ELDR - State of the Party

9.30.00am GMT Sat 13th Jan 2007

Colin Ross at the European Parliament

The ELDR Party, the pan-European Liberal Party (of which the Liberal Democrats are a member) has compiled a booklet which details the work and achievements of the party in strengthening European liberalism and the European Project over the course of the last seven years. Specifically, the report covers the period from April 1999 up to the most recent ELDR congress in Romania in October 2006. The booklet is 68 pages and I can send a copy electronically to anyone who emails me asking for it at colin@colin-ross.org.uk

As you may know I sit of the ELDR Council for the Liberal Democrats and have done so since 2005 and will do until my current term comes to an end at the end of 2008, having been elected three times by the Liberal Democrats as one of only 8 directly-elected representatives across the country.

The document contains, among other things, information on ELDR congresses, council meetings, missions and political and information activities. Additionally, through presenting reports of the ELDR Leaders and Ministers meetings and the make-up of ELDR representation in the Union's institutions, the document also conveys how liberalism and liberal ideals have spread across Europe during this period.

As well as communicating past achievements, the booklet presents a view of the future with a look at how the party can continue to evolve as well as the prospect of establishing an ELDR foundation to undertake research and education and to better communicate the EU and the role of ELDR to the citizens.