ELDR Party Congress

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 18th Oct 2007

Colin Ross at the European Parliament

I am currently in Berlin at the ELDR (European Liberal Democrats) Party Congress - A Liberal Europe for a Free World. This morning we had the ELDR Council of which I am one of the 8 directly elected UK Liberal Democrat members, we finalised the arrangements for the Congress itself.

The official opening of Congress takes place shortly with key note speeches from the ELDR President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, representatives of the German FDP and a number of Presidents and Prime Ministers from across Europe.

One of the theme debates is Europe as a global economic partner. We will also be discussing climate change, promoting democracy as well as hearing various speeches and electing the new ELDR Bureau.