the presidency against all duplicity and insist that the decisions announced to settle the 2012 budget be endorsed tomorrow by EU finance ministers.

EP report on Hungary confirms a clear risk of a serious breach of EU values

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:41:00 +0200

The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee discussed today for the first time the report on the situation of fundamental rights: standards and practices in Hungary. The need for this report arose from a series of controversial amendments introduced by the country's ruling party to the media law, the legal order and the national Constitution which go against the values of the European Union.

EU needs stronger instruments to tackle cross-border organised crime

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:17:00 +0200

After months of work since its establishment in March 2012, the European Parliament's Special Committee on organised crime, corruption and money laundering (CRIM), chaired by ALDE MEP Sonia Alfano, adopted today its first interim report which includes preliminary recommendations on action and initiatives to be taken both at international, European and national levels.

MEPS back lower CO2 emission levels in vans

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:56:00 +0200

Members of the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee approved a report today on the Commission's legislative proposal amending the Regulation to define the modalities for reaching the 2020 target to reduce CO2 emissions from new light commercial vehicles (Vans).

Inspiring the next generation to protect our planet

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:15:00 +0200

A ground-breaking project encouraging young people to protect our planet is taking to the European Union stage on invitation by ALDE MEP Silvana Koch-Mehrin on May 8. For the third consecutive year running, Dr Jane Goodall will engage with hundreds of school children from Belgium, who will be able to present their 'Roots and Shoots' projects on the premises of the European Parliament.

Gender gap in the financial sector must be further tackled

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:44:00 +0200

Today the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee voted on a resolution by ALDE MEP Sharon Bowles (LibDems, UK) on gender balance in the financial services sector. The report states that gender imbalance is not adequately addressed and remains alarming, despite the European Commission's efforts, and awareness among EU leaders.

EU must take bold step towards Magnitsky visa ban list

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:04:00 +0200

The Irish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee has adopted a resolution stating that the Irish Presidency will highlight their concern and that of the international community about the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky but it has backed down from sanctioning Russian officials involved in his death.

Potential bee killer pesticides banned by EU

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:56:00 +0200

A chemical implicated in the recent rapid decline of bee numbers has been banned today by the European Commission as Member States remained divided on the matter.

La visite du Premier Ministre de RCA, M. Nicolas Tiangaye, au Parlement Européen devant la Commission DEVE

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:56:00 +0200

A l’initiative de M. Louis Michel, député européen, co-président de l’Assemblée parlementaire paritaire ACP-UE, et envoyé spécial de l’OIF pour le suivi de la situation en RCA, M. Nicolas Tiangaye, Premier Ministre de la transition, a été invité par la Commission DEVE du Parlement européen le 22 avril dernier pour faire part aux députés européens de la situation difficile qui règne actuellement dans son pays sur les plans sécuritaire, politique, économique et humanitaire.

EU must take a firm stand against Russian blackmail

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:52:00 +0200

Reacting to news that the Russian Ambassador to Ireland has written to Irish Members of Parliament threatening to block a treaty on Irish adoptions of Russian children unless Irish parliamentarians drop a Russian-critical human rights resolution, Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE leader reacted in strong terms:

Europe needs a new narrative to counter euroscepticism

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:50:00 +0200

Recent Eurobarometer figures show a decline in support for the European project. Sixty years after the start of this project, Europe has to regain confidence of its citizens. An updated version of the European story is necessary to reinterpret its existing 'raison d'être' of peace through a common market.

ALDE secures mandatory rotation for audit firms

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:14:00 +0200

Thanks to crucial ALDE backing, the need to establish time limits on the contractual relationship between auditors and their clients was approved today by MEPs on the Legal Affairs committee of the European Parliament by a majority of 15 in favour, 10 against, with no abstentions.

The Parliamentary Committee on International Trade welcomes the prospect of free trade with the United States of America

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:59:00 +0200

The European Liberals and Democrats are calling for an ambitious mandate to be given to the Commission to negotiate an agreement on trade and investment between the EU and the United States.

