European People's Party

Last updated

European People's Party
President Manfred Weber (DE)
Secretary-General Thanasis Bakolas (GR)
Group leader Manfred Weber MEP (DE)
Founded8 July 1976 (1976-07-08)
Headquarters Rue du Commerce - Handelsstraat (Q69872011) 10,
1000 Brussels,
European Quarter, Belgium
Think tank Martens Centre
Student wing European Democrat Students
Youth wing Youth of the
European People's Party
Women's wingWomen of the
European People's Party
Ideology
Political position Centre-right
International affiliation
European Parliament group EPP Group
Colours
  •   Dark blue
  •   Selective yellow
  •   Sky blue (customary)
European Parliament
178 / 705
European Council
10 / 27
European Commission
11 / 27
European
Lower Houses
1,687 / 6,512
European
Upper Houses
463 / 1,507
Website
www.epp.eu OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The European People's Party (EPP) is a European political party with Christian-democratic, [4] liberal-conservative, [4] and conservative [5] [6] member parties. A transnational organisation, it is composed of other political parties. Founded by primarily Christian-democratic parties in 1976, it has since broadened its membership to include liberal-conservative parties and parties with other centre-right political perspectives. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] On 31 May 2022, the party elected as its President Manfred Weber, who was also EPP's Spitzenkandidat in 2019.

Contents

The EPP has been the largest party in the European Parliament since 1999 and in the European Council since 2002. It is also the largest party in the current European Commission. The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola are from the EPP. Many of the founding fathers of the European Union were also from parties that later formed the EPP. Outside the EU the party also controls a majority in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The EPP includes major centre-right parties such as the CDU/CSU of Germany, The Republicans of France, CD&V of Belgium, PNL of Romania, Fine Gael of Ireland, National Coalition Party of Finland, New Democracy of Greece, Forza Italia of Italy, the People's Party (PP) of Spain, the Civic Platform of Poland, the Social Democratic Party of Portugal and the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria.

History

Logo of European People's Party from 2005 to 2015 European People's Party (logo).svg
Logo of European People's Party from 2005 to 2015
President Manfred Weber, 2022 Rotterdam EPP Congress EPP Congress Rotterdam Weber.jpg
President Manfred Weber, 2022 Rotterdam EPP Congress
From left to right: Tindemans, Bukman and Santer, former presidents of the EPP Tindemans, Bukman, Santer.jpg
From left to right: Tindemans, Bukman and Santer, former presidents of the EPP
Bonn EPP Congress in 2009 Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP Congress Bonn (836).jpg
Bonn EPP Congress in 2009

According to its website, the EPP is "the family of the political centre-right, whose roots run deep in the history and civilisation of the European continent, and [which] has pioneered the European project from its inception". [11]

The EPP was founded in Luxembourg on 8 July 1976 on the initiative of Jean Seitlinger; Leo Tindemans, then Prime Minister of Belgium, who became the first President of the EPP; and Wilfried Martens, who later became both President of the EPP and Prime Minister of Belgium. It had been preceded by the Secretariat International des partis démocratiques d'inspiration chrétienne, founded in 1925, [12] the Nouvelles Equipes Internationales , founded in 1946 [13] (or 1948), [12] and the European Union of Christian Democrats, founded in 1965. [13]

In the late 1990s, the Finnish politician Sauli Niinistö negotiated the merger of the European Democrat Union (EDU), of which he was president, into the EPP. In October 2002, the EDU ceased its activities after being formally absorbed by the EPP at a special event in Estoril, Portugal. In recognition of his efforts, Niinistö was elected Honorary President of the EPP the same year.

The EPP has had seven Presidents:

No.ImageNameTenurePartyMember state
1 Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F050938-0028, Bonn, Tagung CDU-Bundesausschuss, Tindemans.jpg Leo Tindemans
(1922–2014)
1976–1985 CVP Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
2 Piet Bukman 1980 (1).jpg Piet Bukman
(1934–2022)
1985–1987 CDA Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
3 Jacques Santer.jpg Jacques Santer
(born 1937)
1987–1990 CSV Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg
4 Wilfried Martens.jpg Wilfried Martens
(1936–2013)
1990–2013
[Died]
CD&V Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
5 Joseph Daul par Claude Truong-Ngoc octobre 2013.jpg Joseph Daul
(born 1947)
2013–2019 The Republicans Flag of France.svg  France
6 EPP Summit, 24 March 2022, Brussels (51957155847) (cropped).jpg Donald Tusk
(born 1957)
2019–2022 Civic Platform Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
7 (Manfred Weber) Brexit debate - Manfred Weber (EPP, Germany) (48753411591) (cropped).jpg Manfred Weber
(born 1972)
2022– CSU Flag of Germany.svg  Germany


