Following the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the European People's Party (EPP), the Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and the EPP foreign policy coordinator Elmar Brok MEP made the following statement on Egypt:

The President of the European People's Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens congratulated today Aníbal Cavaco Silva for his sweeping victory in yesterday's presidential elections in Portugal. Cavaco Silva was supported by the PSD and CDS-PP, both member-parties of the EPP. President Cavaco Silva won 52.9 percent of the votes; PS candidate Manuel Alegre received only 19.7 percent of the votes:

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, congratulated the Prime Minister of Moldova and PLDM President Vlad Filat, as well as his new government, for receiving today a vote of confidence in the Moldovan parliament:

The Vice President of the European People’s Party (EPP) and Finnish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen welcomed today the launch of the ‘European Semester’, which will coordinate economic and budgetary policies across the EU:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, met earlier today with Belarusian opposition leader Aliaksandr Milinkevic and discussed ways which Europe should respond to the post-election crackdown of Belarusian authorities on opposition leaders and protesters:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, warmly welcomed Hungary and its Prime Minister and EPP Vice President, Viktor Orbán, for the start of the Hungarian Presidency of the European Union (EU):

The President of the European People's Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens, congratulated today Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny for his sweeping victory in Ireland's parliamentary elections. Fine Gael scored 36.1% of the first preference vote and is expected to win at least 76 seats. Fine Gael (FG) is a founding party of the EPP and FG leader Enda Kenny is a two-term Vice President of the EPP.

At the invitation of Jyrki KATAINEN - Kokoomus leader, Deputy Prime Minister of Finland, and Vice President of the European People's Party (EPP) - a special Summit of EU heads of state and government of the EPP, will take place in Helsinki on 4 March 2011. On the agenda will be the preparation of the 11 March Eurozone Summit.

The EPP adopted a position paper on EU-Russia relations. This paper was approved by the EPP Foreign Ministers and then introduced to the Political Assembly by the EPP foreign policy coordinator and MEP Elmar Brok.

Following today’s successful meeting of the Ministers of Economy and Finance of the European People’s Party (EPP), Jyrki Katainen - EPP Vice President, Kokoomus leader and Deputy Prime Minister of Finland - has invited the Prime Ministers of the EPP to meet in Helsinki on March 4th. In Helsinki, the EPP Prime Ministers will prepare the Eurozone Summit of March 11th.

The Political Assembly of the European People’s Party (EPP) has decided unanimously to accept the Czech party TOP09 as a full member and the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM) as an observer member. EPP President Wilfried Martens welcomed the new members:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried MARTENS, welcomed this evening the conclusions of the European Council:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, made the following statement following the refusal of Ukrainian authorities to allow former Ukrainian Prime Minister and leader of Batkivshcyna, Yulia Tymoshenko, to travel to Brussels at the invitation of the EPP:

The President of the European People's Party (EPP) Wilfried MARTENS welcomed today's decisions on economic measures, taken by the European Council. The basis of these decisions were discussed at yesterday's EPP Summit in Meise (click here for photos) and also at the EPP Summit in Helsinki earlier this month:

On 24 March 2011, the President of the European People's Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens made the following statement on Ukraine:

EU and non-EU heads of state and government and opposition leaders of the European People's Party (EPP), along with the Presidents of the European Council, European Commission and the European Parliament - Herman VAN ROMPUY, José Manuel BAROSSO and Jerzy BUZEK – will meet tomorrow for the Summit of the Party, which will take place in Meise (Brussels). On the agenda will be the preparation of the European Council, scheduled for 24 and 25 March.

EU and non-EU heads of state and government and opposition leaders of the European People's Party (EPP), along with the Presidents of the European Council, European Commission and the European Parliament - Herman VAN ROMPUY, Jose Manuel BAROSSO and Jerzy BUZEK - have been invited to participate in the upcoming Summit of the Party, which will take place in Meise, Brussels, on 24 March 2011. On the agenda will be the preparation of the European Council, scheduled for 24 and 25 March.

The European People’s Party (EPP), founded in July 1976, is pleased to announce a competition for a logo design for the 35^th anniversary of the EPP.

The winning logo will be presented at the special EPP anniversary event in May 2011 in Brussels. The logo will be used on EPP website, and official publications throughout 2011.

The regular EPP Agriculture Ministers' meeting took place this morning prior, to the Council meeting. At the end of the EPP meeting, Austrian Minister Niki Berlakovich, Chairman of the EPP Ministerial group, stated the following:

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, was briefed yesterday by the President of the Democratic Rally of Cyprus (DISY), Nicos Anastasiades, on the weekend arrest of EPP MEPs, former MEP Yannakis Matsis, civilians, and clerics in occupied Famagusta, by Turkish military forces. The group was visiting abandoned churches and monuments. The MEPs and clerics have been released but former MEP Yannakis Matsis remains in detention:

The President of the European People's Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens welcomed today the agreement of Eurozone heads of state and government to set-up the 'Euro Pact' (click here for text). All the final elements of the Euro Pact will be decided at the meeting of the European Council on 24-25 of March, which will be preceded by an EPP Summit meeting on 24 March:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens congratulated today Fine Gael leader and EPP Vice President Enda Kenny for his election as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) in the 31st Dáil (parliament) by the biggest majority in the history of Ireland. In the 25 February elections, Fine Gael won 76 out of 166 seats and 36.1% of the vote and is now the senior coalition partner of the new Irish government. Fine Gael is a founding party of the EPP:

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, congratulated today Estonia's EPP member-party IRL and its leader Mart Laar for winning 20.5% of the vote and increasing its seats from 19 to 23. The Reform/IRL centre-right coalition won a total of 56 seats (out of 101):

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has warmly congratulated EPP member party Kokoomus and its leader Jyrki Katainen, for achieving a historic victory in yesterday’s elections. Kokoomus received 20.4% and 44 seats and secured 1st place for the first time in Finland’s parliamentary history. Jyrki Katainen, a two-term EPP Vice President and chairman of the EPP EcoFin Ministers group, will begin the difficult process of coalition talks with other parties in order to form the new government. Following the successful completion of coalition negotiations, Jyrki Katainen is expected to become EPP’s 16th Prime Minister in the European Union (EU):

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has welcomed the large backing the European Parliament gave today at its plenary session in Strasbourg to EPP Group MEP Marietta Giannakou’s report on EU level parties and their foundations (click here for details). Giannakou’s report, which received 560 votes in favor, 93 against and 22 abstentions calls for, among others, the creation of a legal personality based directly on EU law:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens today met with the Cardinal of Croatia and the Archbishop of Zagreb, Josip Bozanic, to discuss the accession negotiations to the European Union of the Republic of Croatia.