ALDE Newsletter April 2013

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:15:00 +0200

18 April 2013 Headlines ALDE News Profiles of MEPs in the News ALDE News Strengthening EU banks and curbing excessive bonuses The European Parliament formally adopted on April 16th the agreement reached last February with Council and Commission on updated prudential banking rules referred to as CRD IV, establishing minimum capital requirements for Europe's banks. While in recent weeks the hotly politicised subject of capping bankers' bonuses has dominated the headlines, this measure is in fact part of this much larger raft of legislation, which will increase banks' resilience to future financial crises by requiring them to have higher capital buffers to absorb losses and hold more easy-to-sell liquid assets. In addition, the regulation and directive introduce various other measures to strengthen corporate governance and transparency, and encourage growth and lending to the real economy in the EU. Read More German anti-euro party ignores political and economic costs of exit In response to the founding conference of the German anti-euro party "Alternative für Deutschland" in Berlin, Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE group leader, underlined that "the realisation of its central goal would lead to an economic meltdown in Europe - and Germany would be the first victim. Given the increased attention on the congress, and a survey about the party's potential among German voters [showing that up to 24% might be inclined to vote for them], the pro-European politicians in Berlin and Brussels must strengthen their forces to clearly communicate to the public what the costs of unravelling the Euro to national currencies or the establishment of different currency zones would be." Read More Hungarian Government is at least at risk of breaching EU fundamental values At the request of ALDE Group the European Parliament on April 17th debated the constitutional situation in Hungary following the adoption of a fourth amendment to the Hungarian Constitution. Since its entry into force on January 2012, the country's ruling party (Fidesz) - which represents two-thirds of the seats in the parliament - has restricted laws on the judicial system, homelessness, higher education, election campaigns and family rights. Read More ECB must intervene directly to help SMEs The European Parliament adopted during the April plenary session the report assessing the ECB activities for 2011. By endorsing an ALDE amendment, Parliament called upon the Central bank to directly intervene in helping SMEs against the current and serious credit crunch they face in several Member States. Read More EP budget for 2014: Parliament must continue to show restraint The European Parliament adopted on April 17 the preliminary estimates of revenue and expenditure for its 2014 financial year - the first phase in the EP budget process. This first set of figures presented in February by the Secretary General of the Parliament, called for a budget of € 1.8 billion (3.47% increase over 2013), in order to finance the one off costs in 2014 of the European Parliament elections and the full accession of Croatia. The EP has already negotiated to cut this increase down by € 5 million, with the full expectation of further decreases in the second phase of the budget after the summer. An amendment tabled by the ALDE group, calling for any final budget increase to be reduced to within a real terms freeze , strictly in line with the inflation rate , was unfortunately rejected in the Plenary vote. This would have guaranteed that a further 25 million euros of savings would be found by the final vote in October this year. Read More Libya: Mahmoud Jebril calls for national dialogue to consolidate democratic transition The week of April 11th the ALDE group welcomed Mahmoud Jibril, Libya's interim Prime Minister after the fall of the Gaddafi regime and currently leader of the largest political party in the Libyan Parliament (National Forces Alliance). This was his first visit to the group since March 2011, shortly after being elected chairman of the executive board of the National Transitional Council. He publicly acknowledged the role played by ALDE in assisting in the democratic transition in Libya. Read More ALDE MEPs pave the way for more transparency in the extracting business and less accounting burden for SME's Large oil, gas, diamond and logging companies will be obliged to disclose full information about every single project whose payments to the governmental authorities exceed the threshold of 100.000 Euros. And administrative accounting burdens for small businesses will be reduced considerably. Read More Europe cannot wait for another Cyprus before establishing a common resolution fund Guy Verhofstadt called on the European Commission to speed up its preparation of a legislative proposal establishing a common European bank resolution fund as soon as possible in light of the experiences in dealing with the Cyprus banking crisis. Read More Improved Schengen Information system finally fully operative The European Commission announced April 9th that the new generation of the Schengen Information System (SIS II) became fully operational. ALDE spokesperson on the SIS, Sarah Ludford (LibDem, UK) said: "SIS II finally put in place a genuine European information sharing system that guarantees a more secure Europe without borders while further strengthening the area of security and justice. Its EU-wide scope will overcome the loopholes and malfunctioning that the previous intergovernmental system suffered and will contribute to further shaping Schengen governance". Read More International Roma Day: break social exclusion via education and better implementation of EU laws To commemorate the International Roma Day , ALDE group member Sir Graham Waston on April 8th hosted in collaboration with the European Liberal Forum, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and with the assistance of the Open Society Foundations, a roundtable on "You cannot walk straight when the road is bent". This is an occasion for presenting liberal policy recommendations on how to favour integration of the Roma people within Europe. Read More Serbian accession to the EU is of mutual importance Jelko Kacin (LDS, Slovenia) ALDE rapporteur on Serbia told the European Parliament during the April plenary session that Serbia has achieved some significant progress in the field of EU-related reforms and he called on the Council to set the date for the beginning of accession negotiations. Read More Unaccompanied Minors: finding the best reception practices Nathalie Griesbeck (ALDE, Modem, France) led a delegation from the European Parliament to the Netherlands in early April to collect data and explore best practices for the reception of unaccompanied children in view of drafting its report to the Parliament on the situation in the EU. Read More ALDE MEPs call for an investigation into serious health concerns