How we work
back to previous pageWith the EPP Party
A large majority of the parties in the EPP Group belong to the European People's Party (EPP), the first political party ever formed at European level. The EPP party brings together national, centre and centre-right pro-European parties from the EU Members states and neighbouring countries. All of the parties in the EPP espouse centrist pro-European policies; some of them have traditionally lent more towards Christian Democracy, whereas in others the liberal and centrist wing is strongest.
Where the Party exists independently of the European Parliament, the EPP Group in the European parliament unites the Members of the EPP who were elected on behalf of the EPP national parties.
The EPP Group plays an active role in all EPP bodies. The current President of the European People's Party, Wilfried Martens, was chairman of the EPP Group during the 1994-99 parliamentary term.
Prior to each meeting of the European Council - the European summit attended by the heads of government of the 27 EU Member States - the Chairmen of the parties belonging to the EPP meet at an 'EPP summit' to bring their respective views more closely in line, in preparation for the talks on the items on the Council agenda. These meetings take place at least twice a year. The EPP currently has a majority in the European Council, as most EU Heads of State belong to the Party.
The European People's Party is also a leading political group in other European forums, namely the Committee of the Regions, the Council of Europe, the Western European Union (WEU) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
