Table of Contents: Resolutions adopted at the ALDE Party
Congress in Warsaw, Poland, 1-3 December 2016
Reinforcing the Liberal Principles in the European Cohesion Policy .......................... 2
Resolution on the Digital Single Market ..................................................................... 5
Sharing economy as a driver of innovation, growth and jobs ..................................... 7
Circular Economy ...................................................................................................... 9
Encouraging investment in transport infrastructure .................................................. 11
For an innovative Industrial Policy in the EU............................................................ 13
Microplastics: Outlawing Microbeads in Personal Care products sold in the EU ...... 15
Building a healthier society by tackling antimicrobial resistance .............................. 18
Enhancing innovation in European agriculture......................................................... 21
The challenge of marine litter .................................................................................. 24
Promoting Culture of Experimentation through Europe ............................................ 26
End to biased and unprofessional election observation missions ............................ 27
Youth Unemployment .............................................................................................. 29
Consequences of UK Referendum on Brexit ........................................................... 32
EU - NATO defence cooperation ............................................................................. 35
On the Protection of Democracy and Freedom of Speech in Ukraine ...................... 38
Support Civil Society and Genuine Democracy in Russia ........................................ 39
Women’s Right to Decide Over Their Own Body ..................................................... 41
Fully exploiting the opportunities of mHealth ........................................................... 43
The War in Yemen .................................................................................................. 45
Page 1
Reinforcing the Liberal Principles in the European
Cohesion Policy
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Notes that:
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European Structural and Investment Funds constitute the EU's biggest
growth-orientated investment policy. They benefit all regions in the EU, not only the
least developed areas. Structural and Cohesion Funds make major contributions to
support economic, social and territorial cohesion by supporting urban
redevelopment, the regional economy, the transition to a low carbon economy,
employability of individuals, to innovation and R&D, to innovative SMEs, cross-border
transport connections and also to policies supporting the integration of refugees and
migrants, to innovative SMEs, cross-border transport connections and also to
policies supporting the integration of refugees and migrants;
as Liberals we believe that individuals should be able to realise their full
potential, and we strive to break down barriers that prevent that. This
strong Liberal principle lies at the heart of EU Cohesion Policy which helps
to release the full potential of the cities and regions of Europe for the
benefit of the Union. The less inequality there is throughout the Union, the
stronger and more competitive the EU will be;
however, there is a growing climate of distrust in cohesion policy, partly
because it is often perceived as being too complex;
nobody is obliged to apply for EU funds, but if their complexity
discourages applications, then achieving a more free and competitive
Europe, i.e. a more Liberal Europe, will become more difficult. The
reduction of administrative burden is therefore essential to building a more
Liberal Union;
a High Level Group, chaired by former Liberal Vice-President of the
European Commission Siim Kallas, is currently developing proposals on the
simplification of European cohesion policy;
cohesion policy instruments could also play a very important role in the
implementation of the relevant Country Specific Recommendations, thus supporting
structural reforms and contributing to the fulfilment of the EU’s strategic goals;
the debate on cohesion policy post-2020 starts now and the ALDE party
needs to take a strong position.
Stresses that:
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effective use of cohesion policy brings about tangible results and changes
lives, while unused funds, or ineffective use deprives individuals of
opportunities to thrive;
public funds must be spent efficiently. There is no margin for wasteful
spending, and every effort should be made to minimise errors;
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excessive bureaucracy and difficult allocation procedures undermine the EU’s
reputation;
Liberals believe in involving citizens and the local community in
decision-making and in placing trust in people. This ensures local
ownership of all projects for long-term effects and success;
in border regions, market failures do occur. European Cohesion
policy can help to overcome these market failures and support the
development of cross-border transport links, which are essential in the
European Union;
the management of the funding must be simplified to encourage a higher
uptake of the funds, with appropriate levels of accountability and sound
financial management, but without stifling local initiatives;
receivers of any type of European fund need to be fully responsible and
accountable for the use of these funds;
financial instruments such as loans, and the use of revolving funds, can
multiply the impact of funds and should be encouraged;
therefore, blending grants with financial instruments is a valid contribution to the
efficient use of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF).
Calls for:
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European Cohesion policy to be based on a long-term strategic vision that
takes into account all public and private actors and combines all possible
funding sources for projects;
European Structural and Cohesion Funds should be regressive in accordance with
the rate of success of the policy and projects need to be regularly reviewed;
European Structural and Cohesion Funds to even further concentrate on
supporting competitiveness and placing the EU at the vanguard of the
transition to a low carbon economy, in particular via the promotion of
entrepreneurship, supporting innovation, research and development, and
technology transfer for SME;
the use of financial instruments should be encouraged further to help
improve the necessary administrative capacity for financial instrument
management;
the simplification of procedures by cutting the national level of government
out of the procedures and thereby reducing so-called "gold-plating". Local
and regional managing authorities should apply directly to the European
Commission for project funding. The recommendations by the High Level
Group must be implemented without delay. E-governance solutions should
be used as widely as possible;
the reduction of unnecessary red tape by auditing projects based on
performance, results and risk selection, rather than on compliance with
administrative formalities;
stronger links between the EU's Europe 2020 strategy (and its successor)
and the priorities of European Structural and Investment Funds;
strengthening the links between the objectives of the European Semester process
and the programming of the ESI Funds; considers therefore that cohesion policy
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instruments could play a very important role in the implementation of the relevant
Country Specific Recommendations in supporting structural reforms;
the European Commission and Member States to ensure complementarity
and synergies between the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the
Structural and Investment Funds, and all other EU financed programmes
and initiatives, national public investments and financial instruments in
order to obtain the maximum added value;
Member States to increase communication and have a public debate about
European structural and investment funds, improve their legitimacy and
accountability of beneficiaries. The audit system must ensure that funds are properly
spent and Member States should declare annually that all European funds that fall
under shared management are correctly spent.
Page 4
Resolution on the Digital Single Market
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Having regard to:
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the report of the European Parliamentary Research Service on “Mapping
the cost of non-Europe 2014-2018” that concludes that the completion of
the Single Market has an economic benefit that could build up annually to
almost €1.6 trillion – or about 12% of EU-28 GDP, an equivalent of €3,150
per European citizen per year;
the roadmap for completing the digital single market as presented by the
European Commission;
concrete proposals launched by the European Commission on e-commerce,
copyright, and portability;
the proposed update of the EU audiovisual rules.
Notes:
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the objective of the European Council to create a promising economic
future for all, to safeguard our way of life and provide better opportunities
for youth;
the European Single Market remains a welfare multiplier for EU citizens but
needs maintenance;
that all modern markets have vital digital components and therefore the
necessity of digital by default is self-evident;
that still too many barriers exist to fully leverage the potential of the EU
single market when it comes to digital;
that most proposals done by the European Commission so far consist too
much of political compromise and lack bold ambition;
that many rural and even some urban areas cannot take part in the Digital Single
Market due to the lack of high-speed broadband or mobile network coverage;
there is little economic incentive for private companies to develop networks in areas
where population density cannot guarantee a service request that justifies
deployment costs;
in many less affluent areas, the lack of IT literacy adds a further disadvantage to
residents who have a greater need to access information and services;
the lack of coherent policy concerning the sharing economy.
Recalls:
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the inadequate process that occurred in September
Commission’s attempt on ending the roaming charges.
Page 5
on the European
Calls for:
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ALDE to set up a working group to develop a bold and ambitious plan to close the
gap between the EU and the USA by starting the process of completing boosting the
Digital Single Market;
a framework that allows EU starts-ups, scale-ups and companies to thrive
in the EU single market;
the creation of an EU level playing field for the sharing economy;
bolder proposals that ensure that a proper and consumer oriented EU
copyright will be established while ensuring fair compensation for artists
who create content;
basic access to broadband to be considered a universal service;
the digital economy must be built on reliable and trustworthy networks and services
that saveguard consumers' fundamental rights to privacy and personal data
protection;
the rapid deployment of a vast European 5G network;
a dedicated focus on improved connectivity and the vital infrastructure for
the single market to flourish.
Page 6
Sharing economy as a driver of innovation, growth and
jobs
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Having regard to:
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the ALDE Party resolution ‘Regulation in the Digital Economy – the shared
economy’ adopted at the 2014 Congress in Lisbon, Portugal;
the ALDE Party resolution ‘Reclaiming Liberalism: A liberal response to
digitalisation’ adopted at the 2015 Congress in Budapest, Hungary;
the ALDE Party’s 2nd Digital Working Group on 31 May 2016 on ‘Sharing
Reinvented: Boosting the sharing economy through technology and
innovation’.
Welcomes:
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the increased competition, consumer choice, and opportunities for
entrepreneurs arising from the sharing economy;
the opportunities for job creation, economic growth, competitiveness, a
more inclusive job market and a more circular economy through the more
efficient use of resources, skills and other assets;
the estimated growth revenue in the EU from the sharing economy. According to the
European
Commission,
gross
revenue
in
the
EU
was
estimated to be €28 billion in 2015 and the growth has been strong since
2013 and further accelerated in 2015. Going forward, estimates are that
the sharing economy could add substantially to the EU economy.
Recognises that:
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although the sharing economy attracts consumers because of convenience,
cost-savings and higher quality of service, trust is a crucial factor for which
the continued growth of the sharing economy is contingent upon;
digital platforms can lead to consumer empowerment as their reputational
feedback mechanisms give consumers a more powerful voice in economic
transactions, lead to higher quality products and services and more
transparency that prevent market failure;
concerns from consumers and resistance from traditional market operators have
prompted the establishment of an alliance of major global cities to produce a common
framework that would apply to sharing economy companies in all these cities;
companies utilising these new business models based on reputation and
trust must take the responsibility to adopt measures to discourage illegal
activities while providing new consumer safety features. In certain markets
accompanying measures are needed;
Page 7
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the sharing economy is contributing to a new reality of work and consumer behaviour
with growing individual expectations, and diverse and more flexible working
conditions.
Is concerned:
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about the different national approaches taken so far by Member States on
regulating the internet and the sharing economy. This fragmented
approach creates uncertainty which may hamper innovation, job creation
and growth and thus increase compatibilities between Member States;
that digital platforms could evolve towards a monopoly, where the entity could set its
own, independent standards;
that some big city mayors, worried about the impact of the shared economy on
housing and some existing industries, may end up over-regulating and stifling this
emerging economic activity.
Considers that:
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only a single market approach can be taken with regard to the sharing
economy, as fragmentation of the single market through local or national
rules prevents European companies of the sharing economy from scaling
up at European level.
Calls on:
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the European Commission to take initiatives, in line with EU competences,
to support innovation and entrepreneurship, remove barriers to digital
trade, facilitate market access to new entrants and preserve the integrity of
the single market;
all levels of Government to support the further development of the sharing economy
by identifying artificial barriers and relevant legislation hindering its growth and by
modernising outdated legislation;
the European Commission to set up a stakeholder group, involving private operators
and public authorities with relevant competences, in charge of promoting best
practices in the sharing economy sector that address, amongst other aspects,
innovative regulatory solutions;
the Commission to identify the required new dynamic consumer protection
legislation;
the European Commission to further promote public-private cooperation in
order to address the existing barriers within the single market in particular
to the increased use of digital identity to build consumers trust in online
transactions, to the development of digital solutions for the payment of
taxes, and to providing cross border insurance schemes in the sharing.
Page 8
Circular Economy
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Is convinced that:
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the transitioning to a circular economy may be the biggest revolution and
opportunity for how we organise production and consumption in our global
economy by protecting businesses against scarcity of resources and volatile prices,
helping to create new business opportunities and innovative, more efficient ways of
producing and consuming;
the circular economy goes beyond current linear extractive processes
consuming resources to exhaustion;
providing a sustainable economic model of growth that maintains value, builds capital
and generates new jobs.
Keeps in mind that:
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an essential contribution to the EU's and other European countries’ efforts
to develop a sustainable, resource efficient and competitive economy is the
transition to a more circular economy where the value of products,
materials and resources are maintained in the economy closing the loop of product
lifecycles, greater recycling, reparability, remanufacturing and re-use of waste
materials;
such a transition will generate new and sustainable, competitive
advantages for Europe and bring benefits for both the environment and the economy.
Notes with satisfaction that:
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the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and the COP21 agreement in
Paris necessitate effective common solutions to fight climate change and to
provide access to resources to more people, there is an increased focus –