The arrest of war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic was welcomed by the President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens:

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, the spokesman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament on foreign affairs, Elmar Brok (CDU/DE), and the spokesman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament in the sub-committee on security and defence, Michael Gahler (CDU/DE), have strongly condemned the arrest of Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko:

Since the post-election crackdown of Belarusian authorities on opposition leaders, the European People’s Party (EPP) has been following closely the situation in Belarus and supporting the democratic opposition and the political prisoners.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, congratulated this morning the President of the Democratic Rally of Cyprus (DISY) Nicos Anastasiades for the great victory achieved by his party in yesterday’s parliamentary elections. DISY scored 1st place and received 34,3% of the vote and 20 out of 56 seats (up 3,8% and 2 seats from the 2006 elections).

The President of the European People's Party (EPP) and former Prime Minister of Belgium, Wilfried Martens, has expressed his sorrow for the passing away of former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland and Fine Gael leader Garret FitzGerald, who was 85 years old.

Today marks the anniversary of the historic Schuman declaration, the proposal by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, which laid the foundations for a united Europe. On this occasion, the European People’s Party (EPP) President Wilfried Martens referred to the ‘fusion of interest’ defended by Robert Schuman and underlined the relevance, at the European level, of tackling the challenges that are ahead:

The Political Assembly of the European People’s Party (EPP), which gathers representatives of 75 member parties, met yesterday in Brussels to review currents events and to prepare future activities of the Party.
 

The President of the European People's Party, Wilfried Martens, made the following statement on Ukraine:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has warmly welcomed the appointment of Christine Lagarde as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Christine Lagarde has co-chaired since 2010 the EPP EcoFin Ministerial meeting:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision of the Russian authorities not to register the ‘People's Freedom Party’ (PARNAS) for the upcoming elections:

The President of the European People's Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens has congratulated the appointment by the European Council of Mario Draghi as the new President of the European Central Bank and has welcomed the conclusions of the European Council. The main agenda items of the European Council were discussed at yesterday’s EPP Summit. For photos, see at http://flickr.epp.eu

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, congratulated the Prime Minister of Moldova and Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (LDPM), Vlad Filat, for the very good results his party achieved in Moldova's local elections of last Sunday.

EU and non-EU heads of state and government and opposition leaders of the European People's Party (EPP), along with the Presidents of the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament - Herman VAN ROMPUY, José Manuel BAROSSO and Jerzy BUZEK - have been invited to participate in the upcoming Summit of the Party, which will take place in Brussels, on 23 June 2011. On the agenda will be the preparation of the European Council, scheduled for 23 -24 June 2011.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has expressed his deep sorrow for the passing away of Paolo Barbi, former Italian MEP and Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament (1982-1984):

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, congratulated today Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the AK Party's 3rd consecutive victory in Turkey’s parliamentary elections. The AKP, an observer member of the EPP, received 49,81% of the votes and 326 seats.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens congratulated Croatian Prime Minister and HDZ leader Jadranka Kosor for her government’s successful reform programme, which led to today’s historic announcement of the European Commission. The Commission has proposed to the Council of Ministers the conclusion of Croatia’s accession negotiations.

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has welcomed the outcome of yesterday's Eurozone Summit:
 
"The agreed package at the euro area Summit is comprehensive and credible, and leaves no room for misinterpretation for the markets. I also welcome the engagement of many important stakeholders which will contribute to the implementation of the package and help bolster financial stability and growth in the eurozone," President Martens underlined.

Today the European People’s Party (EPP) is celebrating its 35th anniversary!

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has expressed his sorrow for the passing away of Otto von Habsburg, heir of Austria's last emperor and a prominent European figure:

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, after learning that the Ukrainian court has ordered former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to be placed under arrest in the framework of an on-going court case, made the following statement:

From 24 to 29 July 2011, the President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, led an EPP delegation which visited Cairo, Egypt. The delegation included EPP Vice President & MEP Mario David, EPP Vice President and former Bulgarian Foreign Minister Rumiana Jeleva, the co-chair of the EPP Foreign Ministers and MEP Elmar Brok, and the former Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Yasar Yakis.

The Political Assembly of the European People’s Party (EPP), which gathers representatives of 74 member parties, met today in Brussels to review currents events and to prepare the upcoming activities of the Party.

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has sent his best wishes to Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis and Unity for Saturday's parliamentary elections:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, visited the Ukrainian capital Kiev, from 13-15 September 2011. During the visit, he had meetings with President Viktor Yanukovich, Minister of Justice Oleksandr Lavrynovych, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, leaders of opposition and civil society, as well as with leaders from the Ukrainian churches. Unfortunately, President Martens was not given permission to visit the main opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko, who is currently in prison.

The President of the European people’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, made the following statement on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States:

During its constitutive meeting for the 2010-2015 mandate, Michael SCHNEIDER, State Secretary, Delegate of the State of Saxony-Anhalt for the German Federation, was today elected President of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions by acclamation for a 2 and a half year renewable term.

On learning of Rumiana Jeleva's decision to resign her post as Commissioner-Designate, the Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul, regretted this decision at a political level, but conveyed his understanding of her move at a personal level.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens congratulated today Yulia Tymoshenko for receiving about 25% of the vote in Ukraine’s first round of Presidential elections and passing into the second round of 7th February:

"The Commissioners-Designate will be judged on their European commitment and their ability" - Joseph Daul

"We cannot remain silent in the face of such a crime committed in the centre of a European capital", said Joseph Daul, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, in reaction to the assassination of the well-known Bulgarian journalist Bobby Tsankov in Sofia.