Platform and manifesto

Leo Varadkar, Angela Merkel and Jean-Claude Juncker at an EPP summit in June 2018 A23A6062 (42165595065).jpg
Leo Varadkar, Angela Merkel and Jean-Claude Juncker at an EPP summit in June 2018

Political manifesto and platform

During its Congress in Bucharest in 2012, the EPP updated its political platform after 20 years (since its Congress in Athens in 1992) and approved a political manifesto in which it summarised its main values and policies. [14] [ failed verification ]

The manifesto highlights:

The manifesto also describes the EPP's priorities for the EU, including:

Electoral manifesto

As a central part of its campaign for the European elections in 2009, the EPP approved its election manifesto at its Congress in Warsaw in April that year. The manifesto called for: [15]

At its Congress in Warsaw in 2009 the EPP endorsed Barroso for a second term as President of the Commission. Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP Congress Warsaw (869).jpg
At its Congress in Warsaw in 2009 the EPP endorsed Barroso for a second term as President of the Commission.

The Fidesz crisis

Concerns that the Hungarian ruling party Fidesz [note 1] and its leader Viktor Orbán were undermining the rule of law in Hungary caused a split in the EPP in the run-up of the 2019 European Parliament election. [19] On one hand, the EPP had been reluctant for years to address Fidesz's stance against the rule of law, expressed by the Article 7 proceedings of the European Parliament. On the other hand, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, a prominent EPP-member, stated "I believe his [Fidesz's] place is not in the European People's Party". [20] Orbán's campaigns targeting billionaire George Soros [21] and Jean-Claude Juncker [22] carried wide reverberations for Europe questioning the EPP's effort to install its lead candidate Manfred Weber as the next President of the European Commission. [23]

After years of deferring a decision about the Fidesz issue, [24] the EPP was eventually compelled to address the problem two months before the 2019 European elections, as 13 outraged member parties requested the Hungarian party's exclusion from the EPP due to its billboard campaign featuring Jean-Claude Juncker. 190 of the 193 EPP delegates supported the common agreement with Fidesz on 20 March 2019 to partially suspend its membership. According to it, Fidesz was "until further notice" excluded from EPP meetings and internal elections, but remained in the European People's Party Group of the European Parliament. Fidesz did not deliver on its earlier promise to leave the EPP in case of a penalty. [25]

In February 2020, the EPP extended the suspension of Fidesz indefinitely. [26]

On 2 April 2020, thirteen parties within the EPP issued a joint statement aimed at Donald Tusk, asking him to expunge Fidesz from the party. [27] Three days before this, the Hungarian Parliament had passed a law, declaring a state of emergency within Hungary, granting Prime Minister Viktor Orbán the right to rule by decree. [28]

On 3 March 2021, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that Fidesz would leave the EPP group after it changed its internal rules (to allow suspension and expulsion of multiple deputies and their groups), although Fidesz remained a suspended member of the EPP itself. [29] On 18 March 2021, Fidesz decided to leave the European People's Party. [30]

German investigation

In April 2023, Belgian police and German investigators carried out a raid at the EPP headquarters in Brussels as part of an investigation in Germany. [31]

Membership

Within the EPP there are three kinds of member organisations: full members, associate members and observers. Full members are parties from EU states. They have absolute rights to vote in all the EPP's organs and on all matters. Associate members have the same voting rights as full members except for matters concerning the EU's structure or policies. These associate members are parties from EU candidate countries and EFTA countries. Observer parties can participate in all the activities of the EPP, and attend the Congresses and Political Assemblies, but they do not have any voting rights.

Special status of "supporting member" is granted by the Presidency to individuals and associations. Although they do not have voting rights, they can be invited by the President to attend meetings of certain organs of the party.

