On 28 June, online media platform PartyParty organised a debate with Secretary Generals from pan-European political parties on their preparations for the upcoming European elections in 2024. 

The discussion, held in Brussels, featured ALDE Party Secretary General ad interim and 2024 Campaign Director Didrik de Schaetzen, as well as Secretary Generals from other pan-European political parties including Thanasis Bakolas (EPP), Benedetta De Marte (European Green Party) and Giacomo Filibeck (PES). 

The four participants outlined their party’s priorities for the 2024 election and discussed their views on the main issues that could decide the electoral campaign, including the use of artificial intelligence, the European job market, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, inflation and the Spitzenkandidaten process. 

In his remarks, de Schaetzen highlighted the work done to listen to European citizens and ALDE Party member parties in the run-up to the elections. 

“We spent a lot of resources on surveys and saw that the element of cost of living is an issue for our members. [...] Our unique selling point is that we really do believe we can have a strong economy linked with innovation to reach very ambitious environmental goals. We really like the EU but we are reformists of that level and we have a lot of questions and points that we would like to raise,” he said. 

The speakers also discussed the role of Secretary Generals in pan-European political parties, the organisational aspects and challenges of running a European campaign, and the innovations that they expect can be introduced in the fields of technology and data.

Click here for more information about the ALDE Party's 2024 manifesto process. You can help us shape our manifesto by sharing your views with us.

You can watch a recording of the debate here or below.