European People's Party Group
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The European People's Party Group (EPP Group or simply EPP) is a political group of the European Parliament consisting of deputies (MEPs) from the member parties of the European People's Party (EPP). Sometimes it also includes independent MEPs and/or deputies from unaffiliated national parties.[1][2][3] The EPP Group comprises politicians of Christian democratic, conservative and liberal-conservative orientation.[4][5][6]
The 2024 EPP manifesto reflects these views. The opening paragraph for instance reflects conservatism used to distinguish Europeans as a people "defined by shared history, heritage, Judea-Christian roots, and diversity." [7] The manifesto refers to the history of christian democracy and the invention of the social market economy, as evidence of their commitment to Christian ethics & social teaching. Also linked is an article dedicated to the EPP view on social market economies, where they state "We believe our Christian democratic values are the strongest starting point for designing the future because they combine the best from conservative, liberal, and Christian-social ways of thinking."[8]
The European People's Party was officially founded as a European political party in 1976. However, the European People's Party Group in the European Parliament has existed in one form or another since June 1953, from the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community, making it one of the oldest European-level political groups. It has been the largest political group in the European Parliament since 1999.
History
The Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (the predecessor of the present day European Parliament) first met on 10 September 1952[9] and the first Christian Democratic Group was unofficially formed the next day, with Maan Sassen as president.[10][11] The group held 38 of the 78 seats, two short of an absolute majority.[10][12] On 16 June 1953, the Common Assembly passed a resolution[13] enabling the official formation of political groups; further, on 23 June 1953 the constituent declaration[14] of the group was published and the group was officially formed.[10][12]
The Christian Democrat group was the biggest group at formation, but as time wore on, it lost support and was the second-biggest group by the time of the 1979 elections. As the European Community expanded into the European Union, the dominant centre-right parties in the new member states were not necessarily Christian democratic, and the EPP (European People's Party, the pan-continental political party founded in 1976, to which all group members are now affiliated) feared being sidelined.[15] To counter this, the EPP expanded its remit to cover the centre-right regardless of tradition and pursued a policy of integrating liberal-conservative parties.[15]
This policy led to Greek New Democracy and Spanish People's Party MEPs joining the EPP Group.[15] The British Conservative Party and Danish Conservative People's Party tried to maintain a group of their own, named the European Democrats (ED), but lack of support and the problems inherent in maintaining a small group forced ED's collapse in the 1990s, and its members crossed the floor to join the EPP Group.[15] The parties of these MEPs also became full members of the EPP (with the exception of the British Conservative Party, which did not join) and this consolidation process of the European centre-right continued during the 1990s with the acquisition of members from the Italian party Script error: No such module "Lang".. However, the consolidation was not unalloyed and a split emerged with the Eurosceptic MEPs who congregated in a subgroup within the Group, also called the European Democrats (ED).
Nevertheless, the consolidation held through the 1990s, assisted by the group being renamed the European People's Party – European Democrats (EPP-ED) Group; after the 1999 European elections, the EPP-ED reclaimed its position as the largest group in the Parliament from the Party of European Socialists (PES) Group.
Size was not enough, however: the group did not have a majority. It continued therefore to engage in the Grand Coalition (a coalition with the PES Group, or occasionally the Liberals) to generate the majorities required by the cooperation procedure under the Single European Act.
Meanwhile, the parties in the European Democrats subgroup were growing restless, with the establishment in July 2006 of the Movement for European Reform,[16] and finally left following the 2009 elections, when the Czech Civic Democratic Party and British Conservative Party formed their own right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) group on 22 June 2009, abolishing the European Democrats subgroup from that date. The EPP-ED Group reverted to its original name – the EPP Group – immediately.