Full member parties

CountryPartyAbbr.Lower house seatsUpper house SeatsStatus
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Austrian People's Party
Österreichische Volkspartei
ÖVP
71 / 183
22 / 61
Government
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Christian Democratic and Flemish
Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams
CD&V
12 / 150
5 / 60
Government
The Committed Ones
Les Engagés
LE
5 / 150
2 / 60
Opposition
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria
Граждани за европейско развитие на България
Grazhdani za evropeĭsko razvitie na Bŭlgariya
GERB
59 / 240
Government
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria
Демократи за силна България
Demokrati za silna Bălgarija
DSB
7 / 240
Government
Union of Democratic Forces
Съюз на демократичните сили
Sayuz na demokratichnite sili
SDS
2 / 240
Government
Movement "Bulgaria of the Citizens"
Движение „България на гражданите"
Dvizhenie „Bulgariya na grazhdanite"
BCM
0 / 240
Extra-parliamentary
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Croatian Democratic Union
Hrvatska demokratska zajednica
HDZ
62 / 151
Government
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus Democratic Rally
Δημοκρατικός Συναγερμός
Dimokratikós Sinagermós
DISY
17 / 56
Opposition
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party
Křesťanská a demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová
KDU–ČSL
23 / 200
12 / 81
Government
TOP 09 TOP 09
14 / 200
6 / 81
Government
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Conservative People's Party
Det Konservative Folkeparti
C
10 / 179
Opposition
Christian Democrats
Kristendemokraterne
KD
0 / 179
Extra-parliamentary
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Isamaa I
12 / 101
Opposition
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland National Coalition Party
Kansallinen Kokoomus
Samlingspartiet
KOK
48 / 200
Government
Christian Democrats
Kristillisdemokraatit
Kristdemokraterna
KD
5 / 200
Government
Flag of France.svg  France The Republicans
Les Républicains
LR
61 / 577
148 / 348
Opposition
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Christian Democratic Union of Germany
Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands
CDU
151 / 735
22 / 69
Opposition
Christian Social Union in Bavaria
Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern
CSU
45 / 735
4 / 69
Opposition
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece New Democracy
Νέα Δημοκρατία
Nea Dimokratia
ND
158 / 300
Government
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Christian Democratic People's Party
Kereszténydemokrata Néppárt
KDNP
17 / 199
Government
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Fine Gael FG
35 / 160
15 / 60
Government
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Forza Italia FI
45 / 400
18 / 200
Government
South Tyrolean People's Party
Südtiroler Volkspartei
SVP
3 / 400
2 / 200
Opposition
Union of the Centre
Unione di Centro
UdC
1 / 400
1 / 200
Government
Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party
Partito Autonomista Trentino Tirolese
PATT
0 / 400
0 / 200
Extra-parliamentary
Popular Alternative
Alternativa Popolare
AP
0 / 400
0 / 200
Extra-parliamentary
Populars for Italy
Popolari per l'Italia
PpI
0 / 400
0 / 200
Extra-parliamentary
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Unity
Vienotība
V
23 / 100
Government
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats
Tėvynės sąjunga – Lietuvos krikščionys demokratai
TS-LKD
50 / 141
Government
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Christian Social People's Party
Chrëschtlech Sozial Vollekspartei
Parti populaire chrétien social
Christlich Soziale Volkspartei
CSV/PCS
21 / 60
Government
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta Nationalist Party
Partit Nazzjonalista
PN
35 / 79
Opposition
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Christian Democratic Appeal
Christen-Democratisch Appèl
CDA
14 / 150
6 / 75
TBD (Election)
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Civic Platform
Platforma Obywatelska
PO
127 / 460
41 / 100
Government
Polish People's Party
Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe
PSL
28 / 460
4 / 100
Government
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Social Democratic Party
Partido Social Democrata
PSD
77 / 230
Opposition
Democratic and Social Centre – People's Party
Centro Democrático e Social – Partido Popular
CDS-PP
0 / 230
Extra-parliamentary
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania National Liberal Party
Partidul Național Liberal
PNL
80 / 330
38 / 136
Government
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania
Romániai Magyar Demokrata Szövetség
Uniunea Democrată Maghiară din România
UDMR
20 / 330
9 / 136
Opposition
People's Movement Party
Partidul Mișcarea Populară
PMP
0 / 330
0 / 136
Extra-parliamentary
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia Christian Democratic Movement
Kresťanskodemokratické hnutie
KDH
12 / 150
Opposition
Democrats
Demokrati
D
0 / 150
Extra-parliamentary
Hungarian Alliance
Magyar Szövetség
Maďarská Aliancia
Ali
0 / 150
Extra-parliamentary
Slovakia
Slovensko
Slovensko
16 / 150
Opposition
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia Slovenian Democratic Party
Slovenska demokratska stranka
SDS
26 / 90
Opposition
Slovenian People's Party
Slovenska ljudska stranka
SLS
0 / 90
Extra-parliamentary
New Slovenia–Christian Democrats
Nova Slovenija – Krščanski demokrati
NSi
7 / 90
Opposition
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain People's Party
Partido Popular
PP
137 / 350
140 / 266
Opposition
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Moderate Party
Moderata samlingspartiet
M
68 / 349
Government
Christian Democrats
Kristdemokraterna
KD
19 / 349
Government