over the aspartame On Wednesday March 27th, 2013, ALDE MEPs Corinne Lepage (CAP 21, France), Andrea Zanoni (IT) and Antonyia Parvanova (NMSP, Bulgaria) hostted a conference in the European Parliament on the issue of full re-evaluation of aspartame and addressing the crucial issue of the independence of science in regulatory decision making. Read More Urgent ECON hearing with Dijsselbloem called for by ALDE Group The President of the ALDE Group Guy Verhofstadt and Sylvie Goulard, ALDE Coordinator on the ECON committee has called for a urgent meeting of the ECON committee in order to hear Mr Dijsselbloem. Read More Boosting Europe's attractiveness for foreign talent The European Commission presented on March 25th a new Directive to improve EU attractiveness and accessibility for foreign researchers and talents. EP rapporteur Cecilia WIKSTRÖM (Sweden, Folkpartiet) welcomes the EU proposal to set clearer, more consistent and transparent rules across Europe for non-EU nationals wishing to come to the EU for the purposes of research, study and other exchanges. These rules will tackle the current discrepancy in the legislation's implementation amongst Member States. Read More EU Pensions: Ambitious reforms necessary to balance the burden Member states across the EU have to reform their pension systems. They share common challenges: How to guarantee safe pensions when faced with ageing populations and budgetary limits? Pensions are national competences, but EU-coordination of the different national pension policies helps to achieve sustainable results. Read More ALDE call for new limits on hazardous substances in batteries Members of the European Parliament's Environment Committee approved on March 20th a report on the Commission's legislative proposal amending the Directive on batteries and accumulators containing hazardous substances. The Batteries Directive focuses on minimising the negative impacts of batteries and accumulators on the environment and also introducing measures for more transparency in the internal market. Read More EU wastes another opportunity on Syria EU countries have wasted another opportunity to stop Bashar al-Assad's killing machine, Guy Verhofstadt said following inconclusive talks on the Syria arms embargo by EU foreign ministers in Dublin. Read More ALDE welcomes Commission's new consultations on media freedom and pluralism The ALDE Group welcomes the March 22 launch by the European Commission of two consultations on media freedom and pluralism and audiovisual media regulator independence. Read More Russia: visa-waiver agreement is unacceptable without Magnitsky law The EU member states should adopt their own ‘Magnitsky law’ to punish Russian violators of human rights if progress on relaxing visa regulations between the EU and Russia is to be made, according to ALDE Russia spokeswoman Kristiina Ojuland (Reform Party, Estonia). Read More Why 2030 renewables target are important for investment and planning certainty The European Parliament's ITRE committee on March 19 voted on a report on the post-2020 framework for renewables in the EU. The report acknowledges the importance of completing the EU's internal energy market as soon as possible in order to facilitate renewables integration. It also calls on the Commission to assess the costs and benefits of moving to a 2030 EU target on renewables in order to give industry the long-term planning certainty they need. Read More Profiles of MEPs in the News Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, (D66, the Netherlands) Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy was born in 1967, one year after the Dutch social-liberal party Democrats 66 (D66) was founded. He is the son of two biologists growing up in The Hague, the political heart of the Netherlands. Gerben-Jan studied Public Administration at the University of Leiden and at the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He started his career as an assistant to Joris Voorhoeve, who was director of the Clingendael Netherlands Institute of International Relations. From 1994 until 1998 Gerbrandy worked as an assistant to former Dutch Member of the European Parliament Doeke Eisma (D66). After his work as political advisor to the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade, he became secretary-general of the D66 parliamentary faction in the Second Chamber. Thereafter he became senior political advisor at the Dutch Ministry for Agriculture and Nature. Gerben-Jan was elected to the European Parliament in 2009 and is currently vice-chair of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee and vice -chair of the EuroNest Delegation, the parliamentary cooperation between the European Parliament and EU's Eastern neighbours Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Belarus. Furthermore, he is a member of the Committee on Budgetary Control and a substitute member on the Budget Committee. His latest work as rapporteur for the discharge of the budget for European Union agencies contained over 35 reports. In 2012 Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, rapporteur on Resource Efficiency, was ranked 27th in the "Sustainable top-100" by the Dutch newspaper Trouw. He was rewarded for his decisiveness and critical questions in the field of environment, agriculture and fisheries. While working on sustainability, the social-liberal is always flagging the importance of environmental issues for our economy: ''The case for moving to a resource efficient society is as much economic as it is environmental. Becoming more resource efficient is simply an economic necessity.'' Since the beginning of his mandate Mr Gerbrandy has also been actively engaged in the protection of biodiversity, our natural capital. He is the Parliament's Rapporteur on the EU biodiversity strategy for 2020 and a staunch fighter of wild life crime. Gerbrandy lives in The Hague with his wife and three children, where he plays football, tennis and cricket. For more information, please contact:ALDE Press Service and Inter-institutional relations unitneil.corlett@europarl.europa.euwillem.vandenbroucke@europarl.europa.euALDEJoin ALDE on FacebookFollow ALDE on TwitterEventsA Roadmap towards a Single Seat: Countdown to the 2014 European Parliament Elections 2013-04-23 Sports and democracy2013-04-23 Videos Sylvie Goulard on European Central Bank annual report (2011) Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy on Estimates of revenue and expenditure for 2014 . Guy Verhofstadt on Current situation in Cyprus Chris Davies on Timing of auctions of greenhouse gas allowances Sophia in 't Veld on Equal treatment between men and women Sharon Bowles on Credit institutions and prudential supervision Guy Verhofstadt on The future of the European Union LinksAlliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe - ALDE Alliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party - ALDE Party European Democratic Party - EDP Liberal International Friedrich Naumann Stiftung LYMEC European Parliament

