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Plan to form federation of Liberal parties of the Iberian peninsula
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The formation of a federation of Liberal parties from the Iberian peninsula, comprising parties from Gibraltar, Andorra, Portugal and regions of Spain is being considered following the meeting of the European Liberal youth (LYMEC) which took place in Barcelona last week.
Neil Costa MP represented the Gibraltar Liberals at the six day event which was attended by over 170 delegates from all over Europe.
The conference was organised jointly between LYMEC and the JNC, which is the youth wing of the Catalan party Convergencia Democratica de Catalunya.
The first three days were devoted to a seminar on the subject of "Re-launching a strategic partnership with Northern Africa". This was addressed by members of the Catalan Parliament, of national Parliaments and of the European Parliament including the Chairman of the Mediterranean Commission of the European League for Economic Development and EuropeAid Cooperation Office of the European Commission. The speakers from Africa included politicians from Senegal and Morocco.
The seminar was followed by the Executive Committee and Congress of LYMEC in which the Gibraltar Liberals are represented in our own right. Speakers included the President of the European Youth Forum, the President of the Young European Socialists, a Minister of State from Belgium, a Professor of politics and public affairs from Princeton University (USA), and the Minister for Culture and Government spokesman from Andorra. The first Vice President of the Parliament of Estonia spoke about relations between the EU and Russia and the Secretary of Youth of the Government of Catalunya closed the event.
Mr Costa was able to contribute extensively to the discussion and was sat at the main table during the gala dinner. He was able to use the event to renew contacts with old friends of Gibraltar and to make new political allies for our cause. It will be recalled that LYMEC has a long-standing position in favour of self-determination for Gibraltar, said a statement from the Liberal Party of Gibraltar.
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