Associate members

Flag of Albania.svg  Albania

Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia

Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland

Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia

Flag of Norway.svg  Norway

Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia

Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland

Observer members

Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia

Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus

Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina

Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia

Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo

Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova

Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro

Flag of Norway.svg  Norway

Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino

Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine

Former members

Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia

Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus

Flag of France.svg  France

Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia

Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy

Flag of Romania.svg  Romania

Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia

Flag of Spain.svg  Spain

Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey

Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine

Governance

The EPP is governed by the EU Regulation No 1141/2014 on European Political Parties and European Political Foundations and its operations are supervised by the EU Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations.

Presidency

The Presidency is the executive body of the party. It decides on the general political guidelines of the EPP and presides over its Political Assembly. The Presidency is composed of the President, ten Vice-Presidents, the Honorary Presidents, the Secretary General and the Treasurer. The Chairperson of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, the Presidents of the Commission, the Parliament and the Council, and the High Representative (if they are a member of an EPP member party) are all ex officio Vice-Presidents.

President of the EPP Manfred Weber (Manfred Weber) Brexit debate - Manfred Weber (EPP, Germany) (48753411591) (cropped).jpg
President of the EPP Manfred Weber

As of 1 June 2022 the Presidency [38] of the EPP is (Vice Presidents in the order of votes received at the EPP Congress in Rotterdam):

EPP Political Assembly

The Political Assembly defines the political positions of the EPP between Congresses and decides on membership applications, political guidelines and the budget. The Political Assembly is composed of designated delegates from EPP member parties, associated parties, member associations, and other affiliated groups. The Political Assembly meets at least three times a year.

Congress

The Congress is the highest decision-making body of the EPP. It is composed of delegates from member parties, EPP associations, EPP Group MEPs, the EPP Presidency, national heads of party and government, and European Commissioners who belong to a member party, with the numbers of delegates being weighted according to the EPP's share of MEPs, and individual delegates being elected by member parties according to member parties' rules. [39]

Under the EPP's statutes, the Congress must meet once every three years, but it also meets normally during the years of elections for the European Parliament (every five years), and extraordinary Congresses have also been summoned. The Congress elects the EPP Presidency every three years, decides on the main policy documents and electoral programmes, and provides a platform for the EPP's heads of government and party leaders.

Activities within the party

Summit

EPP leaders meet for the EPP Summit a few hours before each meeting of the European Council in order to formulate common positions. Invitations are sent by the EPP President and attendees include, besides the members of the EPP's presidency, all Presidents and Prime Ministers who are members of the European Council and belong to the EPP; the Presidents of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council, as well as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, provided that they belong to the EPP; Deputy Prime Ministers or other ministers in those cases where the Prime Minister of a country does not belong to an EPP member party; and, where no EPP member party is part of a government, the leaders of the main EPP opposition party.

Reunion Picture at 2011 Summit EPP Summit March 2011 (65).jpg
Reunion Picture at 2011 Summit

Ministerial meetings

Following the pattern of the EPP Summit the party also organises regular EPP Ministerial meetings before each meeting of the Council of the European Union, with ministers, deputy ministers, secretaries of state and MEPs in the specific policy field attending:

Other activities

The EPP also organises working groups on different issues on an ad hoc basis, as well as meetings with its affiliated members in the European Commission. It also invites individual Commissioners to the EPP Summit meetings and to EPP Ministerial meetings.

Following amendments to the EU Regulation that governs europarties in 2007, the EPP, like the other European political parties, is responsible for organising a pan-European campaign for the European elections every five years. According to the Lisbon Treaty, the parties must present candidates for President of the European Commission, but the EPP had already done this by endorsing José Manuel Barroso for a second term in April 2009.

The year 2014 saw the first fully-fledged campaign of the EPP ahead of the European elections of that year. The party nominated former Luxembourgish Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker as its candidate for President of the European Commission and led a pan-European campaign in coordination with the national campaigns of all its member parties.

