The ALDE Party Congress reaffirms Europe's need to step up and lead with innovation and competitiveness.
Day two kicked off in Brussels with a Bureau Candidates’ Debate. Candidates made their case for re-election, speaking about their unique addition and standpoints for the ALDE Party Bureau.
Current ALDE Party Vice-President Malik Azmani said:
“When liberal leaders lead, we will see that Europe moves. Let’s future-proof with sustainability and digital sovereignty, but also defence to win the fight against illiberalism, the far-right and autocracy. I’m ready to continue the work.”
Fellow ALDE Party Vice-President, Dan Barna agreed:
“If we quit defending the values it will be very difficult to claim them back. It is not enough to defend our values, but we need to build our future. We have to be part of the construction of this European superpower.”
Alongside them, ALDE Party Vice-President Eva Kjer Hansen claimed:
”Let's have less talk and more action, that is my role in the bureau: to create a stronger platform for the liberal family.”
The debate was followed by the third Great Debate of the weekend. Moderated by Birgitta Ohlsson, Sweden’s former Minister of European Affairs and currently the National Democratic Institute's director of political parties. This session asked how we can create a “Superpower Europe” by boosting Europe's economic future as a trading continent.
The panel discussed the importance of reducing dependencies on external markets and Europe’s vulnerability to weaponised trade wars and economic competition:
As Mariana Leitão, Portugal’s Iniciativa Liberal Party Leader said: “The only way not to be depending on others is to create more markets.”
Panellists urged the EU to take a strategic role and improve its agility to change, in a global trading system where unilateral tools are being used and global competition is high. The speakers emphasised the need to foster European competitiveness, more diverse trading partners and a fresh culture of innovation.
Radu Miruță, Romania’s Minister of Economy and Digitalisation, argued that the EU has more power than they realise in trading opportunities. “The EU negotiate as a unit, that approach increased our power that is one of the good things.”
Crucially, Nicole Büttner, Secretary General of FDP in Germany, suggested that people’s freedom and liberty allow for more innovation, and that is Europe’s unique selling point compared to other global competitors:
“People’s decisions stem from where they want to spend their life. Rule of law and the liberty to express yourself are key for innovation – and allow for a complete explosion of knowledge and societal progress.”
“We cannot stay a regulatory island amidst a sea of global power politics, it is not the right approach – we ned to adopt the rules of the game, to use economic and innovative strength in the global discussion.”
An imbalance in trade relations, retaliatory tariffs and protectionist policies have raised the question about economic sovereignty. The speakers emphasised the need for new trading partners, taking advantage of markets that Europe excels in, utilising every resource that Europe has to offer in order to reach its potential.