The President of Nea Demokratia (ND) and leader of the official opposition of Greece, Antonis Samaras, visited today the headquarters of the European People’s Party (EPP) in Brussels and met with the President of the EPP Wilfried Martens and the Secretary General of the EPP Antonio Lopez-Isturiz. Samaras and his 4-member delegation discussed with the EPP leadership the political and economic situation in Greece. ND is a longstanding member-party of the EPP.

EPP Secretary General, Antonio López-Istúriz, was deeply sorry to hear of the death of Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who was on hunger strike, and holds Castro’s regime “responsible for this unfortunate event”.

The Foreign Ministers of the European People’s Party (EPP) met on the 20th of February in Rome in preparation of yesterday’s GAERC meeting in Brussels. Hosted by Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and co-chaired by Elmar Brok, MEP, the EPP Foreign Ministers discussed the European External Action Service, civil protection and EU-Russia relations.

Le Président du Parti Populaire Européen (PPE) et ancien Premier Ministre de Belgique, Wilfried Martens, a fait part de son profond chagrin suite au décès de plusieurs personnes dans l’accident de train survenu aujourd’hui à Halle en Belgique: “Je présente mes sincères condoléances aux familles des victimes de cet accident tragique et dévastateur et je souhaite un prompt rétablissement à toutes les personnes blessées”.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, and the EPP Vice President Jacek Saryusz-Wolski denounced today's actions of the Belarusian authorities against the civil society and democratic opposition in Belarus.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, and EPP Secretary General Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, welcomed the outcome of the EU Summit held today in Brussels. The 27 EU heads of state and government focused on implementing a renewed economic strategy for employment and growth in the EU and declared their support for Greece in resolving its budgetary crisis.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried MARTENS, welcomed today the large majority that the Barroso II Commission received today in the European Parliament. In the new Lisbon era, President Jose Manuel BARROSO and his team have received the mandate to bring the EU forward. In the new 27-member Commission, the EPP has a total of 13 members including two Vice Presidents (see list below) whereas the ELDR (Liberal party) has 8 and the PES (Socialist party) has 6. EPP Secretary General Antonio LOPEZ-ISTURIZ also welcomed the new Commission.

Italian Minster for Labour and Social Affairs Maurizio Sacconi will chair the new EPP Ministers of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs group, following a decision taken by the EPP Presidency. Sacconi will chair on behalf of the EPP Ministers the preparatory meetings prior to the scheduled meetings of the Council of Ministers, in conjunction with Irish EPP Vice President and Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny.

Der Vorstand und die Generalversammlung der Europäischen Volkspartei (EVP) hat heute den ehemaligen Österreichischen Landwirtschaftsminister, Vize-Kanzler und Finanzminister, Mag. Wilhelm Molterer, einstimmig zum co-Vorsitzenden der EVP Arbeitsgruppe Landwirtschaft gekürt.

Fine Gael leader and EPP Vice President Enda Kenny will chair the new EPP Ministers of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs group, following a decision today by the EPP Presidency. Kenny will chair EPP preparatory meetings prior to the scheduled meetings of the Council of Ministers. For the past three years, the EPP has been organising with success important Ministerial meetings such as Foreign Affairs, Economy and Finance, and Energy.

Questa mattina il Presidente del partito popolare europeo (PPE), Wilfried Martens, ed il Segretario Generale del PPE, Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, hanno espresso la loro grande soddisfazione per'la vittoria elettorale ottenuta da tutta la coalizione di centro-destra guidata dal Primo Ministro Silvio Berlusconi nelle recenti elezioni regionali in Italia:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, and the EPP Secretary General Antonio Lopez-Isturiz expressed this morning their great satisfaction in the election victory of PM Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right coalition in Italy’s regional elections:

“I am particularly pleased that in these regional elections, which came in the mid-term before the next national elections, people gave their trust to Silvio Berlusconi and his centre-right coalition. The wishful thinking and ‘predictions’ of the European left have once again back-fired,” underlined President Martens.

On learning of the Moscow suicide bombings, the President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, stated the following:

The Austrian Minister for Agriculture, Niki Berlakovich (ÖVP) chaired last night the first meeting of the European People's Party (EPP) Ministers of Agriculture. The EPP Ministers' meeting coordinated on a political level today’s scheduled Council meeting and gave impetus to EPP’s commitment in the common agriculture policy. EPP President Wilfried Martens hosted the meeting in the Party headquarters in Brussels.

The European People’s Party (EPP) concluded earlier today its Summit of heads of state and government and EU institution leaders to prepare the European Council. This major European centre-right gathering featured Commission President Jose Manuel BARROSO, Council President Herman VAN ROMPUY and Parliament President Jerzy BUZEK as well as 10 EU heads of state and government: Angela MERKEL (Germany), Jean-Claude JUNCKER (Luxembourg), Fredrik REINFELDT (Sweden), Jan-Peter BALKENENDE (Netherlands), Silvio BERLUSCONI (Italy), Traian BASESCU (Romania), Boyko BORISOV (Bulgaria), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS (Latvia), Lawrence GONZI (Malta), and Yves LETERME (Belgium). Joseph DAUL, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Antonio LOPEZ-ISTURIZ, EPP Secretary General, and members of the EPP Presidency also attended. Photos of the Summit can be found at

Wilfried Martens, President of the European People’s Party (EPP) and Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, EPP Vice-President, expressed today their support to Anatoly Lebedko, Chairman of the United Civil Party Belarus, an EPP member-party. In February this year, Mr. Lebedko was arrested for standing-up publicly for minority rights, against the repression of the Union of Poles in Belarus, and in favour of fundamental rights such as freedom of assembly, thought, and expression:

The Prime Minister of Bulgaria and President of GERB, Boyko Borisov, emphasised yesterday in Sofia the great support that he and his government receives by the European People’s Party (EPP). In a conference on "The Bulgarian example in the fight against corruption and organised crime in Europe," jointly organized by the EPP and its member-party GERB, PM Borisov, joined by EPP President Wilfried Martens and EPP Secretary General Antonio Lopez-Isturiz,underlined the important reforms that the Bulgarian government is now implementing.