Activities within EU institutions

As of 1 December 2019, the EPP holds the Presidency of the European Commission with Ursula von der Leyen (CDU).

Overview of the Union's institutions

InstitutionNumber of seats
Flag of Europe.svg European Parliament
187 / 705
Flag of Europe.svg Committee of the Regions
125 / 350
Flag of Europe.svg European Commission
11 / 27
Flag of Europe.svg European Council
(Heads of State/Government)
10 / 27
Flag of Europe.svg Council of the European Union
(Ministers in State governments)
11 / 27

European Commission

Following EPP's victory in the 2019 European Parliament election, Ursula von der Leyen was nominated by the EPP as Commission President. She was endorsed by the European Council and elected by an absolute majority in the European Parliament. On 1 December 2019, the von der Leyen Commission officially took office. It includes 11 EPP officeholders out of 27 total Commissioners.

StateCommissionerPortfolioPolitical partyPortrait
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
Ursula von der Leyen President CDU (Ursula von der Leyen) 2019.07.16. Ursula von der Leyen presents her vision to MEPs 2 (cropped).jpg
Flag of Latvia.svg
Latvia
Valdis Dombrovskis Executive Vice President – An Economy that Works for the People, Trade Unity Valdis Dombrovskis 2009.jpg
Flag of Croatia.svg
Croatia
Dubravka Šuica Vice President – Democracy and Demography HDZ Hearing of Dubravka Suica (Croatia) - Democracy and demography (48838221291) (cropped).jpg
Flag of Greece.svg
Greece
Margaritis Schinas Vice President – Promoting the European Way of Life ND EPP Summit, Maastricht, October 2016 (30154973070) (cropped).jpg
Flag of Austria.svg
Austria
Johannes Hahn Commissioner for Budget and Administration ÖVP P060002-577174 (cropped).jpg
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Netherlands
Wopke Hoekstra European Commissioner for Climate Action CDA Wopke Hoekstra op bezoek op het ROC Mondriaan 02 (cropped).jpg
Flag of Ireland.svg
Ireland
Mairead McGuinness Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union FG Mairead McGuinness, Ireland-MIP-Europaparlament-by-Leila-Paul-2.jpg
Flag of Bulgaria.svg
Bulgaria
Iliana Ivanova Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth GERB Hearing of Iliana Ivanova at the European Parliament, 2023 (1).jpg
Flag of Cyprus.svg
Cyprus
Stella Kyriakides Commissioner for Health and Food Safety DISY Hearings Hearings Stella Kyriakides (Cyprus) - Health (48828012607) (cropped).jpg
Flag of Romania.svg
Romania
Adina-Ioana Vălean Commissioner for Transport PNL Hearing of Adina-Ioana Valean (Romania)- Commissioner Designate - European Green Deal (49063874993) (cropped).jpg
Flag of Hungary.svg
Hungary
Olivér Várhelyi Commissioner for Neighbourhood and EnlargementEPP

(Independent on the national level, but affiliated with EPP at the EU level)

Hearing of Oliver Varhelyi (Hungary) - Designate - Neighbourhood and Enlargement (49063520601) (cropped).jpg

European Parliament

The EPP has the largest group in the European Parliament: the EPP Group. It currently has 182 Members in the European Parliament and its chairman is the German MEP Manfred Weber.

In every election for the European Parliament candidates elected on lists of member parties of the EPP are obliged to join the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

The EPP Group holds five of the fourteen vice-presidencies of the European Parliament.

European Council

The EPP has 10 out of the 27 EU heads of state or government attending the EPP summit meetings in preparation of the European Council (as of December 2023):

Member stateRepresentativeTitlePolitical partyMember of the Council sincePortrait
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria Karl Nehammer Chancellor ÖVP 6 December 2021 2020 Karl Nehammer Ministerrat am 8.1.2020 (49351572787) (cropped).jpg
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Andrej Plenković Prime Minister HDZ 19 October 2016 Andrej Plenkovic 2017.jpg
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Petteri Orpo Prime Minister Kok. 20 June 2023 Petteri-Orpo-01 (cropped).jpg
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis Prime Minister ND 8 July 2019 Kyriakos Mitsotakis (cropped).jpg
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Leo Varadkar Prime Minister FG 17 December 2022 Leo Varadkar 2016.jpg
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Evika Siliņa Prime Minister Unity 15 September 2023 Evika Silina (2023-09-15, cropped).jpg
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Luc Frieden Prime Minister CSV 17 November 2023 CSV Luc-Frieden Profilbild (better crop).jpg
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Donald Tusk Prime Minister KO 13 December 2023 EPP Summit, 29 June, Brussels (53287183894) (cropped2).jpg
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Klaus Iohannis President PNL 21 December 2014 Klaus Iohannis Senate of Poland 2015 02 (cropped 2).JPG
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Ulf Kristersson Prime Minister M 18 October 2022 Ulf Kristersson January 2023.jpg

