I don’t know how many ALDE Congresses I have visited over the last few years, but the one in Estoril, Portugal, was similar to most of them. The 500+ delegates, including around 20 from the LibDems, provides a platform to discuss global challenges, affirm our commitment to mutual liberal values, and outline strategies for the future.

The first day was dominated by the elections to the ALDE Bureau, with the election of a new President and six new Vice Presidents. German MEP Svenja Hahn was the only candidate for the Presidency. She’s known to many Liberal Democrats as a former President of the youth movement, LYMEC, and spoke to the delegates of her love for the UK having spent some time working in St. Albans. Our own Sal Brinton was one of the candidates for the Vice Presidency. The results will be declared tomorrow morning.

The main Congress kicked off with speeches from current ALDE Presidents Timmy Dooley from Ireland and Ilhan Kyuchyuk from Bulgaria, who provided a thorough report on the activities of the past year. They talked about the recent elections which returned a much smaller Liberal group in the European Parliament. Unsurprisingly, a further theme of their address was the ongoing war in Ukraine. Their focus was on the crucial support provided by ALDE members to Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and democracy. The pair underscored the importance of continued aid and diplomatic backing for the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia’s aggression.

One of the standout speeches came from Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. Known for his charismatic and engaging speaking style, Xavier did not disappoint. His speech was a powerful reminder for liberals to stay true to their core values of freedom and human rights.

He recounted a story about an African leader who suggested that homosexuality should be criminalized if his population demanded it. Xavier’s rebuttal — “what would happen if you limited religious or women’s rights in the same way?” — served as a poignant reminder of the dangers of populism. He urged the audience to rise above populist pressures and lead with integrity, fostering inclusive societies based on liberal ideals.

Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice, added an important dimension to the conversation by focusing on the rule of law and human rights. Reynders highlighted the importance of safeguarding legal frameworks that protect individual freedoms and stressed the need to remain vigilant over human rights issues. He also touched upon the need to monitor supply chains for human right abuses. Didier emphasized that protecting human rights often requires additional work, but that the effort is essential to maintaining a just and fair society.

Though unable to attend in person, European Commission Executive Vice President Margaret Vestager delivered her message via video. Vestager emphasized the importance of ensuring fair competition in the tech sector, calling out the dominance of Big Tech companies. She stressed the need for continued efforts to protect consumer choice and support small businesses against unfair competition. Her legacy will be a pillar of the EU’s future regulatory approach to tech giants, and her message served as a call to action for those looking to create a more balanced digital marketplace.

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olha Vitaliivna Stefanishyna, also appeared by video. She provided a sobering update on the war with Russia. Olha not only highlighted the continuing military threat posed by Russia but also pointed to the risks surrounding Russia’s occupation of a nuclear power station, which presents a significant nuclear threat to the region. The presence of several members of her party at the Congress underscored the vital importance of European support in both diplomatic and practical terms for Ukraine.

Sandro Gozi, a French MEP of Italian origin, brought the conversation to the state of EU-UK relations in his new role as Chair of the European Parliament’s delegation to the UK-EU Parliamentary Assembly. Gozi reiterated his commitment to working closely with the Liberal Democrats in the UK to improve post-Brexit relations between the EU and the UK. His goal is to build bridges where political tensions may have caused rifts, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in tackling shared challenges.

The Congress continues on Sunday with the announcement of the election results and voting on resolutions.

* Robert Harrison is the current Chair of LDEG. He is a true European, with British and German nationalities, and has been a candidate for the European Parliament several times in Germany.