The European People’s Party (EPP) heads of state and government and opposition leaders, along with the Presidents of the Commission, Council and Parliament – Jose Manuel BARROSO, Herman VAN ROMPUY and Jerzy BUZEK - will be meeting on 25 March 2010 in Brussels for the regular EPP Summit hosted by EPP President Wilfried MARTENS.

The Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul, has strongly condemned the fatal shooting of a French policeman by Spanish terrorist group ETA.

The leader of Fidesz and Vice President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Viktor Orbán, secured in yesterday’s second round of parliamentary elections a 2/3 ‘super’ majority in parliament. EPP President Wilfried Martens personally congratulated Orbán last night for the impressive second round result and for becoming EPP’s 14th EU Prime Minister.

The leader of Fidesz and Vice President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Viktor Orbán, has scored a landslide result in the first round of parliamentary elections in Hungary. Fidesz received a whopping 53%, an unprecedented result in the history of democratic Hungary. EPP President Wilfried Martens personally congratulated Orbán last night for the result and after the second round in two weeks, he’s set to become EPP’s 14th EU Prime Minister.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, sent this morning his condolences to the Polish people, following the deadly plane crash of Polish President Lech Kaczynski.

On the occasion of the UNFCCC Climate Change Talks, taking place in Bonn, Germany from 31 May to 11 June 2010, the President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens expressed his hope for concrete steps forward.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, met on Tuesday 18 May 2010 with Mikulas Dzurinda, President of the Slovak SDKU-DS, and Iveta Radicova, the SDKU-DS Prime Ministerial candidate. During the meeting, they discussed the current status of the campaign for the upcoming Slovak elections and also relations between EPP member-parties

The President of the European People's Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens made the following statement about the current political situation in Ukraine:

“I am very concerned about the developments in Ukrainian politics after the recent Presidential elections. These negative developments have become systematic in nature and are threatening the rule of law and fundamental human rights and civil liberties.

The European People’s Party (EPP) congratulated today the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government, which was announced last night by the new British Prime Minister David Cameron.

EPP member-party representatives met on 10 and 11 May for the meeting of the EPP Political Assembly. The EPP met in Vilnius on the occasion of the commemoration of the 20 years of the restoration of independence of Lithuania. The event was hosted by the Prime Minister of Lithuania and leader of TS-LKD, Andrius Kubilius.

The European People’s Party (EPP) and representatives from the 72 EPP member-parties from 39 countries, will meet today and tomorrow in Vilnius for the regular meeting of the EPP Political Assembly on the occasion of the commemoration of the 20 years of the restoration of independence of Lithuania. The event will be hosted by the Prime Minister of Lithuania and leader of TS-LKD, Andrius Kubilius.

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the historic Schuman declaration, the proposal by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, which laid the foundations for a united Europe. The European Union honors this day as ‘Europe Day’ to celebrate peace and unity in Europe. The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens paid tribute to Robert Schuman and also underlined the need for economic governance:

“Robert Schuman was a great visionary and a great Christian Democrat. After the destruction and hardship of the World War, Schuman and his close associate Jean Monnet understood the importance and necessity of European unity as the only way to ensure lasting peace and prosperity. The Schuman declaration laid the foundations for the united Europe that we have today; and in the last six decades the EPP family and our leaders have been building the European project with great dedication,” Wilfried Martens underlined.

The Presidency of the European People’s Party (EPP) and representatives of the 72 EPP member-parties from 39 countries will meet on 10 and 11 May in Vilnius for the regular meeting of the EPP Political Assembly on the occasion of the commemoration of the 20 years of the restoration of independence of Lithuania. The event will be hosted by the Prime Minister of Lithuania and leader of TS-LDK, Andrius Kubilius.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens, warmly congratulated this evening Christian Wulff for his election as Germany’s new President. Wulff, a leading member of the CDU and former Minister President of Lower Saxony, was nominated on 3 June 2010 by Angela Merkel, Horst Seehofer, and Guido Westerwelle, the heads of the CDU (EPP), CSU (EPP), and FDP governing parties. Christian Wulff received an absolute majority of 625 of votes in the German Federal Assembly, which is composed of the German Parliament plus an equal number of representatives from the federal states.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, congratulated this afternoon Pál Schmitt for his election as Hungary’s new President. Pál Schmitt, a former member of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, was nominated for the position of Hungary’s Head of State by Hungarian Prime Minister and EPP Vice President Viktor Orbán.

As a follow-up to the recent meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the European People's Party (EPP) in Assisi Italy, the President of the EPP, Wilfried MARTENS, and the coordinators of the EPP Foreign Ministers' group, Franco FRATTINI, Foreign Minister of Italy, and Elmar BROK, Member of the European Parliament, made the following statement on Albania:

The President of the European People's Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens welcomed this evening the European Council’s conclusions on economic reforms, EU 2020, and Estonia’s accession to the Eurozone. These conclusions were to a large extent prepared yesterday at the EPP Summit of heads of state and government and institution leaders in Meise.

The European People's Party has adopted in its Working Group on Economic Policy a position paper on EU's new strategy for sustainable economic growth, the EU2020 strategy (see attached pdf file). The Working Group is co-chaired by EPP Vice President Rumiana Jeleva and Swedish MEP Gunnar Hökmark.

The EU Heads of State and Government and the Leaders of the opposition of the European People's Party (EPP), along with the Presidents of the European Council, European Commission, and the European Parliament have been invited on 16 June 2010 in Meise, Brussels for the statutory Summit of the Party.

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has expressed his sorrow for the death of the former President of Malta, Guido de Marco, who passed away yesterday at the age of 79.

Professor De Marco was Deputy Leader of Maltese Partit Nazzjonalista between 1977 and 1999; Deputy Prime Minister from 1987 to 1996 and from 1998 to 1999; and President of Malta between 1999 and 2004. He was also Minister of Interior and Justice and Minister for Foreign Affairs of his country. In September 1990 he was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly and had to deal with important events like the Gulf War.

“To our deep regret, despite our call on President Yanukovych and on the Ukrainian State authorities to ensure free and fair elections, the current political situation in Ukraine is deteriorating with each single day.

