During the first half of 2018, a series of expert forums will be organised around Europe on topical matters and challenges facing the European Union, and will be conducted as the ALDE Party considers its manifesto for the 2019 elections to the European Parliament.

Experts in the respective fields from our member parties are warmly invited to participate in these meetings for sharing their views and actively contributing to the manifesto drafting process.

The fifth Manifesto Forum, organised by the European Liberal Forum in cooperation with VVD International and the ALDE Party, took place in The Hague on Saturday 21 April. The main topical focus this time was on the priorities of the EU Budget. The aim of the discussion was to understand if Liberals can credibly defend to spend most of the EU’s budget on agricultural subsidies.

Participating at the ELF/ALDE Expert Forum in The Hague on the future EU budget: priorities are needed. We need innovation instead of protecting 19th century economic heritage! #aldemanifesto pic.twitter.com/aLgGKNcJ9q

Let's talk about #CAP. MEP @jhuitema also attends the ELF Expert Forum on EU Budget. #ELFevent pic.twitter.com/QpM0LEqxuh

The discussions focused on three main aspects: the themes of the EU budget, how to keep the budget mean and lean, and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and innovation. You can watch the livestream of each of the panel debates below.

Welcome speech by VVD International Secretary Jock Geselschap + 1st Panel debate on themes + 2nd Panel debate on keeping the budget lean and mean

3rd Panel debate on the CAP

During the coffee break, we also had the opportunity to have a Facebook Live talk with Anne Mulder, a Member of the Dutch Parliament from VVD.

At the end of the event, we also discussed on a Facebook Live chat with Dirk Strijker, Professor of Cultural Geography at the University of Groningen, who offered his insight as an expert.

Do you want to read a more thorough summary of the content of the discussions? Check it out here.

7 takeaways from the ELF Expert Forum on the Priorities for the EU Budget https://t.co/TZrJH1qgLc pic.twitter.com/Q0ueJRZqP4

For an overview of all the expert forums coming up in spring , take a look here.