The Liberal South East European Network (LIBSEEN) was founded in 2008 in Ljubljana as an initiative to gather liberal political parties in the region and contribute to the development of the region by implementing liberal policies in the political systems of these countries. Vesna Pusić was elected the first chairwoman of the organisation on a conference in Skopje in 2008. The network plans to wor
k on solving the social, political and ecological problems of the region. An important goal is to develop a multinational dialogue, an inter-religious dialogue and respect for human rights. All this has been a great burden for the region for centuries and cause of many conflicts. One of the main goals of the network is the EU membership of all countries in this region which would mean a final integration of Europe. LIBSEEN gathers political parties, think thanks and nongovernmental organisations which share the liberal ideology. LIBSEEN gathers organisations from Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Romania with prospects of expanding to countries such as Albania, Greece and Turkey. Liberal parties in the Balkans have an especially important role in championing individual freedoms in a region. Liberal parties have served in government, particularly in such countries as Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia and Romania that have seen quicker European integration, a more robust economic growth and faster development as compared to their neighbors. As the countries of the region move slowly toward joining the EU as full-fledged democracies, these nations wrestle with the demons of past ethnic wars along with present-day challenges of corruption, unemployment and other ills. Among the many efforts dedicated to readying Balkan governments, civil society and the private sector for the rigors of EU membership and other Euro-Atlantic alliances, few have focused on democratic reforms needed to make the grade. And fewer still have addressed the role that political parties play in providing the vision, leadership and ideas that will deliver the region from its troubled past and move it on toward Europe. The lead political aim of the network is the full integration of its member countries into the European Union including Turkey.