The European People’s Party (EPP) will launch tomorrow, 28 September 2010, its latest policy document on "CAP post 2013: Sustainable and Competitive". The document was worked out by the EPP Working Group on Agricultural Policy, chaired by Wilhelm Molterer (ÖVP) and Piet Bukman (CDA), and is in line with the public debate launched by European Commission. It underlines the importance of CAP for the European Union, it highlights its future challenges, and presents the EPP strategy for CAP's sustainable and competitive development.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, congratulated this morning Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and his centre-right Alliance, which includes the Moderate (M) and Christian Democratic (KD) parties, both members of the EPP. Reinfelt's Alliance received 49,3% and 172 seats while the red-green coaltion received 43,6% and 157 seats. The Modarate party scored a historic high of 30%, while the Socialists scored their lowest result since 1914; it's the first time in a century that a centre-right government is re-elected. The far right Swedish Democrats (SD) also entered the 349 seat parliament for the first time, and PM Reinfeldt has vowed not to cooperate with them.

The Presidency of the European People's Party (EPP), has announced today that it backs the decision of Alaksandar Milinkievic not to stand as a candidate in the forthcoming Presidential elections of 19 December 2010, since the conditions for free and fair elections are not expected to be fulfilled.
 
"The EPP Presidency is concerned that the Belarusian authorities will again breach international and European democratic standards in these Presidential elections. The EPP, therefore, fully backs the decision of Alaksandar Milinkievic not to stand for these elections because it sends a strong message in Belarus, Europe, and the world," EPP President Wilfried Martens underlined.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini (PdL) and German MEP Elmar Brok (CDU), chaired this morning the regular meeting of EPP Foreign Ministers. The EPP meeting prepared today’s scheduled European Council meeting and gave impetus to EPP’s commitment for a stronger EU voice in world affairs. The EPP meeting, which included a total of 9 Foreign Ministers, focused on the current progress of the implementation of the European External Action Service, the relations with the EU strategic partners and the freedom of religion. The meeting also featured Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, which presented her plans for a European Civil Protection strategy.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried MARTENS, welcomed the conclusions of the European Council and underlined the preparatory role of last night’s Party Summit in Meise (see photos here and video report here):

“I welcome the conclusions of the European Council and I am particularly pleased that they largely reflect our own conclusions from last night’s discussions at the EPP Summit: the importance of EU’s strategic partners for a concerted response in world affairs, the need for added momentum in European governance, and much more,” said the EPP President.

The Political Assembly of the European People’s Party (EPP) has adopted a resolution which expresses its deep concern over Ukraine’s democratic development and, in particular, government interference with the democratic activity of the opposition, including its sister parties Batkivshchyna, Rukh and Our Ukraine. The EPP resolution also expresses its regret over the government’s curtailment of media freedoms and interference in the work of foreign charity and other foundations (see below attached/linked resolution in EN and UA).

The Secretary General of the European People’s Party (EPP), Antonio López-Istúriz, has reminded today the EPP’s full support to the Croatian coalition government especially to the Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor in relation to today’s vote of confidence in the Croatian Parliament:

The Secretary General of the European People's Party (EPP), Antonio López-Istúriz, has welcomed today the decision taken by the European Union (EU) on keeping its Common Position on Cuba. According to the EPP Secretary General "this decision is clear support for the peaceful resistance inside and outside the country, and also maintains the demand from the Cuban government to respect human rights, rather than the revisionist efforts promoted until recently by the former Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos”.

EU heads of state and government and opposition leaders of the European People's Party (EPP), along with the Presidents of the European Council, European Commission and the European Parliament have been invited to participate in the upcoming Summit of the Party, which will take place in Meise, Brussels, on 28 October 2010. On the agenda will be the preparation of the European Council scheduled for 28 and 29 October (more details will soon follow).

In yesterday’s meeting of the Working Group on Economic Policy of the European People’s Party (EPP), which was chaired by Gunnar Hökmark, MEP, and Rumiana Jeleva, EPP Vice President, the participants reiterated the necessity for reducing public deficits and welcomed the Commission’s proposals on this matter.

De volgende tekst is een verklaring van de Voorzitter van de Europese Volkspartij (EVP), Wilfried Martens, over de vorming van een nieuwe regering in Nederland:

On Thursday, 2 December 2010, Dr. Thomas de Maizière, Germany’s Minister of Interior, together with Manfred Weber, MEP, Tobias Billström, Swedish Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy and Mag. Dr. Maria Fekter, Austrian Minister of Interior will present on behalf of the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers of European People’s Party (EPP) the document “Perspectives of the EU Asylum System,” which reflects EPP’s common position on this issue.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, today congratulated the Partido Popular and the Unió Democratica de Catalunya, both member parties of the EPP, for their strong results in the regional elections held yesterday in Catalunya, Spain.

The Political Assembly of the European People's Party (EPP) has approved today, unanimously, a resolution that condemns the undemocratic conduct of the recent local elections in Ukraine and the regrettable alliance of the European Socialists with the governing Party of Regions:

The European People’s Party (EPP) will organize on Thursday, 18 November 2010 a conference on the future of Europe and the euro, which will debate the current economic situation in Europe and how to provide stability, security and prosperity for the European citizens. The President of the European Council, Herman VAN ROMPUY, will offer the keynote speech.

Wilfried Martens, President of the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Centre for European Studies (CES) is in Osijek, Croatia to participate in the conference on “Croatia in the EU”, organized by the Croatian Statehood Foundation and the CES. President Martens expressed his great pleasure in visiting a country, which will soon become the 28th Member State of the European Union, and underlined his full support to PM Jadranka Kosor and the HDZ, an EPP member-party:

With regard to the new media law in Hungary, which will  come into force later this week, the President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, made the following statement:

On Christmas Day, Turkish Cypriot police entered the church of the Rizokarpaso Village, one of a handful of Greek Orthodox churches allowed to operate in the northern part of Cyprus controlled by the Turkish army, and disrupted the Christmas mass.

