About: European People's Party
Expelled Greek MEP asks EPP not to take position in his row with Athens
Giorgos Kyrtsos, a centre-right EU lawmaker who was recently expelled from the ruling New Democracy party, has sent a letter to EPP group leader Manfred Weber asking him to stay neutral in his row with the government in Athens.
EPP chief: Greens in new ‘pro-Europe’ coalition could find EU reforms problematic
Germany's new three-party government will have to back key EU reforms even if these do not align with its values. According to EPP chairman Manfred Weber, the issue of arms exports, in particular, will likely be controversial. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EPP bureau meets in Berlin as German election upheaval looms
Held in Berlin, the European People's Party (EPP) bureau meeting was unusually tense this year as the European Parliament’s largest political party risks losing control of the EU’s largest state, Germany.
French right, Greens join forces on EU carbon border levy
The European Parliament has finally voted to maintain free CO2 allowances. This has provoked outrage among some European People's Party (EPP) MEPs, particularly from the French Republican party, who, together with the Greens, have sided against the amendment. EURACTIV France reports.
Greek official: Rule of law discussion is ‘bigger than the EPP’
Hungary and Poland's opposition to Brussels' oversight of the rule of law and their vetoes over the long-term EU budget and the coronavirus recovery fund are symptomatic of bigger problems in the EU that go beyond the divisions within the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), a Greek government official told EURACTIV.
EU lawmakers set to open door for recovery funds to support fossil gas
On Monday (9 November), MEPs in the economic affairs and budgetary committees will vote on the EU's recovery fund package, but the ban on spending funds on fossil fuels, suggested by the environment committee, will not be in the final agreement.
MEPs call for ad hoc panel to restore trust between lawmakers and wine sector
The European Parliament's agriculture committee (COMAGRI) has made the creation of a high-level group to discuss the post-COVID-19 wine sector one of the conditions for lifting its veto on the Commission's aid package for fruit and vegetable producers.
EPP coup: Orbán sends angry memo to party leadership
Viktor Orbán, Hungary's strongman and prime minister, called for an “internal debate on the future mission of the EPP" in a memorandum sent to the leadership of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), whose dominance has receded following the May European elections.
MEP Axel Voss publishes EU digital manifesto, warns of EU’s ‘digital dependency’
Conservative German MEP Axel Voss, also known as the father of the controversial copyright reform, has published a manifesto on European digital policy in which he warns that Europe should not become a "digital colony" of other powers. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Manfred Weber’s fall from grace: What now for the failed Spitzenkandidat?
Manfred Weber, the former German Spitzenkandidat for the European People's Party (EPP), has been on the defensive ever since his bid for the EU Commission presidency failed after the European elections in May. EURACTIV's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Von der Leyen endures day of grilling by MEPs ahead of confirmation vote
German nominee for Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, continued her charm offensive with European political families on Wednesday (10 July), as MEPs tried hard to pin her down on climate protection, rule of law and reform of the bloc's institutional structures.
Traditional French parties experience defeat
The two main political groups in the European Parliament are losing ground but will remain the powerhouses in the new assembly. However, the traditional political forces on both the right and the left collapsed in France during the European elections. EURACTIV France reports.
Manfred Weber, a late convert to environmentalism
Despite his Christian convictions, the lead candidate for the European People’s Party (EPP) at this week’s EU elections has remained remarkably silent on defining environmental issues such as climate change before suddenly changing gear at the end of his campaign.
Manfred Weber: ‘Environmental issues are one of my areas of expertise’
The lead candidate for the centre-right in this week’s European elections says “Europe must move towards net-zero emissions by 2050,” voicing his belief in innovation and new technologies to drive the decarbonisation agenda if he becomes the next president of the European Commission.
Why Manfred Weber will probably not be elected
It is unlikely that Manfred Weber will become President of the European Commission. This is also because Germany often acts as a 'blocker'. Gerd Appenzeller, from EURACTIV's partner Der Tagesspiegel, gives his opinion.
Orban in fresh anti-EU swipe after European suspension
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán again lashed out at “Brussels bureaucrats” Sunday (24 March), days after reaching a compromise with conservative allies in the European Parliament who were angered by an anti-EU billboard campaign. During a public radio interview Orbán accused the...
European Greens set conditions on EPP candidate Manfred Weber
The European Greens launched their electoral campaign on Wednesday (6 March) and set conditions for the European People’s Party (EPP) top candidate Manfred Weber, saying they would not be willing to talk to him "if he prefers leaning to the right".
German EU veteran Brok slips off list for European elections
The CDU party in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has withdrawn support for its longest-serving MEP, Elmar Brok, who slipped off its list of candidates for the European elections in May after 39 years in the European Parliament. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Austria in starting blocks for European elections campaign
The European elections campaign began just one day after the end of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with a special guest. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Spitzenkandidat picks: Manfred Weber, EPP
With no real debating at the big debate, the EPP's Helsinki Congress picked their Spitzenkandidat contender for the European elections. EURACTIV takes a closer look at the party's new old face, Manfred Weber.
Weber wins EPP Spitzenkandidat in landslide victory
German Manfred Weber was crowned Spitzenkandidat of the EPP, the European Parliament's largest party, on Thursday (8 November), after he swept to victory in a contest that saw ex-Finnish Prime minister Alexander Stubb win only 20% of the votes.
EU candidate Alex Stubb calls for net-zero carbon by 2045
Should he be picked as the European People's Party (EPP) lead candidate for the European Commission’s top job, Alexander Stubb vows to “work towards a carbon neutral Europe by 2045”. EURACTIV's media partner Climate Home News reports.
Stubb: Public support is one thing, casting votes another
Alexander Stubb, one of the EPP's two candidates to be the next European Commission president, has urged Greek and Cypriot conservatives to remember how he handled the financial crisis and make an “educated and personal” choice at the party’s congress next month.