VVD International and the European Liberal Forum (ELF) organized the annual Liberal Partnership Days alongside the VVD Spring Congress in The Hague. Bringing together liberal politicians, policymakers, experts and party representatives from across Europe and beyond, the event provided a platform to exchange ideas and develop liberal solutions to some of today’s most pressing challenges under the shared theme of Economic Competitiveness and Artificial Intelligence.
The programme was opened by VVD Group Leader in the European Parliament Malik Azmani and ALDE Party President Svenja Hahn, who highlighted the importance of international liberal cooperation in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, security and resilience.
Strengthening Europe’s Competitiveness
The first session focused on Europe’s economic future and the implementation of the recommendations of the Draghi Report. VVD Minister Vincent Karremans discussed the Dutch response to these recommendations through the Rapport Wennink, together with Ailbhe Finn. Both reports underline the need for coordinated national and European action to enhance Europe’s competitiveness.
Following the discussion, participants took part in interactive working groups moderated by Berend Nix, Programme Director of the Wennink Report, and Tamás Toplak, Head of Communications at ELF. Together they explored how the principles of the Draghi Report could be translated into national reform agendas, while addressing the institutional and political challenges countries may face during implementation.
AI for Security and Defence
A key highlight of the program was the discussion on artificial intelligence in the fields of defence and security. VVD International had the honour of welcoming Oleksandr Korniyenko, Chairman of the Servant of the People party, who shared how Ukraine is developing innovative AI applications to support its armed forces in defending the country.
His presentation was followed by a joint question-and-answer session with Dutch Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel. Together they discussed the opportunities AI offers for strengthening European security and defence, while also reflecting on the ethical considerations that accompany the deployment of AI in these critical sectors.
AI in Healthcare
The final panel addressed the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Dutch Minister Sophie Hermans and Slovenian Member of Parliament Sara Žibrat discussed how AI can help healthcare systems respond to increasing pressure caused by ageing populations and persistent staff shortages.
Drawing on experiences from both the Netherlands and Slovenia, they explored how AI can improve efficiency, support healthcare professionals and enhance patient care. At the same time, they emphasized that successful implementation requires strong governance, public trust and European cooperation to ensure AI is integrated responsibly across healthcare systems.
A Platform for Liberal Cooperation
The Liberal Partnership Days once again demonstrated the value of bringing together liberal partners from across Europe to exchange experiences, develop innovative policy ideas and strengthen international cooperation. From economic competitiveness to the responsible use of artificial intelligence, the discussions highlighted the importance of practical liberal solutions to shared European challenges.
VVD International would like to thank all speakers, participants and partners, especially the European Liberal Forum, for making this year’s Liberal Partnership Days another successful platform for liberal dialogue, collaboration and change-making.