The Turkish Cypriot police ordered the evacuation of the church and demanded that the priest would strip of his clerical clothing. The church was then sealed-off. Following this disturbing incident, the President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, made the following statement:

EU and non-EU heads of state and government and opposition leaders of the European People's Party (EPP), along with the Presidents of the European Council, European Commission and the European Parliament - Herman VAN ROMPUY, José Manuel BAROSSO and Jerzy BUZEK - will meet tomorrow for the Summit of the Party, which will take place in Meise (Brussels). On the agenda will be the preparation of the European Council, scheduled for 16 and 17 December.

EU and non-EU heads of state and government and opposition leaders of the European People's Party (EPP), along with the Presidents of the European Council, European Commission and the European Parliament - Herman VAN ROMPUY, Jose Manuel BAROSSO and Jerzy BUZEK - have been invited to participate in the upcoming Summit of the Party, which will take place in Meise, Brussels, on 16 December 2010. On the agenda will be the preparation of the European Council, scheduled for 16 and 17 December (more details will soon follow).

Ljudmila Novak, former member of the European Parliament, was re-elected as the President of New Slovenia during the congress held by the party on 11 December 2010. 252 delegates from all over the country out of 272 voted for her (93 % of votes), entrusting her to lead the party for a two year mandate. New Slovenia is a member of the European People's Party (EPP).

EPP President Wilfried Martens welcomes the outcome of the COP 16 meeting in Cancun on Climate Change:

EU and non-EU heads of state and government and opposition leaders of the European People's Party (EPP), along with the Presidents of the European Council, European Commission and the European Parliament - Herman VAN ROMPUY, Jose Manuel BAROSSO and Jerzy BUZEK - have been invited to participate in the upcoming Summit of the Party, which will take place in Meise, Brussels, on 16 December 2010. On the agenda will be the preparation of the European Council, scheduled for 16 and 17 December (more details will soon follow).

Michel Barnier, EPP Vice-President, has been appointed as the UMP leader for the European elections campaign in France. The centre-right party, which held its national meeting on Saturday 24th, is now complete with a new head, Xavier Bertrand, former social affairs Minister.

EPP Secretary General, Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, is convinced that the EPP will win the European elections to be held in June 2009 and, consequently, will remain the main political force in the European Parliament.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, congratulated this evening Barack Obama for his inauguration as the new President of the United States of America and expressed hope that his new Administration will support the strengthening of transatlantic relations.

Offering his season's greetings to the European press, Joseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group (centre-right), the biggest and most influential group in the European Parliament, emphasised the importance of "a strong Europe in a European Union which uses its influence" to play the role of mediator, be it for the situation in the Middle East or for the energy crisis which has hit Europe.

The European People’s Party (EPP) has congratulated its President, Wilfried Martens, for the key role played in solving the political crisis in Belgium.

The European People's Party (EPP) has adopted its draft Manifesto for the European elections to be held in June 2009, which includes the EPP’s five priorities: Creating Prosperity for Everyone; Making Europe a Safer Place; Combatting Climate Change; Tackling the Demographic Challenge; Uniting Europe on the World Stage.

The EPP President, Wilfried Martens, has today congratulated Valdis Dombrovskis, MEP and member of the EPP-ED Goup, on his nomination as Prime Minister of Latvia. Mr. Dombrovskis is a member of “New Era”, one of the EPP's member parties.

The EPP President, Wilfried Martens, has welcomed today’s European Commission report on the 2004 and 2007 enlargements of the European Union (EU).

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, said today that “Bulgaria needs a change and the only alternative is GERB”, adding that the next elections in Bulgaria will be the most difficult in the last 18 years.

EPP President, Wilfried Martens, met today the Mayor of Sofia and leader of GERB, Boyko Borisov, and GERB Chairman Tsvetan Tsvetanov, and expressed to them EPP’s support for the upcoming European and national elections in Bulgaria.

At the invitation of the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate, a delegation of the European People’s Party (EPP) led by President Wilfried Martens participated on Sunday, 1 February 2009, at the enthronement of its new Patriarch Kyrill I. The 4-member delegation included EPP Vice President and Member of the European Parliament Alojz Peterle as well as EPP Secretary of External Relations Kostas Sasmatzoglou and EPP Political Adviser Galina Fomenchenko.

The President of the EPP, Wilfried Martens, today welcomed the founding of the new Italian party Popolo della Liberta (PDL).

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, expressed today his regret for yesterday's vote of no-confidence against the centre-right government of Mirek Topolanek in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic currently holds the 6-month rotating Presidency of the European Council.

The Heads of State and Government of the European People’s Party (EPP) today decided to back Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term as President of the European Commission.

The EPP Heads of State and Government along with the President of the European Commission, José Manuel BARROSO, and the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert POETTERING, will meet on 19 March 2009 in Brussels.

Today the EPP expressed its support to the PPCD ahead of the parliamentary elections in Moldova on 5 April.

The EPP Heads of State, Government and Opposition, along with the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament, will meet on 19 March in Brussels for the EPP Summit.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has congratulated Valdis Dombrovskis for his official confirmation by Parliament as the new Prime Minister of Latvia.

EPP President Wilfried Martens is shocked about yesterday´s massacre in a school in Winnenden, Germany state of Baden-Württemberg. 16 people were killed.

"I welcome the decisions taken yesterday by our European leaders to strengthen our Single Market and our common currency, the Euro, in an attempt to fight the effects of the current economic crisis in Europe”, said the President of the EPP, Wilfried Martens, today.

Representatives of the 74 EPP members parties unanimously approved the electoral document during the second session of its Extraordinary Congress held on 29 and 30 April in Warsaw under the EPP slogan for the elections: “Strong for the people”.

EPP Leaders, including 12 Heads of Government of the European Union (EU), debated today in Warsaw its Manifesto for the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament.

The EPP will hold an extraordinary Congress in Warsaw (Poland) on 29 and 30 April to adopt its Manifesto for the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament and to launch its electoral campaign.