politically and among corporations – on circular economy as a key strategy
to deliver a low carbon economy;
at the same time, it may save energy and help avoid the irreversible damages caused
by using up resources at a rate that exceeds the Earth's capacity to renew them in
terms of climate and biodiversity, air, soil and water pollution.
Recognises that:
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the circular economy will boost Europe’s competitiveness by allowing
European countries to free themselves from the dependency of importing
raw materials thus strengthening the production capacity of Europe. Thus
strengthening businesses by making them more resilient to scarcity and
volatile prices;
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Green Public Procurement by Europe's public authorities acts as a strong stimulus
for eco-innovation as it creates a critical mass of demand for more sustainable goods
and services which otherwise would be difficult to get onto the market.
Expects that:
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innovation by digital technology will allow for new business models based
on circular economy, e.g. relying on selling a service (use of product) rather
than the product itself, providing more efficient ways of producing and
consuming.
Emphasises that:
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it will also create local jobs at all skill levels and opportunities for social
inclusion and cohesion as resources are being reused locally rather than
imported from global extraction;
in December 2015, the EU Commission agreed on a Circular Economy
Package (CEP), the goal of which is to boost competitiveness and create
jobs and sustainable growth in Europe;
the action plan focuses on action at EU level, but making the circular
economy a reality will require long-term involvement at all levels, from
Member States, regions and cities, to businesses and citizens;
Member States are invited to play their full part in EU action, integrating
and complementing it with national action. The circular economy will also
need to develop globally.
Calls on:
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all member parties of ALDE, based on the above actions taken by the EU
and other European countries, to promote and support in their respective
countries this vision of a circular economy and the creation of suitable
frameworks to drive the transition forward in terms of industrial
partnerships, public-private partnerships, funding for research, task-forces
to advise businesses on the transition to circular economy and urging
public authorities to include the circular business model in the public
tendering processes.
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Encouraging investment in transport infrastructure
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Notes that:
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the importance and multiplier effects of investments in transport infrastructure for
Europe's economy has generally been underestimated;
many dedicated transport infrastructures need public grants as they do not attract
private investment;
an efficient Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) is the backbone of
the European internal market and a prerequisite for the Treaty objective of territorial
cohesion in the EU;
there is a high potential to increase economic activity and citizen mobility by
completing small-scale cross-border transport infrastructure which can significantly
increase opportunities for businesses and citizens in border cities and regions.
Considers that:
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the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) has been created in 2014 to support
at EU level investment in TEN-T infrastructure, in particular the core
network;
transport volumes are expected to increase in the coming decades and
transport infrastructures need to adapt;
all transport modes must become more environmentally friendly which also
involves new and modernised infrastructure like refuelling points for
alternative fuels;
digitalisation is the future in all transport modes which requires smart
transport infrastructures;
investment in transport infrastructure can help address regional social and economic
disparities within national and European regions.
Welcomes that:
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thanks to the creation of the CEF more European funds are available for
transport infrastructure as ever before;
a major part of CEF has already been allocated to mature projects in the
Member States;
CEF co-funding rates are particularly higher for cross-border bottlenecks
which are often neglected by the neighbouring Member States;
CEF funds are mainly allocated to environmentally-friendly transport modes
like rail and inland waterways;
several large cross-border infrastructure projects - among others the Brenner Base
Tunnel, the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, Lyon-Turin high-speed Railway, Rail Baltica and
Seine-Escaut - and have received substantial European co-funding.
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Calls for:
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a continuation and increase of the CEF during the financial period 2021-2027;
a better coordination of available European, national and regional public funds and
private capital, in order to blend in the most optimal way investment in transport
infrastructure during the financial period 2021-2027;
special attention to be given to the investment in completion of small-scale crossborder transport links, which have a high European added value;
an emphasis to be placed on low and zero emissions transport technologies in
order to meet EU environmental and health commitments;
a continued effort of Member States to invest in transport infrastructure;
an increased attention and available budget for transport investments, which are less
bankable, but comply with the sustainability goals;
an increased effort to improve environmentally friendly transportation modes, e.g.
rail- and inland waterway infrastructure which still offer unused capacity.
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For an innovative Industrial Policy in the EU
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Notes that:
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the recent financial crisis has accelerated the steady decline of the
manufacturing industry in Europe (output declined by 9% between 2008
and 2014);
the share of manufacturing of total European GDP has dramatically
declined to 15.1%;
the world share of EU industrial products steadily decreased since 2008;
high energy prices remain a big concern for European competitiveness;
a trend of growing protectionism of the Member States is negatively
affecting integration efforts as well as consumers;
the creation of a global level playing field is key for European businesses;
unemployment in European states remains at shockingly high levels.
Considers that:
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a healthy manufacturing sector is essential for quick economic recovery
and the creation of new jobs;
deindustrialisation is a process of major concern for the European
economy;
80% of export turnover as well as more than 70% of innovation are
created by the manufacturing industry;
European industries face challenges that are completely different from
those 10 years ago, while the policy answers remain unchanged;
an industrial renaissance of Europe will not be achieved through old-style
industrial policies which tried to create state-led industries through the use
of subsidies, nor will it be assisted by protectionism of any kind;
ending the fragmentation on the energy market will help to bring down
energy prices;
European electricity markets face challenges that are different from those ten years
ago, while the policy answers remain unchanged;
we are facing global climate challenges;
in the same way that the internet opened-up new areas of economic activity, with
previously unimagined businesses as a source of jobs, so too will the transition to a
carbon-free economy open up areas not foreseen today;
such a transition requires determined political will, and the European liberals should
aim to provide that leadership.
Welcomes:
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the European Commission’s
European Industrial Policy.
recognition
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for
the
need
of
an
updated
Calls for:
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policymakers to agree regulations that favour and stimulate new industries that usher
in economic growth based on digital, carbon-free technologies, allowing Europe to
lead the transition and meet the COP 21 Paris agreement targets;
improving regulatory efficiency whilst reducing the regulatory burden by focusing on
defining and improving the quality of regulations;
an expansion of the share of R&D-related expenditure in the EU, national and
regional budgets, and more cooperation with sectoral groups in pursuit of more
efficient R&D and the wider deployment of R&D outcomes;
the establishment of favourable and stable financial and taxation frameworks to
encourage RDI and the creation of new businesses;
introducing measures to enable new business models in sectors such as
circular economy;
enabling and not punishing disruptive technologies and processes in order
to boost innovation;
policies that assist businesses in establishing Industry 4.0 components into
their business model (modularity, smart factories, internet of things and
services, interconnected business) and that develop research and innovation
capacities across Europe based on smart regional specialisation strategies;
a competitive internal energy market through a fully integrated smart energy grid,
enabling citizens, and small and medium sized businesses to generate and distribute
their own green energy, thus contributing also to Europe's energy security and
climate change targets, as well as, liberalisation of energy markets, ending ‘subsidy
shopping’ and ensuring a well-functioning ETS, as well as completion of the single
market in energy;
establishing a sustainable industrial policy that also takes environmental
aspects
into account
(smart grids, eco-industries)
while
ensuring
predictability for industry;
the European Commission to continue to fight against unfair trading
practices and anti-competitive behaviours;
increased competition in the banking sectors, linked to merger and acquisitions
reform;
the liberal spirit of free trade to be promoted as the driving force for
economic growth to counter unemployment.
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Microplastics: Outlawing Microbeads in Personal Care
products sold in the EU
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Notes that:
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microplastics are pieces of plastic measuring less than 5mm and mainly
made of polyethylene (PE), but polypropylene (PP), polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and nylon are
also used;
microbeads are spherical-shaped microplastics of less than 1mm in
cosmetic and personal care ‘rinse-off’ products such as facial scrubs, soaps
and toothpastes;
these microplastics are also used in ‘leave-on’ lotions, make-ups,
sunscreens, and deodorants. These are much smaller (eg 0.0003mm)
which means 10-100 trillion particles in one sunscreen;
in Europe the use of microplastics in these products has been estimated
as between ‘3,800 and 7,500 tonnes of microplastic’ each year;
there is no definition of biodegradability as this can vary considerably
between plastics;
microplastics from cosmetics enter the wider environment when rinsed
away in waste water and then released into rivers and the sea;
waste water treatment plants are not designed to filter out microbeads.
Is concerned that:
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between 2,400 and 8,600 tonnes of plastic enters the marine environment
from Europe every year;
microplastics in the sea present a serious and growing threat to human health and
marine ecosystems;
microplastics can have the potential to persist for hundreds of years in the
environment and have been recorded at every location in the globe;
plastics used in cosmetic products cannot be collected for recycling, and
this is counter to efforts for more sustainable consumption and production
patterns;
the ingestion of microplastics effects the feeding, movement, growth, and
breeding success of marine organisms including shellfish according findings
by the United Nations advisory body;
the annual dietary exposure for European shellfish consumers can amount
to 11,000 microplastics per year;
when fish are examined they have microplastics in their stomachs (35% of
670 examined in a total of six species) and the highest number of
fragments found in one fish was 83 in one study;
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it has a negative impact on biodiversity with species such as the
population of European Perch being threatened, as hatchlings ingest
microbeads, become less active, and are then easy prey;
plastic debris has become a human health issue as the cocktail of
contaminants include endocrine disrupters and known physical effects of
particles observed in human cells showing lung and gut injury, as very fine
particles can cross cell membranes, the blood-brain barrier, and the human
placenta;
besides, chemicals in plastics and also chemicals which attach themselves to plastic
in the natural environment could cause poisoning, infertility and genetic disruption in
marine life, and potentially in humans if ingested in high quantities.
Understands that:
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legislative bans have been introduced in Canada, Norway, and the USA at both
state and federal level (with some bans starting from December 2017);
in December 2014, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium and
Sweden issued a joint statement to EU environment ministers calling for an
EU ban on microplastics in cosmetics and detergents;
the international mechanism by which the EU and governments in the
region cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East
Atlantic, OSPAR, stated that if voluntary agreement proved insufficient then
it would call on the EU to ‘introduce measures to achieve 100% phasing
out of microplastics in personal care and cosmetic products’;
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) called for an eventual
phase-out and ban on the use of plastics in cosmetics and personal care
products;
the
trade
association
Cosmetics
Europe
recommended
that
its
membership discontinue microbead use in rinse-off products by 2020;
a number of companies have or will discontinue the use of microbeads in
rinse-off products, including Colgate-Palmolive (phased out in 2014),
Unilever and Boots (in 2015). Johnson and Johnson started phasing out
microbeads in 2015 and was no longer developing products with
microbeads in them. A total ban BDF Beirsdorf, Colgate Palmolive and
L’Oreal (total group phase out by 2017).
Notes with disappointment that:
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a report commissioned by the European Commission stated that
introducing a ban on microbeads in the EU would be more complicated
than the laws ‘in the US and Canada’ because it was ‘unclear as to
whether any of the [existing] Directives and Regulations’ that had been
identified ‘would be suitable’;
the report identified the following mechanisms, and their key limitations: 1)
Cosmetics Regulation - concerned with health rather than environment; 2)
REACH Directive - concerned with chemicals and does not recognise
‘plastic’ as a term; 3) Eco Design Directive - currently aimed at energy
using products; and 4) Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive - cost
Page 16
prohibitive and not 100% effective at removing microplastics from water
effluent. Although the EU report concluded that the Eco Design Directive
‘may have the most potential’ if supported by a Member State it is a
disappointing response to such a serious problem.
Believes that:
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an EU-wide policy rather than the UK acting alone is a more effective way
of tackling such issues as pollution does not stop at national boundaries;
in the light of evidence confirming the seriousness of the issue there is a
pressing need for the EU to address direct sources of microplastic
pollution.
Urges the EU to:
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take urgent and decisive action over the phasing out of microbeads in
cosmetics and personal care products sold in the EU by 2020;
institute systematic monitoring of microplastics in the environment and
fund further research into the health impact of environmental microbeads;
stimulate private sector action. The Commission and Member States
should encourage a wider range of companies to take similar action to
those covered by Cosmetics Europe with governments and companies sign
up to eliminating microbeads from their supply chains by 2020;
reinforce its proposal for extended producer responsibility schemes, in particular by
detailing the costs that producers have to cover and by including the obligation to
cover litter prevention and collection and clean-up initiatives;
encourage Member States to use their public procurement policies to ban
the use of microplastics. The public sector is a significant purchaser of
cleaning products (and personal cleansing products in the medical sector)
so they could include the condition that microplastic-containing cleaning
products must not be used;
in the interim introduce appropriate criteria into the voluntary EU-wide
Green Procurement Policy criteria for cleaning products and services.
Page 17
Building a healthier society by tackling antimicrobial
resistance
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in Warsaw,
Poland, on 1-3 December 2016: Applauds: 