7th European Parliament (2009)
In the 7th European Parliament, the EPP Group remained the largest parliamentary group with 275 MEPs. It is currently the only political group in the European parliament to fully represent its corresponding European political party, i.e. the European People's Party. The United Kingdom was the only member state to not be represented in the group; this state of affairs ceased temporarily on 28 February 2018, when two MEPs suspended from the British Conservative Party left the ECR Group and joined the EPP.[17]Template:Primary source inline The two MEPs later joined a breakaway political party in the UK, The Independent Group.[18]
8th European Parliament (2014)
After twelve member parties in the EPP called for Hungary's Fidesz's expulsion or suspension, Fidesz's membership was suspended with a common agreement on 20 March 2019.[19][20] The suspension was applied only to the EPP but not to its group in the Parliament.[21] On 3 March 2021, Fidesz decided to leave the EPP group, after the group's new rules, however still kept their membership in the party.[22][23] On 18 March 2021, Fidesz decided to leave the European People's Party.[24]
9th European Parliament (2019)
In the 9th European Parliament, the EPP won 182 seats[25] out of a total of 751. They formed a coalition with Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and Renew Europe to elect Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission.[26]
10th European Parliament (2024)
On June 18, 6 new parties joined the group, including the Hungarian Respect and Freedom Party (TISZA) and their 7 MEPs, the Dutch Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB) and Czech Mayors and Independents (STAN), each with 2 MEPs, as well as the Danish Liberal Alliance, Dutch New Social Contract (NSC), and the German Family Party, each with 1 MEP. Combined, the group expanded by 14 MEPs.[27]
Later that day, the Hungarian Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP) announced their departure from the EPP Group, due to the admission of the Tisza Party.[28][29][30]
On 19 June, the group re-elected Manfred Weber as chairman of the group, and the 10 vice-chairpersons.[31]
Membership at formation
The 38 members in the group on 11 September 1952 were as follows:
Member state |
MEPs |
Party |
MEPs |
Notes |
Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 5 | Christian Social Party | 5 |
|
[9][32] |
| France | 5 | Christian People's Party (Saar) | 2 | [9][32] | |
| Republican People's Movement | 3 | [9][32] | |||
| Germany | 8 | Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union |
7 | [9][32] | |
| Federal Union Party | 1 | [9][32] | |||
| Italy | 12 | Christian Democracy | 12 |
|
[9][32] |
| Luxembourg | 2 | Christian Social People's Party | 2 |
|
[9][32] |
| Netherlands | 6 | Anti-Revolutionary Party | 2 |
|
[9][32] |
| Catholic People's Party | 3 |
|
[9][32] | ||
| Christian Historical Union | 1 |
|
[9][32] |
Structure
Organisation
The EPP Group is governed by a collective (referred to as the Presidency) that allocates tasks. The Presidency consists of the Group Chair and a maximum of ten Vice-Chairs, including the Treasurer. The day-to-day running of the EPP Group is performed by its secretariat in the European Parliament, led by its Secretary-General. The Group runs its own think-tank, the European Ideas Network, which brings together opinion-formers from across Europe to discuss issues facing the European Union from a centre-right perspective.
The EPP Group Presidency includes:
| Name | Position | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Manfred Weber | Chair | [33] |
| François-Xavier Bellamy | Vice-chair | [33] |
| Andrzej Halicki | Vice-chair | [33] |
| Jeroen Lenaers | Vice-chair | [33] |
| Dolors Montserrat | Vice-chair | [33] |
| Siegfried Mureșan | Vice-chair | [33] |
| Lídia Pereira | Vice-chair | [33] |
| Massimiliano Salini | Vice-chair | [33] |
| Tomas Tobé | Vice-chair | [33] |
| Romana Tomc | Vice-chair | [33] |
| Željana Zovko | Vice-chair | [33] |
The chairs of the group and its predecessors from 1952 to 2024 are as follows:
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MEPs
10th European Parliament
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9th European Parliament
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Former members
| Country | Party | European party | MEPs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség (Fidesz) |
Template:Party color cell | None | Template:Composition bar |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | 50PLUS (50+) | Template:Party color cell | None | Template:Composition bar |
7th and 8th European Parliament
| Country | Names | Names (English) | MEPs 2009–14 | MEPs 2014–19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Austrian People's Party | 6 | Decrease 5 |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Template:Langx | Christian Democratic and Flemish | 3 | Decrease 2 |
| Template:Langx | Humanist Democratic Centre | 1 | Steady 1 | |
| Template:Langx | Christian Social Party | 1 | Steady 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". (Script error: No such module "Lang".) |
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria | 5 | Increase 6 |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". (Script error: No such module "Lang".) |
Union of Democratic Forces | 1 | Decrease 0 | |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". (Script error: No such module "Lang".) |
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria | 1 | Steady 1 | |
| Template:CRO | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Croatian Democratic Union | 4 | Steady 4 |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Croatian Peasant Party | 1 | Steady 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Template:Langx (Script error: No such module "Lang".) |
Democratic Rally | 2 | Decrease 1 |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party | 2 | Increase 3 |