The EPP will hold a Congress on Warsaw (Poland) on 29 and 30 April to adopt its Manifesto for the coming elections to the European Parliament. EPP Prime Ministers, Leaders of the opposition and representatives from all the member parties and the EPP associations will participate in the Congress. The EPP has also invited a large number of non-European guests to follow the Congress. Detailed information on the Congress will be updated regularly on the site www.eppwarsaw2009.eu

Today the President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, congratulated Gjorgje Ivanov for his victory in the presidential elections held yesterday in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

The President and Secretary General of the EPP, Wilfried Martens and Antonio López-Istúriz, have expressed their condolences to the Italian Government led by PM Silvio Berlusconi for the tragic earthquake in L'Aquila and other towns.

Last week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the bi-annual evaluation of the EU-Belarus dialogue.

The Secretary-General of the European People’s Party (EPP), Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, stressed that the EPP has been always promoting its strong support to our partners in Belarus and defending democratic principles, the rule of law and fundamental European values beyond our borders.

Europe is facing a major challenges concerning the present transitions in world economy. The European People’s Party believes that together we shall find an answer to the world-wide crisis, which is fundamentally affecting the everyday life of the people. In order to be able to act efficiently in the interest of our citizens, we need a strong Europe based on values.

EPP President, Wilfried Martens, today reminded that the way for facing the current challenges, mainly the economic crisis, is “more Europe, not less”.

Today EPP President, Wilfried Martens, welcomed the outcome of the G-20 meeting in London and underlined that “strong cooperation between the main economies around the world is the right way to tackle the current economic crisis”.

The European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political force in Europe with 13 heads of state and government in the European Council, criticized the populist tactics of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in the campaign for the elections in the European Parliament. The PES leadership reached new lows recently when it characterized the center-right voters of the EPP as “barbarians” and accused many distinguished EPP candidates as “terrible” or the “worst” there is.

The high profile panelists - John Bruton, former Prime Minister of Ireland and current EU Ambassador to the United States, Jamie Shea, the Head of the Policy Planning division of NATO, Elmar Brok, MEP, the President of the EPP, Wilfried Martens and Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, EPP Secretary General and MEP - debated on how a self-confident and strong Europe can play a stronger role on the world stage.

The EPP held a debate today entitled “Making Europe a Safer Place", one of its five priorities for the forthcoming European elections.

To mark the "Day of Europe", the President of the EPP, Wilfried Martens, stated that “more than ever the EU is the best solution to tackle the challenges facing our society”.

EPP President, Wilfried Martens, today welcomed the decision of the Czech Senate to ratify the Lisbon Treaty.

The current economic and financial crisis, and the measures to deal with it, was today debated during a conference organized by the EPP and the CES and attended, amongst others, by the President of the EPP, Wilfried Martens, ECB Vice-President Lucas Papademos; Finnish Minister of Finance Jyrki Katainen; and Greek Minister of Finance, Ioannis Papathanasiou.

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, visited today Albania to support the Democratic Party and its leader and Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, ahead the general elections to be held in the country on Sunday 28 June.

The President and the Secretary General of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens and Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, today congratulated the newly elected Presidency of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, led by the re-elected Chairman, Joseph Daul, and his ten Vice-Presidents.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens expressed today his condolences for the tragic death of his friend and Belgian political colleague Karel Van Miert.

At yesterday's Summit of heads of state and government of the EPP, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader had the opportunity to inform the leaders of his latest proposal to unblock the accession negotiations of Croatia.

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, expressed today his great satisfaction for the decision of the European Council to unanimously support Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term as President of the European Commission.

The heads of state and government of the European People’s Party (EPP) gave today their full support to the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel BARROSO for a second term at the EPP Summit.

The EPP Heads of State and Government along with the President of the European Commission, José Manuel BARROSO, and the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert POETTERING, will meet on 18 June 2009 in Brussels.

The EPP Heads of State, Government and Opposition, along with the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament, will meet on 18 June in Brussels for the EPP Summit.

Statement by Wilfried Martens, President of the EPP and Joseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group:

The European People's Party (EPP) offered today its full support to the new initiative of the European Commission to immediately free-up €19bn in earmarked funds for tackling unemployment as a result of the current economic crisis in Europe.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens and the Secretary General of the EPP Antonio Lopez-Isturiz congratulated today Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and his government for receiving a vote of confidence in the Bulgarian parliament with 162 votes. Borisov and his GERB party, who won a sweeping victory in the parliamentary elections earlier this month, is a member of the EPP.

Wilfried Martens, the President of the European People's Party (EPP, Europe's centre-right political family), welcomed the decision of Iceland to submit an application for EU membership. Iceland, with a population of just 320.000, has traditionally been skeptical about joining the European Union.

The Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul, wants the next President of the European Commission voted by Parliament at its plenary session in Strasbourg in September.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens expressed his sadness for the passing away of former MEP and EPP Group Vice Chairman Christopher Prout, Baron Kingsland. Prout, who passed away on July 12th 2009 at the age of 67, negotiated in 1990-92 with Martens the inclusion of the British Conservatives in the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens expressed today EPP’s full support to Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and the priorities of the Swedish EU Presidency. The priorities of the Swedish Presidency focus on the economic and financial crisis and the road to a new global climate agreement. Among the other priority issues are the Stockholm Programme for justice and home affairs and the EU’s strategy for the Baltic Sea region. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt is the leader of the Moderate party of Sweden, an EPP member-party.

The President of the European People's Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens expressed his delight for the overwhelming support that Jerzy Buzek, the former Polish Prime Minister and Civic Platform MEP, received with his election as the new President of the European Parliament. Buzek, the EPP candidate, received 555 votes out of the 736 MEPs and secured the support of the main political groups in the European Parliament. President Buzek, together with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and President Jose Manuel Barroso, complete the triad of EPP leaders that will head the EU in the coming months.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens welcomed today the decisions taken at the G8 Summit in L’Aquila, Italy, on climate change. These decisions reflect many of the proposals that the EPP made in its Warsaw manifesto during the campaign for the June 2009 European elections.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens has welcomed the formal nomination of José Manuel Barroso for a second term of office as President of the European Commission. The European Parliament will soon have to approve his nomination.

The Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul MEP, has declared that he has signed a technical agreement on the Presidency of the European Parliament with the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, sent his warmest congratulations to the new Croatian Prime Minister, Jadranka Kosor, who received today a vote of confidence in parliament. Last Saturday, Mrs Kosor was also elected President of the HDZ, an associate member of the EPP.