the lead taken by the European Union on legislation in 2006 banning the use of
antibiotics for growth promotion in animal feed; the publication of results of an
EU-wide survey on MRSA (so called ”hospital bugs”) in pigs in 2009; and the
directions in 2014 on how to carry out sampling and hazard recognition;
the European Food Safety Authority Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products
for Veterinary Use (CVMP) which has done an important job of protecting
consumers in Europe from risks related to the food chain and to establishing the
best control options to reduce risks;
the important contribution to work being carried out at European level as the
European Commission develops its proposals further for action to fight
antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Notes that:








it is estimated, according to the O’Neill Report from May 2016, that globally 10
million people will die every year because of AMR by 2050;
according to the same report, it is estimated that the economic impact of AMR
would lead to a reduction of 2% to 3.5% in Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
globally. It would cost the world up to $100 trillion;
leaders at the UN meeting on 21 September 2016 called on WHO, FAO and OIE,
in collaboration with development banks such the World Bank other relevant
stakeholders, to coordinate their planning and actions on AMR and to report back
to the UN General Assembly in September 2018;
livestock and poultry receive antibiotics for various reasons besides illness,
including preventing disease (‘disease prophylaxis’) in individual animals or a
herd;
the current legislation on veterinary medicines, which is currently under revision,
does not provide assurance that risks to human health arising from the use of
antibiotics in animals are effectively managed;
reducing use of antibiotics while choosing alternative strategies to ensure animal
health can lead to potential savings;
the misuse of antimicrobials, including antibiotics, and in particular their
systematic and excessive use is one of the main causes of AMR;
the same classes of antibiotics are used in both animal and human medicine and
similar resistance mechanisms have emerged in both sectors;
Page 18