| TOP 09 | TOP 09 | — | Increase 3 | |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Mayors and Independents[37] | — | Increase 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Conservative People's Party | 1 | Steady 1 |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Pro Patria | 1 | Steady 1 |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | National Coalition Party | 3 | Steady 3 |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Christian Democrats | 1 | Decrease 0 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | The Republicans | 27 | Decrease 18 |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Union of Democrats and Independents | 6 | Decrease 0 | |
| — | Independent | — | Increase 2 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Christian Democratic Union | 34 | Decrease 29 |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Christian Social Union of Bavaria | 8 | Decrease 5 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". (Script error: No such module "Lang".) |
New Democracy | 7 | Decrease 5 |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Christian Democratic People's Party | 1 | Steady 1 |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Fine Gael | 4 | Steady 4 |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Forza Italia | 19 | Decrease 12 |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Popular Alternative | — | Increase 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Union of the Centre | 6 | Decrease 1 | |
| Template:Langx | South Tyrolean People's Party | 1 | Steady 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Unity | 4 | Steady 4 |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats | 4 | Decrease 2 |
| — | Independent | — | Increase 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Template:Langx Template:Langx Template:Langx |
Christian Social People's Party | 3 | Steady 3 |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Nationalist Party | 2 | Increase 3 |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Christian Democratic Appeal | 5 | Steady 5 |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Civic Platform | 25 | Decrease 18 |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Polish People's Party | 4 | Steady 4 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Social Democratic Party | 8 | Decrease 6 |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Democratic and Social Centre – People's Party | 2 | Decrease 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | National Liberal Party | 12 | Decrease 8 |
| Template:Langx Template:Langx |
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania | 3 | Decrease 2 | |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | People's Movement Party | — | — | |
| — | Independent | — | Increase 2 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Christian Democratic Movement | 2 | Increase 3 |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Party of the Hungarian Community | 2 | Decrease 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Most–Híd | — | Increase 1 | |
| — | Independent | — | Increase 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Slovenian Democratic Party | 3 | Steady 3 |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | New Slovenia – Christian People's Party | 1 | Steady 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Slovenian People's Party | — | Increase 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Template:Langx | People's Party | 24 | Decrease 16 |
| — | Independent | — | Increase 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Script error: No such module "Lang". | Moderate Party | 4 | Decrease 3 |
| Script error: No such module "Lang". | Christian Democrats | 1 | Steady 1 | |
| Script error: No such module "flag". | Change UK | Change UK (defection from Conservative Party/ECR)[38] | 0 | Increase 1 |
| — | Renew Party (defection from Conservative Party/ECR)[39] | 0 | Increase 1 | |
| Total | 274 | 219 | ||
Activities
In the news
Activities performed by the group in the period between June 2004 and June 2008 include monitoring elections in Palestine[40] and Ukraine;[41] encouraging transeuropean rail travel,[42] telecoms deregulation,[43] energy security,[44] a common energy policy,[45] the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Union,[46] partial reform of the CAP[47] and attempts to tackle illegal immigration;[48][49][50] denouncing Russian involvement in South Ossetia;[51][52][53][54][55] supporting the Constitution Treaty[56][57][58] and the Lisbon Treaty;[59][60] debating globalisation,[45][61] relations with China,[62] and Taiwan;[63] backing plans to outlaw Holocaust denial;[64] nominating Anna Politkovskaya for the 2007 Sakharov Prize;[65] expelling Daniel Hannan from the Group;[66] the discussion about whether ED MEPs should remain within EPP-ED or form a group of their own;[67][68][69] criticisms of the group's approach to tackling low turnout for the 2009 elections;[70] the group's use of the two-President arrangement;[71] and the group's proposal to ban the Islamic Burka dress across the EU.
Parliamentary activity profile
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The debates and votes in the European Parliament are tracked by its website[72] and categorised by the groups that participate in them and the rule of procedure that they fall into. The results give a profile for each group by category and the total indicates the group's level of participation in Parliamentary debates. The activity profile for each group for the period 1 August 2004 to 1 August 2008 in the Sixth Parliament is given on the diagram on the right. The group is denoted in blue.
Publications
The group produces many publications, which can be found on its website.[73]
See also
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Notes
References
External links
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