Liberals discussed key issues such as climate change, energy, EU enlargement and political participation at the Political Festival of Europe in Mariager, Denmark.

Last week, ALDE Party took part in the Political Festival of Europe, an event that gathered representatives of different European parties and gave its participants the opportunity to discuss some of the most pressing issues of our time. 

The festival unfolded over four days in the small town of Mariager in Denmark, gathering over 200 speakers from over 30 countries and bringing together roughly 18.000 people. 

ALDE Party co-Presidents Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP and Senator Timmy Dooley, as well as Vice President Henrik Bach Mortensen took part in the festival and attended lively debates on climate change and energy, EU enlargement and increasing political participation.  

During a panel on the role of the EU in foreign policy Kyuchyuk stated:

"If we want to compete with big and assertive powers like the US and China we have to reshape the European Union in a different way."

🇪🇺 How much power and influence is the European Union allowed to have on foreign ground?

"If we want to compete with big and assertive powers like the US and China we have to reshape the European Union in a different way", says @ilhankyuchyuk at the @PFoE2022 #PFOE2022. pic.twitter.com/7vRCssxHS3

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) August 26, 2022

On a panel on the question if EU membership benefits small countries Dooley declared:

"The way the EU is set up, it doesn’t only give these so-called small countries a seat at the table. It also gives us the same voting rights."

🇪🇺 Is the EU an advantage for small countries & economies, or are they better off outside the Union?

"The way the EU is set up, it doesn’t only give these so-called small countries a seat at the table. It also gives us the same voting rights", says @timmydooley at the #PFOE2022. pic.twitter.com/k9gUCjlbgc

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) August 26, 2022

At a panel on ensuring citizens participation in European politics Bach Mortensen asserted:

"We have to work with European parties to support the processes that energise our national democracies."

🇪🇺 How do we ensure more democratic participation from European citizens in European politics?

"We have to work with European parties to support the processes that energise our national democracies", says VP Henrik Bach Mortensen at the @PFoE2022. #PFOE2022 pic.twitter.com/4XvRzJxyRo

— ALDE Party (@ALDEParty) August 26, 2022

Our two Danish member parties, Venstre and Radikale Venstre, also joined the festival.

Danish AIM country coordinator Rene Birger Pedersen was present during the Political Festival of Europe to represent our Individual Membership programme.