the three sister agencies EFSA, ECDC and EMA concluded in a joint report of
2015 that the use of certain antimicrobials in animals and humans is linked with
the occurrence of resistance to these antimicrobials;
development and introduction into clinical practice of new antibiotics are not
matching the rate of increasing AMR;
community procedures for the establishment of residue limits of
pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin is an essential
next step to guard against AMR;
the European Commission Health and Consumers Directorate expert group
agreed environmental and residue violation events should be better covered but
no EU-wide alternatives exist;
before an animal treated with antimicrobials is allowed to be slaughtered for meat,
there is a withdrawal period varying across products and species.
Understands that:





while farmers use antibiotics in animal production, this should not translate into
consumers eating those antibiotics when they eat meat;
infections caused by AMR bacteria are likely to result in increased costs for
medical healthcare sectors in European countries;
research and new business models for creation of new antimicrobial drugs to be
of utmost importance;
there is a need of greater coordination between WHO, FAO and OIE to improve
awareness and identify knowledge gaps of combatting AMR policy
recommendations must be based on sound scientific evidence and risk analysis
principles;
in order to balance consumer protection, animal health, welfare and trade
requirements on antibiotic residues in food, a more consistent approach to the
risk analysis and control of antibiotic residues in food produced in or imported
into the European Union.
Calls for:






European countries to implement the WHO action plan on AMR;
the implementation of the Transatlantic Taskforce Antimicrobial Resistance
(TATFAR) Agreement Recommendations (and as previously put forward by the
EU Action Plan Road Map Report 2015);
a new unbureaucratic legal framework for harmonised monitoring of AMR in
zoonotic (and commensal) bacteria in the food chain;
a harmonised, proportionate pharmacovigilance Europe-wide surveillance
system and database based in principle on the active substance; states should
be able to continue using their own databases for signal detection in a
harmonised system;
measures to address the lack of data on AMR and antimicrobial consumption in children;
more robust evidence to permit implementation of risk management measures
regarding AMR;
Page 19













European countries to increase research and development activities which aims
at providing new tools to fight bacterial infections;
European countries to increase the level of cooperation with regard to patient
safety and combating AMR, in order to limit and reduce the spread of resistant
microorganisms;
greater attention, new incentives and new economic models for the development
of new antimicrobial agents;
all European countries to improve information sharing and awareness raising of
AMR amongst all sectors as human- and veterinary medicine, agriculture, food
safety, environment and consumers;
all European countries to develop and implement national strategies and action
plans for countering AMR;
performance indicators to assist countries towards increased information flow
and transparency in their use of antimicrobials;
all European countries to enforce and uphold stringent regulations on selfmedication with antibiotics and stresses the necessity of a ‘prescription only’
policy for anti-bacterials by the national competent medical authorities;
the responsible stewardship in human medicine of all antimicrobial agents and in
particular of antibiotics that are considered to be last-line treatment of bacterial
infections in hospitals;
European countries to implement best practice in animal husbandry with an aim
of creating systems where animals stay healthy without excessive use of
antibiotics;
all European countries to promote and foster the responsible and sensible use of
antimicrobials in veterinary medicine, including medicated feed;
a phase-out of the routine prophylactic use of antibiotics in livestock and fishfarming sectors in all European countries, and that the prophylactic use of
antimicrobial veterinary medicines shall only be permitted by the relevant
authorities;
all European countries to restrict the right to prescribe antibiotics to qualified
veterinarians and to remove incentives to over-prescribe antibiotics;
all European countries to support mandatory recording of the quantities of all
antimicrobials used in livestock farming, to be communicated to the competent
national authorities and made public by them on an annual basis;
Is convinced that:

information on the sales and usage of antimicrobials in the veterinary sector;
more science-based measures regarding the management of AMR will lead to a
positive impact on public and animal health.
Page 20
Enhancing innovation in European agriculture
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Having regard to:



the resolution ‘Agriculture and climate change’ adopted at the 2009 ALDE
Party Congress in Barcelona, Spain;
the resolution ‘Agriculture and Global Development’ adopted at the 2003
ALDE Party Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands;
the ALDE Party’s fringe meeting on 4 June 2016 at the Council meeting in
Vilnius, Lithuania on ‘Enhancing innovation in European agriculture’.
Producing more with less
Notes that:


owing to pressure on natural resources, climate change, the scarcity of
land, the vulnerability of the environment, the growth of the world
population and changing consumer behaviour, it is essential that farmers
produce more with less; meaning reducing the ecological footprint per kg of
product produced;
innovation plays a key role in making agriculture part of the solution to
many of these challenges; and is vital for European agriculture to remain
competitive and sustainable.
Recognises that:




agriculture is one of the most innovative economic sectors yet the potential
of innovation in agriculture has not been fully recognised nor is the
European regulatory framework fit to keep pace with rapid advancements;
being at the forefront of new technology uptake ensures a thriving rural
economy and job creation as well as keeping pace with wider economic
development;
economic development and ecological sustainability are complementary
provided enough room is left for innovation and entrepreneurship;
the average age of EU farmers is steadily increasing, as there are fewer young
people entering or remaining in the sector to guarantee the succession, and therefore
innovative practices can help to make the profession more attractive to younger
generations.
Is strongly committed to:

unleashing European agriculture’s innovative potential in order to produce
better quality products, ensure enough food supplies, reduce its
environmental footprint and improve animal welfare.
Page 21
Smart farming
Encourages:




the uptake of precision agriculture which provides new whole farm
management approaches enabled by new technologies, such as navigation
satellite driven machinery and drones, which can significantly reduce both
the use of fertiliser and water use, and combat soil erosion;
innovative solutions in animal housing systems that can contribute to a
higher level of animal welfare and consequently reducing the need for
veterinary medicinal products, including antimicrobials;
the possibility of processing animal manure into mineral concentrate that
could be used to manufacture ‘green fertiliser’ which could reduce the need for
artificial fertilisers;
the continuous development of innovative new breeding techniques for
plants contributing to the development of plants with higher yields, greater
nutritional value and better resistance to pests, diseases and adverse
weather conditions; and which provide unprecedented opportunities to
reduce the environmental impact of conventional agriculture.
Stresses:


the importance and relevance of the European Digital Single Market for
agriculture in terms of tackling problems of interoperability, standards for
better convergence and questions of data ownership;
the importance of favouring bottom-up SME innovation initiatives over industry
initiatives, in order to empower small farmers.
Calls on:



the European Commission and Member States to support innovation in
agriculture by providing regulatory coherence, clarity and room for
entrepreneurship, and to update obsolete legislation to accommodate new
solutions because conflicting and contradictory measures steer farmers
away from producing more efficiently;
the European Commission and Member States to come forward with
solutions to stimulate the uptake of precision farming techniques and
technologies, and remove the barriers to adopting precision farming, in
particular those linked to complex and fragmented ICT systems and lack of
access to capital;
the European Commission and Member States to foster research and development
in farming.
Unleashing innovation with a reformed CAP
Stresses that:

innovation is an essential tool and considers it to be a key horizontal policy
priority for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to develop, implement
and achieve the objectives of the CAP 2014-2020 reform;
Page 22


a more market-oriented CAP will enhance the innovative power and
competitiveness of the European agricultural sector by reducing government
intervention and stimulating entrepreneurship;
educational programs need to target climate change, sustainability and resilience to
a larger extent, as well as business modelling, investment support alternatives,
farming side products and technology. The generation shift in the agricultural sector
needs to come to terms with a new outlook on what farming encompasses in terms
of financial sustainability and business modelling.
Calls on:



the European Commission to ensure that innovation is explicitly taken into
account in forthcoming review and reform of the CAP after 2020; and to
ensure that the CAP provides more flexibility for the use of newly
developed techniques and practices without an increase in burdensome
rules and procedures in order to give farmers more space for
entrepreneurship;
the European Commission and Member States to ensure accessible and innovative
agricultural education as a central aspect of the development and transformation of
the agricultural sector;
the European Commission to reform CAP with a view to promoting small- and
medium-scaled farming as well as promoting diversity of farming methods including
ecological farming with a view to laying the groundworks for a sustainable agricultural
sector in Europe.
Page 23
The challenge of marine litter
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Notes that:






