The world´s prominent experts to discuss the economic prosperity

Brussles, 7th December 2009

BRUSSELS, 7 December 2009 — The European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) and leading independent free market think tanks in Europe and the US - Adriatic Institute for Public Policy, The Heritage Foundation, Open Europe and Atlas Economic Research Foundation join forces in co-hosting the sixth annual International Leaders Summit on 8 December 2009 in the European Parliament, Brussels featuring prominent experts on economics and security.

The International Leaders Summit (ILS) is a unique gathering on public policy issues that brings business, media communications, think tank and political leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to raise the competition of ideas and discuss principled solutions that strengthen the rule of law, strengthen security and increase economic growth and prosperity.   The event has featured successful principled reformers, intellectuals and leaders advancing economic freedom.

Speakers will include: Monica Macovei (MEP, EPP and Romania's former justice minister), Ivan Miklos, (Slovakia's member of parliament and former deputy prime minister from 1998-2006 and finance minister during the years 2002-2006),  Dr. Daniel Mitchell (Senior Fellow, Cato Institute), Edward Lucas (The Economist), Marc Champion (The Wall Street Journal), Natasha Srdoc (Adriatic Institute and Regular Contributor, Economist Intelligence Unit), Pieter Cleppe (Open Europe) and prominent conservative MEPs including the ECR Chairman Michal Kamiński , ECR Vice- Chairman Jan Zahradil (MEP, Czech Republic) and ECR Bureau member Geoffrey Van Orden (MEP, UK).

Former US Assistant Secretary of State Dr. Kim Holmes, now Vice President, Foreign and Defense Policy at America's pre-eminent think tank, The Heritage Foundation (supported by over 550, 000 members) will deliver a dinner keynote address communicating solutions to advancing liberty and security.  The dinner event is by invitation only.

Panel discussions will focus on the following key topics:

"Advancing European Reforms: Accountability, Transparency, Cutting Costs, Expanding Trade and Economic Growth"

"Enlargement Review: Challenges in Southeast Europe and the Western Balkan Region’s Quest to Join Euro-Atlantic Institutions"

"The 2008 Financial Crisis: Capitalism, The Future of Economic Freedom and Global Tax Competition"

The morning and afternoon sessions will take place in The European Parliament, conference room ASP 5E2. Entrance is free.

Past speakers of the ILS have included Mart Laar (former prime minister, Estonia), Janez Jansa, (then prime minister, Slovenia), Maurice McTigue, (former cabinet minister, New Zealand) and now advisor to the US Congress, Dr. Alvin Rabushka, The Hoover Institution, Stanford University, The Economist's Matthew Bishop, The Wall Street Journal's Matthew Kaminski, The Financial Times' John Willman and other distinguished reform leaders.

"The ILS plays a key role in ensuring that the new orthodoxies are challenged," says Geoffrey Van Orden, MEP, UK. "Individual liberty and the creative strength of the great democracies, not over-arching bureaucracy, is the basis for prosperity and freedom."

"Convening the sixth annual International Leaders Summit - a strategic platform that supports a principled reform movement - is both timely and relevant as  experts focus on the 2008 financial crisis and address the ever increasing threats to freedom and security," relayed Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy, the co-founders of the International Leaders Summit.  "The ILS and its partnering think tanks welcome the new strategic partnership with ECR and the close partnering efforts of leading European conservatives."

 

For more information, or to reserve a seat, please contact:
Hannah Richards at +32 2284 5332,  hannah.richards@europarl.europa.eu

For media interviews or to contact ILS speakers, please email:
geoffrey.vanorden@europarl.europa.eu
JoelAnandSamy@aol.com

Please visit:
www.ils-wde.org or www.ecrgroup.eu

ILS Agenda:
http://www.ils-wde.org/Default.aspx?sid=1149 

 

Welcome to the website of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament.

In July 2009, the ECR was formed by eight political parties who share the common goals of opposition to Euro-federalism and of fundamental reform of the European Union to make it more accountable, transparent and responsive to the needs of the people.

This website is intended to provide you with information about our work and our political priorities, and to provide you with an opportunity to let us know your views.

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