National legislatures

CountryInstitutionNumber of seats
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria National Council
Lower house
71 / 183
Federal Council
Upper house
22 / 61
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Chamber of Representatives
Lower house
17 / 150
Senate
Upper house
7 / 60
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria National Assembly
83 / 240
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia Sabor
62 / 151
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus House of Representatives
18 / 56
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic Chamber of Deputies
Lower house
70 / 200
Senate
Upper house
34 / 81
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark The Folketing
13 / 179
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia Riigikogu
12 / 101
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Parliament
38 / 200
Flag of France.svg  France National Assembly
Lower house
104 / 577
Senate
Upper house
148 / 348
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Bundestag
196 / 735
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece Parliament
158 / 300
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Országgyűlés
17 / 199
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Dáil
Lower house
35 / 160
Seanad
Upper house
15 / 60
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Chamber of Deputies
Lower house
88 / 630
Senate
Upper house
55 / 321
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia Saeima
23 / 100
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania Seimas
50 / 141
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies
21 / 60
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta House of Representatives
28 / 67
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands House of Representatives
Lower house
15 / 150
Senate
Upper house
9 / 75
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland Sejm
Lower house
129 / 460
Senate
Upper house
43 / 100
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Assembly of the Republic
84 / 230
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania Chamber of Deputies
Lower house
100 / 330
Senate
Upper house
47 / 136
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia National Council
53 / 150
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia National Assembly
33 / 90
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Congress of Deputies
Lower house
137 / 350
Senate
Upper house
144 / 266
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Riksdag
87 / 349

Activities beyond the European Union

In third countries

Through its associate and observer parties the EPP has five head of state or government in non-EU countries:

StateRepresentativesTitlePolitical partyIn power sincePortrait
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Aleksandar Vučić President SNS 31 May 2017 Aleksandar Vucic 2019 (cropped).jpg
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia Ana Brnabić Prime Minister SNS 29 June 2017 Ana Brnabic, July 3, 2018.jpg
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova Maia Sandu President PAS 24 December 2020 Maia Sandu at Batumi International Conference, on 19 July 2021 (cropped).jpg
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova Natalia Gavrilița Prime Minister PAS 6 August 2021 Natalia Gavrilita - jun 2019.jpg
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Krišto Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers HDZ BiH 25 January 2023 Borjana Kristo (2023-12-05) (1) (cropped).jpg
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Viola Amherd President DM 1 January 2024 Viola Amherd (2024, cropped).jpg

In the Council of Europe

The Group of the EPP in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe defends freedom of expression and information, as well as freedom of movement of ideas and religious tolerance. It promotes the principle of subsidiarity and local autonomy, as well as the defence of national, social, and other minorities. The EPP/CD Group is led by Aleksander Pociej, a member of the Polish Civic Platform.

The EPP/CD group also includes members from parties that are not related to the EPP itself, including members of the Patriotic Union (Liechtenstein), the Progressive Citizens' Party (Liechtenstein), and the National and Democratic Union (Monaco). [41]

In the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

The "EPP and like-minded Group" in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the most active political group in that body. The Group meets regularly and promotes the EPP's positions. The members of the EPP Group also participate in the election-monitoring missions of the OSCE.

The Group is chaired by Walburga Habsburg Douglas (Sweden), and its Vice-Presidents are Consiglio Di Nino (Canada), Vilija Aleknaitė Abramikiene (Lithuania), Laura Allegrini (Italy), and George Tsereteli (Georgia).

The Group also includes members of parties not related to the EPP, accounting for the "like-minded" part of its name. Among them are members of the Patriotic Union (Liechtenstein), the Union for the Principality (Monaco), the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom, the Conservative Party of Canada, and the Republican Party of the United States.

