The European Liaison Committee (formed in 1979) was the Party's principal European committee and existed to coordinate the various branches of the Party which were active on European matters. Its primary function was to smooth the development of relations between the potentially divergent sections of the Party on Europe, following the first direct elections to the European Parliament. It was chaired by the Party Chairman and attended by the Foreign Secretary, Chairman of the International Office, representatives of the National Union, and Central Office staff from the International Office and Organisation Department.