The highest level network of the European liberal and democrats will meet on Thursday 11th December 2008 at the Palais d'Egmont, Petit Sablon 8 in Brussels, to discuss the 2009 European elections as well as common actions for tackling the financial crisis and other current issues.

A press conference will take place from 14.30 to 15.00.Journalists interested in attending the press conference should contact Ms Chiara Puletti: cpuletti@eldr.eu, tel. +32.2.2370143 . Please, see below the list of participants who have already confirmed their attendance.

Liberal Manifesto on line

The ELDR Party is the first of the main European political parties to have adopted, unanimously, its manifesto for the European Parliament elections of 2009 during the yearly European Liberal Democrats' Party Congress on 29-30 October 2008. European liberals will continue to work towards a more capable and democratic European Union, the completion of the single market, a safer environment, and the promotion of civil liberties and fundamental rights. We want the European Union to take the lead in tackling global security challenges and in responding to the international financial crisis and its consequences.

European Liberals adopted a positive and forward-looking document ahead of Europe's socialists who are expected to adopt at the PES Council in these days a manifesto that will likely focus on traditional socialist policies.

List of participants to the Leaders Meeting 11-12-2008

    * Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, President of ELDR Party, MEP, Belgium
    * Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister, Estonia
    * Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Prime Minister, Denmark
    * Ivars Godmanis, Prime Minister, Latvia
    * Calin Popescu Tariceanu, Prime Minister, Romania
    * Matti Vanhanen, Prime Minister, Finland
    * Siim Kallas, Vice-President, European Commission, and Commissioner for    Administrative Affairs, Audit and
      Anti-Fraud, Estonia
    * Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Competition, the Netherlands
    * Janez Potocnik, Commissioner for Science and Research, Slovenia
    * Olli Rehn, Commissioner for Enlargement, Finland
    * Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Health, Cyprus
    * Karel de Gucht, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belgium
    * Cecilia Malmström, Minister of European Affairs, Sweden
    * Astrid Thors, Minister for European Affairs, Finland
    * Graham Watson, MEP, Leader, ALDE Group, European Parliament, UK
    * Jean-Marie Cavada, MEP, Leader, ACDE, France
    * Nick Clegg, MP, Leader, Liberal Democrats, UK
    * Gabor Fodor, MP, Chairman of SZDSZ, Hungary
    * Ivan Jakovcic, President IDA, President of the region of Istria, Croatia
    * Cedomir Jovanovic, MP, Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Serbia
    * Mikhail Kasyanov, Leader, People's Democratic Union, Russia
    * Artur Mas, MP, Leader, CDC, Catalunya
    * Mark Rutte, MP, Leader, VVD, the Netherlands
    * David Usupashvili, Leader, Republican Party Georgia
    * John Lord Alderdice, President, Liberal International, UK
    * Flo Clucas, President, ALDE Group, Committee of the Regions, UK
    * Ed Davey, MP, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Liberal Democrats, UK
    * Lena Ek, MEP, ELDR Vice-President, Sweden
    * David Griffiths, ELDR Treasurer, UK
    * Iliya Lingorski, NMSS Vice President, Bulgaria
    * Markus Löning, MP, ELDR Vice President, Germany
    * Kristiina Ojuland, MP, ELDR Vice President, 1st Vice-Speaker of the Estonian Parliament
    * Vesna Pusic, MP, ELDR Vice President, Chairwoman of the National Committee for Monitoring the EU Accession
      Negotiation, HNS, Croatia
    * Federica Sabbati, ELDR Secretary General, Italy
    * Aloys Rigaut, LYMEC President, Belgium
    * Davor Zmegac, HSLS Deputy President, Mayor of Kutina, Croatia

ELDR Family

The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR Party) brings together 57 political parties with common liberal, democratic and reform ideals. In 2007 the European Liberal Democrat political family achieved many successes in the various elections around the EU member states, bringing the total number of liberal democrat voters to 30 million Europe-wide.

Five EU prime ministers, one third of the members of the European Commission, 75 MEPs in the ALDE Group of the European Parliament and ministers in more than 20 governments in Europe belong to the liberal family.