marine litter has become a major global challenge for the marine
and coastal environment;
at least eight million tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean every year;
plastics amount to 80% of marine litter on shorelines and seabeds;
it causes the deaths of 100,000 marine mammals and 1 million birds
annually;
estimations expect more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050;
more than a quarter of all fish now contain plastic.
Considering that:






marine litter has a European and global dimension and cannot be solved
on a national level;
besides fishing gear, more than 80% of most marine litter is land-based;
global plastic production has increased between 2004 and 2014 by 38%;
across the EU coastal and beach cleaning cost up to €630 million per
year;
the long-term costs of marine debris in the ocean will exceed the costs of
prevention dramatically;
concerns about food security have risen due to recent studies on the
accumulation and impact of microplastics and plastic on the ocean’s food
chain.
Welcomes:




the increase of public attention;
the Marine Strategy Framework Directive setting the framework for Member States
to achieve by 2020 Good Environmental Status for their marine waters, in particular
focusing on marine litter;
the proposed Directive to reduce the use of plastic bags, the Port reception Facility
Directive, the proposed Directive on Waste and the proposed Directive on Packaging
Waste;
the international efforts for preventing and reducing marine litter and for mitigating its
impacts such as the 2015 G-7 Action Plan to Combat Marine Litter and the Honolulu
Strategy.
Calls for:


a common European roadmap on the reduction of marine litter and its causes;
more efforts to conclude global agreements on the reduction of marine
litter;
Page 24




a public campaign to raise further awareness of the topic of marine litter and its
causes;
an initiative to phase out plastic microbeads in cosmetic products in the
EU;
further research on the impact of microplastics on marine organisms;
increased research on the impact of the use of microplastics in clothes
such as fleece.
Page 25
Promoting Culture of Experimentation through Europe
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:



globalisation and international crises have influenced EU Member States’
societies and economies causing new challenges and opportunities for both the
public and private sectors;
Europe has suffered from the international monetary crisis since 2008 and
still has not fully recovered economically or socially;
digitalisation opens new possibilities for innovations, which can benefit
European societies if properly developed, experimented and implemented.
Stresses that:





the European Union has a significant role in global economics;
European countries need new ways for people to participate in the
democratic process;
there is wide potential on growing the EU economy and finding the best
and most suitable solutions throughout the Europe;
there is a growing need for new and efficient ways to provide public
services;
there is a need for better exchange of best practices among EU-countries.
Calls for:



the concept of “Culture of Experimentation” , meaning implementing more accessible
services and democratic participation for citizens though digitalisation and debureaucratisation, to be made reality in our European policies;
support for the “Culture of Experimentation” in all levels of politics - from
the grass roots municipal level to the Commission and Council;
ALDE Party to recommend the Commission, Parliament and Member States to
actively promote the concept of “Culture of Experimentation”.
Page 26
End to biased and unprofessional election observation
missions
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Notes that:







democracy is a fundamental value. The power of the people is exercised
through fair and free elections. Election fraud threatens the very core of
democracy. It discredits the institute of elections and thereby it also
discredits democracy;
the aim of election observation is to protect the right of the citizens to free
and fair elections. The short-term goal of election observation is to reveal
fraud and to recommend measures to improve the election process. The
long-term goal of election observation is to contribute to the development
of electoral legislation and institutions that deserve the trust of the people;
the ODIHR, at the ALDE Party Congress in Budapest, called for more
liberal involvement in election monitoring;
election observation conducted in an unprofessional way corrupts the idea
of democracy and discredits the institute of election observation;
the most recent example of unprofessional election observation would be
the assessment issued by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) on the 26 September referendum of amendments to the
Constitution of Azerbaijan. The PACE mission statement declares that "the
voting process was transparent, well-organised, efficient and peaceful
throughout polling day, no serious violations were observed during the
counting process" and concludes that the referendum "is considered legal
and legitimate";
the PACE assessment does not take into account the critical human rights
situation in the Azerbaijan, the systematic restriction of independent mass
media, political opposition and civil society activities. Domestic long-term
observers state that "the Referendum day was marred with violations
including ballot-box stuffing, multiple voting, group voting (carousel) and
voting of persons without registration, similar irregularities from the previous
elections [...] voter turnout was artificially raised in majority of polling
stations through multiple voting and ballot-box stuffing. The official turnout
does not correspond to real figures";
unprofessional observation missions from PACE and the European
Parliament is far from a new problem, nor are we talking about isolated
cases. Already the November 2015 Parliamentary elections and the
October 2013 Presidential elections in Azerbaijan were commented in a
biased way by PACE short-term observers.
Page 27
Considers that:



it is of utmost importance to put an end to biased, ungrounded and
politically motivated election observation missions;
it is unacceptable that the name of the ALDE Party or Group appears in
unprofessional or fraudulent election observation reports;
liberals should take the lead in the fight against electoral fraud, and adhere
to the highest standards.
Calls on:





the Bureaus of the ALDE Party, the ALDE Groups in PACE and the European
Parliament to investigate the functioning of the present election monitoring
mechanisms; to analyse its flaws and weaknesses; to propose concrete measures
to improve the quality of this important work;
the Bureaus of the ALDE Party, the ALDE Groups in PACE and the
European Parliament to issue a briefing for parliamentarians that
observe elections in the capacity of ALDE parliamentarians;
the Bureaus of the ALDE Party, the ALDE Groups in PACE and the
European Parliament to initiate a procedure to hold mission members
accountable for fraudulent and/or unprofessional election observation, as
well as a procedure allowing parliamentary groups to block individual
parliamentarians from taking part in election observation missions;
all signatories of the Declaration of Principles for the International Election
Observation to closely coordinate their observation efforts in order to avoid forumshopping;
the ALDE Group in PACE to strive for a reform of the process of selecting members
of ad hoc election observation committees in order to ensure better political control
of its outcomes.
Page 28
Youth Unemployment
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Having regard to:

the resolution “Youth Unemployment” adopted at the 2012 ALDE Party
Congress in Dublin, Ireland.
Notes that:






there is widespread youth unemployment within Europe, with overall
over two times higher youth unemployment than unemployment in the
general population. The youth unemployment rate is over 47.7% and
43.2%[1] according to Eurostat in Greece and Spain respectively and less
than 6.9% in Germany;
the EU-28 youth unemployment rate averages around 18.6% [2] according
to Eurostat, with highly skilled young people seeking opportunities outside
of Europe;
the recession has hit young people the hardest, especially those without
proper vocational education or those who are unable to compete due to
discrimination or limitations;
the European Commission has called on Member States to draw up
national plans to combat youth unemployment;
European government investments are currently being proposed to create
state sponsored jobs for young people;
SMEs are the prime source of jobs, and national, regional and local authorities have
the power to facilitate business start ups, new social enterprises and business
sustainability.
Considers that:






achieving employment for young people is a critical element in poverty
eradication and sustainable development for future generations;
experience of the working life and the access to the labour market will
motivate more young people to educate themselves;
on average, young people are not well represented in the membership of
labour unions or political parties. Therefore these organisations are falling
behind in prioritising intergenerational solidarity;
not being in employment, education or training is demotivating for the
individual as well as demoralising for society, as one has no outlook on
change in such situation, and unemployment at a young age is a predictor
for unemployment and welfare dependence later in life;
labour mobility as well as supply and demand are the essential ingredients
that make up the European labour market;
pan-European internship possibilities are lacking, while these are an
excellent incentive to improve employee mobility throughout the Union.
Page 29
Highlights that:








the recession and record youth unemployment in some European
countries threaten the long-term future of the whole continent;
industry must work with third level educational centres to ensure that young people
graduate with the necessary technical qualifications in a world of rapidly changing
technologies;
multilingualism is vital to unlock the opportunities available to young people
throughout the Union;
the current young generation is the best educated and highest skilled
young generation ever;
specific groups are under particular hardship based on discrimination and
social exclusion, such as LGBTQ’s, refugees, immigrants, ethnic minorities, disabled
and socially disadvantaged young people. A more diverse and inclusive
labour market is more creative, agile and resilient;
education should be acknowledged to job market demands and labour market
policies should encourage new jobs to be created under proper conditions;
current employment policies to combat youth unemployment, foremost the
youth guarantee, is not producing the intended results;
the creation of new jobs is key to combating youth unemployment, and
that the essential role of young people as actors in job creation is often
underestimated.
Urgently calls on:




the EU and the Member States to focus on the problem of youth
unemployment and the broad differences within Europe, to seek a solution
to this pressing issue;
Member states to focus and advocate on a European level for the
removal of barriers; seeing to actions such as the mutual recognition of
vocational and academic degrees, changing priority rules, apprenticeships,
reformed employment services and better support in the transition; facilitate and
support young people's talent and entrepreneurial skills; for entry
on the job market by removing protectionist policies and supporting a single
European Job Market;
the EU to back the creation of more pan-European internship possibilities
by connecting young people all over Europe and offering them new
opportunities, through a system similar to what Erasmus has been for
education opportunities;
the Member States and EU to advocate for the sharing of best practices
on how to integrate young immigrants and refugees into the European
labour market, furthering a view of the refugee crisis as an opportunity in
the making, and call for more coordination on how the education system
needs to reflect the change in the European population. Recognising
degrees from outside of the EU calls for better and shared instruments for
validating the degrees of incoming labourers to the EU labour market;
Page 30





the Member States and EU to advocate for a flexible labour market with
lower thresholds, which are essential for creating both job mobility and job
security;
the Member States and EU to advocate for the creation of networks of
start-up entrepreneurs and young chambers of commerce to be consulted
when the European agenda on employment and entrepreneurship is set;
the European institutions to designate more high risk funding to young
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial networks in connection to academic
institutions;
the EU to examine why the youth guarantee is not producing the intended
results and on basis of this consider what would be a better tool to combat
youth unemployment;
the EU to boost the Small Business Act for Europe and insist that national
governments fully implement the framework by 2020, and ensure that – where
relevant - subnational governments do their part.
[1]
Eurostat.
August
2016.
"Unemployment
statistics".
ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Unemployment_statistics
[2]
Eurostat.
August
2016.
"Unemployment
statistics".
ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Unemployment_statistics
Page 31
Consequences of UK Referendum on Brexit
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:











deeply regrets the outcome of the UK referendum on membership of the
EU, in which 51.9% of the votes cast were to leave, and the consequent
disruptive effects on the UK and the whole EU, when there are so many
other pressing needs requiring urgent attention;
notes that there were decisive majorities to remain in the EU in Scotland,
Northern Ireland, London, Manchester and most other British cities and also
that most young people voted to remain;
considering that the island of Ireland would have on it the only land border the UK
shares with the rest of the EU and the negative consequences this would have for
continued success of the peace process;
recognises that the United Kingdom is a member of the G7, an important trading
partner for the rest of the EU, a founding member of NATO and the Council of
Europe;
considers that a weakened UK, detached from the rest of Europe, would
have a negative impact on the economic prosperity of Europe and could
have significant consequences for the security of Europe;
recognises that the new political divide in democratic countries is no longer
solely between left and right but even more between open and closed
societies and also that, in an ever more volatile world, close cooperation
between liberal democracies is paramount in defending our values and way
of life;
values the UK as a Member State that has often used its influence to
back an EU agenda in favour of free trade, open markets and
transparency, as well as a disciplined EU budget, in contrast to the forces
of fear that promote closed and inward looking societies;
notes the UK Liberal Democrats’ campaign for the right of the British
people to vote on whether to leave or remain in the EU when the main
terms of any future relationship outside the EU are known – in contrast to
the June referendum where the future after leaving was uncertain;
appreciates the benefits to the peoples of Europe which EU membership
has brought, including peace, increased trade, investment and jobs, greater
security, academic and scientific opportunities, cultural enrichment and
stronger environmental protection;
appreciates the key role that the EU has played in fostering peace and reconciliation
on the island of Ireland, recognises the unique impact that Brexit would have on the
only land border the UK shares with the rest of the EU and the peace process;
recognises that a priority for member state governments and EU
institutions should be to address the sense of economic grievance and
alienation from ‘the establishment’, driven inter alia by global and domestic
factors, which came to the fore in the UK campaign and which have
Page 32






parallels in the growth of illiberal and nationalist forces in other Member
States;
resolves to address those underlying causes through the pursuit of liberal
and effective policies on the economy, regional development, education
and training, employment law and migration, accompanied by greater
empowerment of communities through renewed emphasis on the principle
of subsidiarity;
therefore intends to place greater emphasis on national, regional and local
solutions, so reassuring the citizens of the EU that they have control over
their direct surroundings and powers are exercised at whatever level of
government can be most effective in meeting their needs;
urges politicians in all levels of government to pay greater attention to ensuring
effective communication with citizens, so that they have accurate information about
the decisions being taken, the reasons for those actions and any benefits which will
be brought to them;
recognises that the EU has developed flexibly, accepting different forms of
cooperation, such as the Euro, the Schengen area, and different levels of
participation within justice and home affairs;
notes with satisfaction that the European Parliament will play a role in the
Brexit negotiations, with ALDE group leader Guy Verhofstadt as its chief
negotiator, alongside Michel Barnier for the Commission and Didier Seeuws
for the Council;
stresses that full access to the single market requires acceptance of all four
freedoms.
Calls for:
1. cooperation between ALDE’s national parties, including the UK Liberal
Democrats, before, during and after the EU-UK negotiations to minimise
the potential adverse impacts on the EU and the UK of Brexit;
2. all negotiating parties to ensure that the negotiations, which will start once
article 50 is triggered, are conducted in a fair way, making sure that the
principle of transparency is upheld wherever and whenever practicable;
3. an early agreement on continuing reciprocal rights to enable nationals of
other Member States living in the UK and UK nationals living elsewhere in
the EU to be assured that their lives will not be disrupted; calls on the unique
position of Ireland and the status of the peace process to be recognised in any
final agreement;
4. efforts to minimise adverse impacts on individual citizens, including those
on free movement rights (of goods, persons, services and capital), which
are core values of the EU;
5. a study by the Commission of the potential impacts, particularly loss of
influence, which might occur for Member States which are outside the
Eurozone;
6. the negotiating parties to specifically analyse the effects of different
models of post-Brexit EU-UK relations on the Republic of Ireland and
Northern Ireland;
Page 33




7. a comprehensive report by the Commission analysing all areas of EU
activity which would be affected by a Brexit, paying particular attention to
the financial services industries, whose woes led to the financial crash
from which Europe’s peoples are still suffering;
8. a strong emphasis on the geostrategic and security aspects of Brexit;
9. the negotiating parties to pursue a prudent and pragmatic approach,
seeking a balanced deal for both the EU and the UK, which does not
introduce any unnecessary barriers to trade and mobility and which
ensures that a strong partnership remains.
emphasises that Brexit involves a complete deal being agreed, not merely
limited to aspects chosen by either side;
regards the UK’s Brexit vote as a loud wake-up call, which should be
addressed by politicians and other stakeholders throughout Europe;
underlines that the EU must prove to its citizens that it is a force for good
by delivering results on cross-border issues which can only be solved on
an EU level, such as controlling migration, fighting climate change,
protecting external borders, completing the single market, improving
security and combatting terrorism;
reaffirming that we are ‘stronger together’, expresses its hope that the UK
will ultimately decide to remain in the EU, so avoiding the harmful impacts
on all 28 Member States which Brexit would inevitably cause.
Page 34
EU - NATO defence cooperation
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Having regard to:





the ALDE Party Leaders meeting at the fringe of the NATO Summit in
Warsaw on 8 July 2016;
the Warsaw Summit Communiqué issued by Heads of States and
governments participating at the NATO Summit on 8-9 July 2016;
the EU Global Strategy issued by the EU High Representative on 28 June 2016;
the Joint declaration by the President of the European Council, the President of the
European Commission, and the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization signed in Warsaw on 8 July 2016;
the resolution ‘Securing the Peace in Europe, strengthening Europe’s
Foreign and Security Policy’ adopted at the 2014 ALDE Party Congress in
Lisbon, Portugal.
Considers that:







institutionalised relations between NATO and the EU were launched in
2001;
in 2003, the so-called “Berlin Plus” arrangements set the basis for the
Alliance to support EU-led operations in which NATO as a whole is not
engaged;
NATO and the EU currently have 22 member countries in common;
at the 2010 Lisbon NATO Summit, the Allies underlined their determination
to improve the NATO-EU strategic partnership and the 2010 Strategic
Concept committed the Alliance to work more closely with other
international organisations to prevent crises, manage conflicts and stabilise
post-conflict situations;
close cooperation between NATO and the EU is an important element in
the development of an international “comprehensive approach” to crisis
management and operations, which requires the effective application of
both military and civilian means;
strengthening the resilience of the EU is a joint responsibility;
new threats and challenges to security, such as hybrid and cyber warfare as well as
terrorism, cannot be tackled by either the EU or NATO independently.
Notes:


the distinct sovereign defence policies of EU and NATO Member States;
that the EU defence policy efforts will be NATO compatible and the European
Defence Union will enable a stronger NATO;

the right of non-NATO EU members to exercise their own particular defence
policies;
Page 35













