The ELDR was founded in 1976 as the Federation of European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Parties. At that time its prime task was to unite Liberal parties across Europe along common policy lines in preparation for the first direct elections to the European Parliament.
17 years later, in December 1993, the Federation was transformed into the "European Liberal, European level as provided for by the Treaty of Maastricht (art.138a.).
| Congress | Bureau | Council | Leaders' Meetings |
| The Congress, which meets annually, is the supreme decision-making body of the ELDR Party. | The ELDR Party receives its day to day guidance from a small directly elected bureau. | The Council, which meets at least four times a year, approves membership applications and is empowered to speak & act on behalf of the Party. Its membership is made up of ELDR member party representatives, ELDR members of the European Commission, a LYMEC representative and members of the Bureau ex-officio. | Leaders' meetings are convened twice a year and bring together the political leaders of ELDR member parties, the President of the ELDR Party and the President of the Group of the ELDR Party. They usually coincide with meetings of the European Council. |
| It comprises representatives of the member parties, members of the Group of the ELDR Party, ELDR members of the European Commission and representatives of LYMEC (Liberal & Radical Youth Movement of the European Community). | The Council, which meets at least four times a year, approves membership applications and is empowered to speak & act on behalf of the Party. Its membership is made up of ELDR member party representatives, ELDR members of the European Commission, a LYMEC representative and members of the Bureau ex-officio. | ||
| The Party President, the Vice-Presidents and the Treasurer are elected by Congress. |
The Parliamentary Group of the ELDR Party comprises representatives of ELDR member parties elected to the European Parliament from13 of the 15 EU Member States. It also includes some members of the European Parliament who, although their political parties are not members of the ELDR Party, nevertheless promote Liberal Democrat and Reform policies and principles.
With 52 members, under the Chairmanship of Gijs de Vries (VVD-NL) the Group of the ELDR Party is the fourth largest political group in the European Parliament. The Portuguese member, Antonio D Orey Capucho serves as a Vice-President of the European Parliament. Willy De Clercq (VLD - B) and Jan Willem Bertens (D66 - NL) serve as Parliamentary Committee Chairmen. Bertel Haarder (Venstre - DK) and Philippe Monfils (PRL-B) chair an Interparliamentary Delegation and Olli Rehn (Centre Party - SF) holds the Chairmanship of a Joint-Parliamentary Committee. The Vice-Chairmanships of 7 Parliamentary Committees and 6 Delegations are held by members of the Parliamentary Group of the ELDR Party.
1. The promotion of issues within the ELDR such as: a constitution for a democratic European Union with decentralized, federal characteristics, explaining Europe to the citizens, and the future role of political parties at both national and European levels.
2. Involving the citizen, by making the decision-making structures of the Union more democratic, open and efficient. The European Parliament must become the co-legislator of the Union on an equal footing with the Council.
3. Completing Economic and Monetary Union according to the criteria and the timetable agreed in the Maastricht Treaty.
4. Internalising environmental costs so that they become an integral part of economic activity, and hence a key factor in stimulating economic growth.
5. Introducing legal, educational and training provisions which allow for a more flexible and dynamic labour market.
6. Cooperation in justice and home affairs under the scrutiny of the European Parliament in order to safeguard individual liberty and social justice; creating common legislation on asylum and immigration policy giving persecuted people the right to claim political asylum; the equitable sharing of costs and services among member states.
7. Developing the European Union into an actor in the international scene by shaping a single European foreign policy, with efficient economic and military structures.
8. The improvement of internal cohesion between the ELDR Party, its member parties and the Group of the ELDR Party in the European Parliament.
9. The further strengthening of political links with Central and Eastern Europe and the identification of suitable partners.
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