In the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

The EPP is also present and active in the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and forms the "EPP and Associated Members" Group there. It is led by the German CDU politician Karl Lamers, who is also the current President of the Assembly. The Group also included members of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Republican Party of the United States, but now they are members of the Conservative Group

From left to right: Lopez-Isturiz, McCain & Martens Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP in the USA (26).jpg
From left to right: López-Istúriz, McCain & Martens

Relations with the United States

The EPP has close relations with the International Republican Institute (IRI), an organisation funded by the U.S. government especially to promote democracy and democratisation. The EPP and the IRI cooperate within the framework of the European Partnership Initiative. [42]

The EPP's late President, Wilfried Martens, endorsed Senator John McCain, the Republican nominee for president, in the presidential election in 2008. [43] McCain was also Chairman of the IRI. In 2011 Martens and McCain made joint press statements expressing their concern about the state of democracy in Ukraine. [44] [45]

Global networks

The EPP is the European wing of two global centre-right organisations, the International Democracy Union (IDU) and the Centrist Democrat International (CDI).

Martens Centre

Following the revision in 2007 of the EU Regulation that governs European political parties, allowing the creation of European foundations affiliated to Europarties, the EPP established in the same year its official foundation/think tank, the Centre for European Studies (CES), which was later renamed as the Martens Centre. It includes as members all the major national think tanks and foundations affiliated to EPP member parties: the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (CDU), the Hanns Seidel Foundation (CSU), the Foundation for Analysis and Social Studies (PP), the Constantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy (ND), the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation (MOD), the Political Academy of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and others. During the European Parliament election campaign in 2009, the Centre launched a web-based campaign module, tellbarroso.eu, to support Jose Manuel Barroso, the EPP's candidate for re-election as Commission President.

In 2014, to honour Wilfried Martens – the late President of the EPP who also founded the CES – changed its name to Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies or simply Martens Centre.

The current President of the Martens Centre is former Slovak Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda.

The Budapest-based Robert Schuman Institute and the Luxembourg-based Robert Schuman Foundation are also affiliated with the European People's Party.[ citation needed ]

EPP associations

The EPP is linked to several specific associations that focus on specific groups and organise seminars, forums, publications, and other activities.

Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Europe (SME Europe)

SME Europe is the official business organisation of the EPP and serves as a network for pro-business politicians and political organisations. Its main objective is to shape EU policy in a more SME-friendly way in close cooperation with the SME Circle of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, the DG Enterprise and the pro-business organisations of the EPP's member parties. Its top priorities are to reform the legal framework for SMEs all over Europe and to promote and support the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises. SME Europe was founded in May 2012 by three Members of the European Parliament, Paul Rübig, Nadezhda Neynsky, and Bendt Bendtsen.

European Democrat Students

European Democrat Students (EDS) is now the official students' organisation of the EPP, though it was founded in 1961, 15 years before the EPP itself. Led by Virgilio Falco, EDS has 40 member organisations, representing nearly 1,600,000 students and young people [46] in 31 countries, including Belarus and Georgia. Every year EDS hosts Summer and Winter "universities", and several seminars. It also regularly publishes a magazine, Bullseye, and organises topical campaigns.

European Seniors' Union

Founded in Madrid in 1995 and led by An Hermans of the CD&V, the European Seniors' Union (ESU) is the largest political senior citizens' organisation in Europe. The ESU is represented in 27 countries with 34 organisations and about 500.000 members.

European Union of Christian Democratic Workers

The European Union of Christian Democratic Workers (EUCDW) is the labour organisation of the EPP, with 24 member organisations in 18 countries. As the officially recognised EPP association of workers, the EUCDW is led by Elmar Brok, MEP. It aims at the political unification of a democratic Europe, the development of the EPP based on Christian social teaching, and the defence of workers' interests in European policy-making.

Women of the European People's Party

The Women of the European People's Party (EPP Women) is recognised by the EPP as the official association of women from all like-minded political parties of Europe. EPP Women has more than 40 member organisations from countries of the European Union and beyond. All of them are women's organisations of political parties that are members of the EPP. EPP Women is led by Doris Pack.

Youth of the European People's Party

The Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP), led by Lídia Pereira, is the EPP's official youth organisation. It has 64 member organisations, bringing together between one and two million young people in 40 countries.

Notes

  1. Formally Fidesz is part of a coalition government, together with the KDNP. However, the KDNP is often accused of being in practice no more than a satellite party of Fidesz. [16] [17] [18]

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