the decision-making autonomy and different procedures in both EU and NATO;
whilst working collectively as a bloc to promote and enhance peace and
security;
the importance of the friendly cooperation and participation given to
peace-keeping by non-NATO member countries;
that the EU and the transatlantic alliance NATO are facing new and increased
security challenges;
military cooperation between Member States is taking place already. Both bilaterally
(Dutch-German division Fast Forces), and multilaterally within a NATO context
(Baltic Air Policing mission, Admiral Benelux and the Benelux Airdefence Pact) and
within a European context (procurement coordination through the EDA);
that enhanced defence cooperation in Europe should be a priority,
especially taking into consideration the national budgetary constraints and
mounting international geopolitical threats;
EU member states need to financially invest into building a common European
Defence Union;
that more should be done to increase cooperation and interoperability of defence
capabilities within NATO by EU Member States, leading to a stronger and selfsufficient European pillar of NATO;
a renewed Franco-German initiative to increase EU military cooperation;
the distinct difference between enhanced defence cooperation and the idea of an EU
army;
the shared strategic interests between NATO and the EU and their
cooperation on issues of common interest, crisis management, capability
development and political consultations;
the possibility of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) enshrined in the
Treaty on the European Union (TEU);
the renewed strategic partnership between NATO and the EU in areas of countering
hybrid threats, cooperation in the sea, cyber security, coherence of defence
capacities, building resilience of partners and joint exercises.
Welcomes:




the Readiness Action Plan assurance measures and the Adaption measures of the
Readiness Action Plan as included in the NATO Warsaw Summit communiqué of 8
July 2016;
the remarks made by NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg that “[t]here is no
contradiction between strong European defence and strong NATO, actually it
reinforces each other”;
the Joint EU-NATO Declaration of 8 July 2016, which calls for enhanced EU-NATO
cooperation and coordination on, among others, hybrid threats, cyber security and
defence, migration and a strong defence industry and research;
new EU initiatives in the field of security and defence such as EU Implementation
plan on Security and Defence, Implementation of EU-NATO Joint declaration and
European Defence Action plan.
Page 36
Calls for:













the distinct sovereign defence policies of non-NATO EU members to be
respected and upheld;
the autonomy of countries in respect of a common European defence
policy to be respected;
realism and practicability in the debate over military cooperation in Europe
and therefore push for the concept of pooling and sharing of military
resources;
the EU to deepen cooperation with NATO in complementarity, synergy and in full
respect for the institutional framework, inclusiveness and decision making autonomy
of the two;
both EU and NATO Member States to complement each other as NATO
remains the backbone of military cooperation and guarantor of collective defence for
Europe;
efficient and coherent use of specific capacities of each organisation for countering
new and emerging threats to security, such as hybrid and cyber threats;
EU Member States to further develop comprehensive, realistic and credible
defence capabilities and interoperability by encouraging interoperability of military
equipment and defence capabilities but avoiding double structures between EU and
NATO;
an EU wide system for the coordination of rapid movement of defence forces,
personnel, equipment and supplies to establish a swift movement of EU troops
across the EU space when necessary;
the launch of initial EU-NATO projects on countering hybrid threats, on operational
cooperation including at sea, and on migration, on cyber security and defence, on
defence capabilities, on strengthening the defence technological and industrial base,
on exercises, and on building the defence and security capacity of our partners in the
East and South;
progressive framing of the European Defence Union with a view to its establishment
under the next multiannual political and financial framework of the EU;
the European Council to give the European Defence Agency a larger mandate to
coordinate cooperation between EU military;
NATO and EU Member States to sustain the reversal of declining defence budgets
and to aim to move towards the 2% guideline but also take into account direct
contributions to NATO missions;
that it is essential that the restrictions in Article 24(1) TEU on the authority of the
European Court of Justice in the field of CFSP be removed; calls, in the same spirit,
for Parliament to gain greater powers of scrutiny and accountability over CFSP,
including full co-decision powers over the budget.
Page 37
On the Protection of Democracy and Freedom of
Speech in Ukraine
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Notes:


the Global Press Freedom Rankings 2015 research by FREEDOM
HOUSE, Ukraine ranks 128th after Uganda, Kenya and Macedonia;
the findings of the International human rights organisation "Reporters
without Borders" in its World Press Freedom Index 2015, where Ukraine
was ranking at 127th place in 2014 but now ranks 129th;
Recognises:



the fact that the European Party of Ukraine initiated the establishment of
the Rescue Committee on Freedom of Speech uniting prominent politicians,
public figures and journalists;
that civil society is losing leverage of protecting freedom of speech and
independence of the media;
the repeated signals of journalists on introduction of playbooks in the media and
attempts of state control over media freedoms.
Calls on members of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe to:




hold debates in the European Parliament on issues of freedom of speech
in Ukraine;
support non-governmental organisations and volunteer movements that
monitor freedom of speech in Ukraine;
monitor further implementation of EU policies supporting freedom of speech and
media in Ukraine;
support the cooperation between national and international media outlets and
Ukrainian media, training, strengthening and supporting independence and integrity
among Ukrainian reporters.
Page 38
Support Civil Society and Genuine Democracy in
Russia
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Notes that:


on 18 September, State Duma elections were carried out in Russia, where
the ruling party United Russia secured a ¾ majority. The majority allows for
changing the constitution single-handedly;
with more than half of the eligible voters not casting their vote, the voter
turnout reached a historic low of 47.8% (in some regions, even below 30%)
according to official, but highly questionable, figures, the lowest since the
collapse of the Soviet Union.
Considers that:


despite the improvements of the party registration process, in its
preliminary findings and conclusions on the 18 September elections, the
OSCE International Election Observation Mission noted a lack of “distinct
political alternatives”;[1]
Vladimir Putin’s decision to move the election date to September from
December is believed to be aimed at shortening the campaign time and
lowering interest and turnout, especially undermining the opposition. No
opposition parties critical towards the regime managed to win any seats.
Stresses that:




the OSCE Election Observation Mission further noted that “democratic
commitments continue to be challenged and the electoral environment was
negatively affected by restrictions to fundamental freedoms and political
rights, firmly controlled media and a tightening grip on civil society,” and on
Election Day, that “numerous procedural irregularities were noted during
counting”;[2]
civil society and civil rights have been severely challenged in Russia
following the “undesirable organisations” legislation [3] and the “foreign
agents” legislation [4], affecting actors involved with human rights, the
environment, civil and political rights as well as election observing. Just two
weeks ahead of the ballot, the Levada Centre, the last independent
pollster in Russia, was blacklisted as a “foreign agent”;
as noted by OSCE, the failure to implement legislation concerning
freedoms of association, assembly and expression poses “a significant
hurdle for the conduct of democratic elections”; [5]
elections were also conducted on the territory of the illegally annexed Crimean
Peninsula, thus violating international law.
Page 39
Believes that:



the lack of genuine democratic representation in the parliamentary bodies
combined with the attacks toward civil society shows the absence of both
fundamental political rights and state stability;
a strong civil society is needed in order to challenge and critically
scrutinise ruling powers, which is fundamental for a functional modern
democracy, as well as political sustainability and legitimacy;
the domestic political tension is likely to increase ahead of the 2018
Russian presidential elections, at the same time increasing the acute need
for re-establishing basic civil and political rights and democratic principles in
Russia.
Calls for:






all reported irregularities during the 2016 Duma elections to be duly
investigated;
the ALDE Party, ALDE Members and the ALDE Group in the European
Parliament to condemn the deconstruction of Russian democracy, the eradication of
the multi-party system, and the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula as well
as the ongoing destabilisation of Eastern Ukraine;
the ALDE Party, ALDE Members and the ALDE Group in the European
Parliament to keep up a strong support of the civil society and the liberal
opposition in Russia, in particular though demanding the end of pressuring
free media and to reinstall the freedom of assembly, as well as to demand
genuine democratic rights of the people to be re-established;
the Russian Parliament to retract the 2012 'Foreign Agents' law and cease the
registration of NGO's at the Ministry of Justice and relieve them of the mandatory
identification as a foreign agent in their communication;
the Russian government to recognise and implement decisions of the ECHR;
the ALDE Party, ALDE members and ALDE Group in the European Parliament to
maintain and uphold sanctions against the Russian government unless it ceases to
occupy the Crimean Peninsula and fully implements all steps of the Minsk Peace
Agreement.
[1] OSCE International Election Observation Mission: Statement of Preliminary
Findings
and
Conclusions,
p.
1.
Available
online
at
http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/russia/265186 (accessed 2 Oct 2016).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Currently there are seven organisations listed as undesirable by the Ministry
of Justice. By the law, undesirable organizations are those “posing a threat to
the country’s constitutional order, defence potential and state security” and
therefore are banned (full list: http://minjust.ru/ru/activity/nko/unwanted)
[4] Currently, 141 organisations are listed
http://unro.minjust.ru/NKOForeignAgent.aspx)
[5] See supra note 1, p. 4.
Page 40
as
‘foreign
agents’
(full
list:
Women’s Right to Decide Over Their Own Body
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Recalling:

the resolutions 'Safe and legal abortion in the EU' and 'Womens’
entitlement over their own bodies', adopted at the ALDE Party Congresses
in 2011 and 2008 respectively. In particular the call for legal abortion in all
EU member states and easy access to public healthcare system, and for
facts-based sex education without taboos, freely and openly available in all
EU member states, in particular for young people, as the key effective
prevention of unwanted pregnancies.
Notes that:








every year about 20 million illegal abortions are made all over the world,
mostly in poor parts of the world;
more than 70,000 of the deaths are a consequence of illegal/unsafe
abortions;
these procedures are often made late in the pregnancy, either made by the
woman herself or by people without sufficient medical education;
every year 15,000 women suffer from severe consequences like physical
disabilities and infertility as a consequence of illegal abortions;
the principle of informed free choice is essential to the long-term success
of family planning programmes;
some countries in the European Union are facing calls for legislation that
would severely restrict or even prevent access to reproductive health
services, including family planning and safe abortions;
a ban on abortion, except when there is an immediate and undeniable
threat to a woman’s life, will mean that survivors of rape and incest will be
forced to give birth. Doctors will refrain from performing vital pre-natal tests
for fear of possible prosecution, and that miscarriages will be met not with
care from a medical professional, but questions from a prosecutor;
taboos and the lack of availability of measures of planned parenthood inter alia
contraception leads to the rise of unplanned pregnancies, abortion and infectious
diseases.
Considers that:


the empowerment and autonomy of women, and improvements in their
political, social, economic and health status, are essential to the
achievement of sustainable development;
sexual and reproductive rights rest on the recognition of the human rights
of women’s right to have control over and decide freely on matters related
to their own bodies;
Page 41





sexual and reproductive health and rights are based on four separate notions,
namely sexual health, sexual rights, reproductive rights and reproductive health,
within the framework of human rights;
it is crucial for liberals to fight for the right of individuals to take
autonomous decisions over their own sexual and reproductive health rights;
forcing women to procure illegal abortions jeopardises women’s health and
potentially threatens their lives;
forcing victims of rape and incest to carry pregnancies to term is an
assault on their autonomy and dignity, and jeopardises their mental and
physical health;
criminalising abortions in circumstances where the pregnancy is likely to
result in death is an unacceptable violation of reproductive health.
Calls on:





ALDE member parties to actively work to uphold the principle that the
human rights of girls and women are an inalienable and indivisible part of
human rights, to be protected not only in areas of public life but also in the
privacy of the home;
ALDE member parties to act when women’s rights, including those related
to sexual and reproductive health, are threatened or violated;
ALDE member parties to actively support sexual and reproductive health
education and sexual and reproductive rights education, for both women and men,
as a tool to enhance women's and girl’s rights in this regard;
member parties to recognise reproductive decision-making, including choice
in marriage, family formation, and determination of the number, timing and
spacing of one's children; and the right to the information and the safe and affordable
means to exercise those choices;
member parties to deal openly and forthrightly with unsafe abortion as a
major public health concern.
Page 42
Fully exploiting the opportunities of mHealth
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Having regard to:

the resolution ‘Reclaiming Liberalism: A liberal response to digitalisation’
adopted at the 2015 ALDE Party Congress in Budapest, Hungary.
Welcomes:






the huge potential of mHealth to increase the sustainability of healthcare
systems by reducing unnecessary consultations and better prepared
healthcare professionals using mHealth as an aide for treatment and
medication;
the improvement in health and comfort of citizens that mHealth can bring
by facilitating effective and efficient care provisions and wider access to approved
evidence-based healthcare;
mHealth’s contribution to the empowerment of patients, in particular older people and
people
with
disabilities
or
chronic
illnesses,
by
allowing
them
to more actively manage and monitor their health, and lead a safer and more
independent lifestyle through self-assessment or remote monitoring apps as well as
the reminder of preventive measures in the right time;
that data generated through mHealth enables evidence-driven care
practice and the surveillance of out-of-clinic behaviour and research activities;
the European Commissions’ ongoing work to establish guidelines for
assessing the validity, usability and reliability of mHealth apps;
the rapid growth and expansion of the mHealth app market, estimated to
cover over 100,000 apps, and the global expected worth is $23 billion in
2017, with Europe accounting for $6.9 billion.
Recognises that:




mHealth is defined by the European Commission as all medical and public
health practices supported by mobile devices, such as mobile phones,
patient monitoring devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other
wireless devices, including lifestyle and wellbeing apps;
all healthcare professionals and patients should have access to all
available information to ensure continuity of care and the adherence of patients to
the necessary treatment;
mHealth can fill health care gaps in remote and less densely populated
areas, for instance through remote monitoring;
a WHO assessment indicates that competing priorities, a lack of policy
and ambiguous regulations are the main barriers for mHealth diffusion and safety.
Page 43
Is concerned:





about the protection of medical data when users and patients are not
made aware of the use of their data or the business model of the mHealth
application developer;
that 45% of all mHealth users are worried about unwanted use of their
data, for example by insurers or employers;
about the patients’ right to follow their data in third countries, whatever its
location, and the data protection standards that apply in those jurisdictions;
of the consequences if mHealth is missing the correct evidence base due to incorrect
algorithms, analysis or other technical difficulties and is therefore producing wrong
advice;
that the lack of interoperability of mHealth could create barriers for use
and limit its potential.
Stresses that:





data generated by mHealth apps should be highly encrypted;
mHealth apps should provide a relevant degree of patient authentications
mechanisms to mitigate privacy and security risks;
anonymisation should be the standard. However, when anonymisation
might be an obstacle to research activities or when anonymisation is a
major impediment to the fight against fraud against social security,
pseudonimisation could be considered;
the patient should have all-time personal management of his data - in accordance
with the medical professionals responsible to avoid misdiagnosis – whether it is for
information, correction or deletion;
there should be a clear distinction and easy possibility to check up the legal status
(i.e. as the verification of online pharmacy) for patients between medical apps and
non-medical apps.
Calls on:



the European Commission and the Member States to create a legal,
financial and organisational framework, in full respect of the competences laid down
in Article 162 of the TFEU, to integrate mHealth applications
into current and new health systems keeping in mind the principles of data protection
and the patient's right to privacy of his or her medical data;
the EU to keep fostering research and innovation in digital health and
become world leader in this field, by engaging all relevant actors in the
further development of mHealth;
the European Commission to facilitate semantic operability of SnomedCT and other
corresponding standards to other EU languages, in order to boost cross-border use
of mHealth.
Page 44
The War in Yemen
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party convening in
Warsaw, Poland, on 1-3 December 2016:
Notes with concern:







the 10,000 fatalities since Jan 2015 in Yemen, with 200,000 people
seeking refuge in EU countries, and Saudi-led coalition air strikes
accounting for 60% of fatalities;
the further escalation and internationalisation of the war during November
& October 2016 and the escalating threat in November of a wider regional
war;
the bombing of a funeral procession on 8/10/2016 with a guided bomb
dropped by the Saudi-led Coalition, killing 140 people and injuring 525;
the USA entering the war directly on 13/10/2016 with a US Navy destroyer
attacking three Houthi radar sites;
the UNICEF Report, released 07/10/2016, giving totals of 3.2m IDPs, (1.4m
children), 370,000 children suffering malnutrition, and the 13th October UN
OCHA report showing 1410 suspected & confirmed cases of cholera;
the failure of seven separate peace efforts, the latest being the 48 hour
ceasefire declared by Saudi Arabia commencing 19/11/2016, which broke
down on the 21st;
Iranian aspirations for naval bases in Yemen, announced by its CGS on
27/11/2016.
Deplores:


the use of cluster munitions by the Saudi-led forces and indiscriminate
bombing, reported by ICRC, and 'utter disregard for human life' (MSF);
the announcement of a further $1.15 billion in weapons sales to Saudi
Arabia by the US in Aug 2016, without effective restrictions on their use in
Yemen.
Believes that:

the characterisation of the conflict as a sectarian Shia-Sunni civil war, is
incorrect, and both obscures the regional & global nature of the conflict and
weakens international pressure towards peace.
Calls for:



the UN to broker a negotiated peace, involving all key regional powers;
an EU investigation into war crimes potentially committed by all sides and
on EU Member States to call for a UN embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia;
under UN GA Resolution 60/251, suspension of Saudi Arabia from the UN
Human Rights Council.
Page 45