Mandatory rotation of audit firms is essential to ensure their independence

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:18:00 +0200

Ahead of tomorrow's key vote in Parliament's Legal Affairs committee on rules for improving the quality and independence in the auditing of major companies (especially banks), Liberals and Democrats underline the need to establish some time limits on the contractual relationship between auditors and their clients.

ALDE MEPS set out the EU's environmental priorities

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:02:00 +0200

Members of the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee approved a report today on the Commission's legislative proposal for the 7th EU Environment Action Programme (7. EAP) entitled "Living well, within the limits of our planet" which provides the overarching framework for environment policy across all EU Member States up to 2020.

Don't play hockey with Belarusian dictators, say European liberals

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:12:00 +0200

Liberals in the European Parliament strongly oppose to Belarus hosting the Ice Hockey World Cup in 2014. They urge national hockey federations to revoke the decision at its upcoming International Hockey Federation meeting in Stockholm in May.

Need for an EU strategy against tax fraud, evasion and tax havens

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:48:00 +0200

The European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee adopted today a report on the 'Fight against Tax Fraud, Tax Evasion and Tax Havens' which sends clear recommendations to both the Commission and Member States to eradicate these phenomena.

No EU PNR before Data Protection Rules are firmly in place

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:34:00 +0200

The majority of the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee rejected today the draft Directive on the use of airline Passenger Name Record data (PNR) within the EU, proposed by the Commission in February 2011. According to the ALDE members, the EU PNR proposal, as it stands, does not incorporate all the requests made by the Parliament in 2010, raises concerns regarding its conformity to fundamental rights and disregards the current shaping of an EU Data protection directive.

Minimum EU standards for asylum will end current lottery between Member States

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:07:00 +0200

The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee confirmed today the agreement reached with Council on two pieces of legislation which are part of the EU Asylum package. One text updates the rules governing the functioning of a database of asylum seeker fingerprints (also known as Eurodac) and its access by police authorities. The second text deals with the setting up of common EU procedures to process the asylum applications in order to overcome the current discrepancies in Member States (also known as Procedures Directive). ALDE welcomes the endorsement of these two important asylum instruments because it paves the way for the final adoption in plenary, normally in June, of the whole Asylum package.