Group Structure

Founded as the Christian Democrat Group on 23 June 1953 as a fraction in the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community, the Group changed its name to the "Group of the European People's Party" (Christian-Democratic Group) in July 1979, just after the first direct elections to the European Parliament, and to "Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats" in July 1999. It has always played a leading role in the construction of Europe.

Description

With 288 Members the EPP-ED Group is by far the largest political Group in the European Parliament and the only political grouping with MEPs from all 27 Member States. Its membership is made up of:

	49		Germany
	27		United Kingdom
	24		Italy
	24		Spain
	18		France
	18		Romania
	15		Poland
	14		Czech Republic
	13		Hungary
	11		Greece
	9		Portugal
	8		Slovakia
	7		Netherlands
	6		Austria
	6		Belgium
	6		Sweden
	5		Bulgaria
	5		Ireland
	4		Finland
	4		Slovenia
	3		Cyprus
	3		Latvia
	3		Luxembourg
	2		Lithuania
	2		Malta
	1		Denmark
	1		Estonia

The Bureau
The Bureau, the Group's political organ, consists of:
	The Presidency
	Heads of national delegations
	The President and Vice-Presidents of Parliament belonging to the Group
	Chairmen of parliamentary committees
	Coordinators in the parliamentary committees
	The Chairman and the Secretary-General of the European People's Party if they are members of the European Parliament
	One co-opted Member for every 10 Members of a national delegation

	The Quaestors of Parliament belonging to the Group
	The Chairmen of the five working groups
	Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of parliamentary committees
	Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of interparliamentary delegations
	Coordinators and Vice-Coordinators in the parliamentary committees
	Secretariat of the Group

	6th parliamentary term 2004-2009 (Mid-term review)
	5th parliamentary term 1999-2004