European People's Party Group
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox European Parliament group
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.<ref name="Staab2011">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Thomson2011">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Ayd?n-Düzgit2012">Template:Cite book</ref> The EPP Group comprises politicians of Christian democratic, conservative and liberal-conservative orientation.<ref name="PetersonShackleton2012">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Puig2008">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Thorlakson2013">Template:Cite book</ref>
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
[edit]The Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community (the predecessor of the present day European Parliament) first met on 10 September 1952<ref name="ENA9892">Template:Cite web</ref> and the first Christian Democratic Group was unofficially formed the next day, with Maan Sassen as president.<ref name="EPP-EDChronology02">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="inghistsassen">Template:Cite web</ref> The group held 38 of the 78 seats, two short of an absolute majority.<ref name="EPP-EDChronology02"/><ref name="EPP-EDIntegration">Template:Cite web</ref> On 16 June 1953, the Common Assembly passed a resolution<ref name="ena4523">Common Assembly Resolution (16 June 1953) in Journal officiel de la CECA, 21 July 1953, S. 155 Template:Webarchive</ref> enabling the official formation of political groups; further, on 23 June 1953 the constituent declaration<ref name="ena9842">Template:Cite web</ref> of the group was published and the group was officially formed.<ref name="EPP-EDChronology02"/><ref name="EPP-EDIntegration"/>
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.<ref name="EPPmartens_en">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="EPPmartens_en"/>
This policy led to Greek New Democracy and Spanish People's Party MEPs joining the EPP Group.<ref name="EPPmartens_en"/> 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.<ref name="EPPmartens_en"/> 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 Template: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,<ref name="BBC5169268">Template:Cite news</ref> 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)
[edit]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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Primary source inline The two MEPs later joined a breakaway political party in the UK, The Independent Group.<ref name='bbc160419'>Template:Cite news</ref>
8th European Parliament (2014)
[edit]
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The suspension was applied only to the EPP but not to its group in the Parliament.<ref>Fidesz MEPs remain in the EPP for now Retrieved 27 January 2020.</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 18 March 2021, Fidesz decided to leave the European People's Party.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
9th European Parliament (2019)
[edit]In the 9th European Parliament, the EPP won 182 seats<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
10th European Parliament (2024)
[edit]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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 19 June, the group re-elected Manfred Weber as chairman of the group, and the 10 vice-chairpersons.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Membership at formation
[edit]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 |
|
<ref name="ENA9892"/><ref name="EPP-EDMemberList">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| France | 5 | Christian People's Party (Saar) | 2 | <ref name="ENA9892"/><ref name="EPP-EDMemberList"/> | |
| Republican People's Movement | 3 | <ref name="ENA9892"/><ref name="EPP-EDMemberList"/> | |||
| Germany | 8 | Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union |
7 | <ref name="ENA9892"/><ref name="EPP-EDMemberList"/> | |
| Federal Union Party | 1 | <ref name="ENA9892"/><ref name="EPP-EDMemberList"/> | |||
| Italy | 12 | Christian Democracy | 12 |
|
<ref name="ENA9892"/><ref name="EPP-EDMemberList"/> |
| Luxembourg | 2 | Christian Social People's Party | 2 |
|
<ref name="ENA9892"/><ref name="EPP-EDMemberList"/> |
| Netherlands | 6 | Anti-Revolutionary Party | 2 |
|
<ref name="ENA9892"/><ref name="EPP-EDMemberList"/> |
| Catholic People's Party | 3 |
|
<ref name="ENA9892"/><ref name="EPP-EDMemberList"/> | ||
| Christian Historical Union | 1 |
|
<ref name="ENA9892"/><ref name="EPP-EDMemberList"/> |
Structure
[edit]Organisation
[edit]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 | <ref name="EPPGroupLeadership">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| François-Xavier Bellamy | Vice-chair | <ref name="EPPGroupLeadership" /> |
| Andrzej Halicki | Vice-chair | <ref name="EPPGroupLeadership" /> |
