Guy Verhofstadt, the group leader of ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, the 3rd largest group in the European Parliament, (*)) presented the strategic priorities of the Liberals and Democrats for the incoming members of the European Commission who face a series of hearings by the European Parliament in January before being approved (the new Commission would then take office February 1st, 2010)).
The ALDE group believes the EU should focus its efforts on five broad priorities:
1. tackling the economic and financial crisis,
2. tackling climate change,
3. fighting for freedom and fundamental rights,
4. rethinking the EU budget and system of own resources
5. promoting a coherent strategy in foreign affairs.
An ALDE strategy document addresses specific policy priorities towards each new commissioner as they prepare for the parliamentary approval process (PDF file)
(*) Note for my American readers: In Europe, Liberal Democrat has no correlation to US type of liberalism or The Democratic Party, UK and European Liberal Democrats are rather "centrist" in their political views (middle of the road or centrist in US terms).
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