| Jeroen Lenaers | Vice-chair | <ref name="EPPGroupLeadership" /> |
| Dolors Montserrat | Vice-chair | <ref name="EPPGroupLeadership" /> |
| Siegfried Mureșan | Vice-chair | <ref name="EPPGroupLeadership" /> |
| Lídia Pereira | Vice-chair | <ref name="EPPGroupLeadership" /> |
| Massimiliano Salini | Vice-chair | <ref name="EPPGroupLeadership" /> |
| Tomas Tobé | Vice-chair | <ref name="EPPGroupLeadership" /> |
| Romana Tomc | Vice-chair | <ref name="EPPGroupLeadership" /> |
| Željana Zovko | Vice-chair | <ref name="EPPGroupLeadership" /> |
The chairs of the group and its predecessors from 1952 to 2024 are as follows:
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MEPs
[edit]10th European Parliament
[edit]9th European Parliament
[edit]Former members
[edit]| Country | Party | European party | MEPs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:HUN | Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség (Fidesz) |
Template:Party color cell | None | Template:Composition bar |
| Template:NLD | 50PLUS (50+) | Template:Party color cell | None | Template:Composition bar |
7th and 8th European Parliament
[edit]Activities
[edit]In the news
[edit]Activities performed by the group in the period between June 2004 and June 2008 include monitoring elections in Palestine<ref name="EPPRESSNR20041208">Template:Cite web</ref> and Ukraine;<ref name="eu-parliament-group-demands-ukraine-election-observers">Template:Cite web</ref> encouraging transeuropean rail travel,<ref name="epp-ed-group-backs-eu-rail-shake-up">Template:Cite web</ref> telecoms deregulation,<ref name="epp-ed-backs-eu-telecoms-shake-up">Template:Cite web</ref> energy security,<ref name="EGOV10363">Template:Cite web</ref> a common energy policy,<ref name="ScoopS00580">Template:Cite web</ref> the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Union,<ref name="EC290906_en">Template:Cite web</ref> partial reform of the CAP<ref name="EA112860">Template:Cite web</ref> and attempts to tackle illegal immigration;<ref name="MMON2582">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="MMON2912">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="MMON2257">Template:Cite web</ref> denouncing Russian involvement in South Ossetia;<ref name="epp-ed-chief-slams-russian-recognition-of-georgian-regions">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="meps-brok-and-karas-sent-to-georgia-to-report-on-developments">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="top-mep-brands-moscow-brutal-over-georgia">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="eu-aid-to-georgia-too-slow-says-mep">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="meps-call-on-eu-leaders-to-condemn-russian-intimidation">Template:Cite web</ref> supporting the Constitution Treaty<ref name="meps-call-for-eu-constitution-re-run-in-france">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="EA140105">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Forbes2081969">Template:Cite magazineTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> and the Lisbon Treaty;<ref name="meps-appeal-to-irish-to-back-eu-reform-treaty">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="meps-kosovo-and-lisbon-treaty-should-top-eu-agenda">Template:Cite web</ref> debating globalisation,<ref name="ScoopS00580"/><ref name="eu-debates-21st-century-globalisation">Template:Cite web</ref> relations with China,<ref name="PD6401313">Template:Cite web</ref> and Taiwan;<ref name="more-meps-call-for-taiwans-membership-of-un-agencies">Template:Cite web</ref> backing plans to outlaw Holocaust denial;<ref name="eu-plans-to-outlaw-holocaust-denial">Template:Cite web</ref> nominating Anna Politkovskaya for the 2007 Sakharov Prize;<ref name="EPPRESS20070906FCS10161">Template:Cite web</ref> expelling Daniel Hannan from the Group;<ref name="EA170049">Template:Cite web</ref> the discussion about whether ED MEPs should remain within EPP-ED or form a group of their own;<ref name="IOS407730">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="BBC5053682">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Times766719">Times article 766719Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> criticisms of the group's approach to tackling low turnout for the 2009 elections;<ref name="EA171155">Template:Cite web</ref> the group's use of the two-President arrangement;<ref name="DW1272316">Template:Cite web</ref> and the group's proposal to ban the Islamic Burka dress across the EU.
Parliamentary activity profile
[edit]
Template:Legend
The debates and votes in the European Parliament are tracked by its website<ref>Plenary sitting – Home Template:Webarchive. European Parliament. Retrieved 24 August 2013.</ref> 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
[edit]The group produces many publications, which can be found on its website.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]Template:European People's Party Template:EuroparlGroup Template:Authority control