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, expressed today EPP's wish for a more political Commission and his expectation that the EPP heads of state and government will do their part when they propose their nominees:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has hailed the CDU and the CSU, member-parties of the EPP, and their leaders Angela Merkel and Horst Seehofer for the great victory obtained today in the German parliamentary elections. According to the results, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to form a centre-right government with the FDP, replacing the current grand coalition partner, SDP, which marked its lowest score in the post-war era. Merkel is one of the 14 EPP heads of state and government in the European Union, making the EPP the strongest and most influential European political party with an absolute majority of leaders in the European Council.

In an article published in one of the main newspapers in Ireland, Fine Gael leader and EPP Vice President Enda Kenny outlines the main arguments on why the Irish people should vote Yes for the Lisbon Treaty:

On a visit to Dublin, Ireland, on the 22nd and 23rd of September, the President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, expressed his strong support to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny who is campaigning in favor of the Lisbon Treaty.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, expressed his deep sorrow for the death of the six Italian soldiers recently killed in Afghanistan.

The President and the Secretary General of the European People’s Party (EPP) met yesterday in Madrid with the President of Partido Popular, Mariano Rajoy. The Partido Popular is a long-standing member of the EPP.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has congratulated Ján Figel on his election as President of Slovakia's Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). The KDH is a member-party of the EPP and Ján Figel was until now one of EPP’s 9 European Commissioners. At a Congress held in Nitra yesterday, Figel received an overwhelming 304 out 309 delegate votes.

The President and the Secretary General of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens and Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, expressed today their delight with the re-election of Jose Manuel Barroso as European Commission President. They underlined the “strong mandate” that Barroso has and the “new impetus” he will give to Europe.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens welcomed today the agreement on resolving the border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia; in effect, when the agreement comes into force, it will unblock the accession negotiations of Croatia with the European Union. The agreement was brokered between Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and her Slovenian counterpart. Kosor is also the leader of the HDZ, an associate member-party of the EPP.

The Secretary General of the European People’s Party (EPP), Antonio López-Istúriz, today underlined the “positive result” of this week’s visit of Bulgarian PM, Boyko Borisov, to Brussels.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens warmly welcomed the conclusions of the European Council on the Lisbon Treaty and Climate Change and praised the Council President, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, for the successful result:

The EPP Heads of State and Government including the President of the European Council, Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT, along with the President of the European Commission, José Manuel BARROSO, and the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy BUZEK, will meet on 29 October 2009 in Brussels.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) and former Prime Minister Wilfried MARTENS will be visiting London on the 27th and 28th of October to launch his latest book “Europe: I Struggle, I Overcome” and to discuss in various fora Britain’s role in Europe, the EU under the Lisbon Treaty, and transatlantic relations.

The President of the European People's Party (EPP) and the Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Wilfried Martens and Joseph Daul respectively, have expressed their confidence in Traian Basescu, who is running for another term as President of Romania.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens concluded this morning a 2-day official visit to Croatia where he met with Croatian Prime Minister and HDZ leader Jadranka Kosor and many government Ministers. The HDZ is an associate member of the EPP. During the visit, President Martens expressed his strong support for the continuation of Croatia’s accession negotiations and expressed his conviction that the country will soon become a member of the European Union. Martens also received an official state decoration from the Croatian state, in recognition of his strong support to Croatia’s European path (click here for info offered by the Croatian Prime Minister's website).

The Secretary General of the European People’s Party (EPP), Antonio López-Istúriz, today met in Brussels with Jordanka Fandakova, candidate of GERB for Major of Sofia and current Minister of Education, Youth and Science.

A 6-member delegation of the European People's Party (EPP), led by its President, Wilfried Martens, along with Secretary General Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, concluded today a successful 5-day visit to Washington DC. The visit was hosted by the International Republican Institute (IRI), the partner organization of the EPP which, for the past 4 years, has strengthened together with the EPP transatlantic relations on a political level. The purpose of the EPP visit was to strengthen realtions with the Republican party, to get an insight in the new foreign and security policy of the Obama administration, and to discuss prospects for global economic recovery and the future global financial architecture with the IMF and with relevant experts.

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, welcomed today the signing of the Lisbon Treaty by the President of Poland and urged the President of the Czech Republic to do the same:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, welcomed the positive vote on the referendum for the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, which according to exit polls is in excess of 60% and expressed his expectation that the Treaty will soon come into force.

The European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political party in Europe, will hold its Statutory Congress in Bonn, Germany, on 9 and 10 December 2009. Detailed information on the Bonn Congress can be found at www.eppbonn2009.eu

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, and the Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul, congratulated today Traian Basescu for his results in the first round of the presidential election in Romania.

Wilfried Martens, the President of the European People’s Party (EPP) and former Prime Minister of Belgium, received last night from King Albert II the task of implementing a transition process in the Belgian government, following the nomination by the European Council of Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as the first President of the Council under the Lisbon Treaty.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, has congratulated the Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy (EPP) and Commissioner Catherine Ashton (PES) for being nominated by the 27 EU heads of state and government for the positions of President of the Council and High Representative for Foreign Affairs. EPP Secretary General Antonio Lopez-Isturiz also congratulated the nominees.

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens hosted today in the headquarters of the EPP (rue du Commerce 10) a meeting of EPP Ministers of Foreign Affairs, in view of preparing today’s GAERC meeting of the Council of Ministers.

Wilfried Martens, the President of the European People’s Party (EPP), paid tribute today to former Belgian Prime Minister Pierre Harmel, one of the most important Belgian politicians since World War II, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 98:

"With the Lisbon Treaty finally ratified by the EU-27, Europe must now take decisions", said the Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul MEP, speaking before Frederik Reinfeldt and José Manuel Barroso at a session of the European Parliament in Brussels.

Wilfried Martens, President of the European People’s Party (EPP) and Prime Minister of Belgium during the historic events of 1989, remembers the day of the fall of the Berlin Wall and its significance: (Watch video here)

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens hailed this afternoon the signing of the Lisbon Treaty by the Czech Republic and the completion of the ratification process by all 27 Member States:

The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, made the following statement regarding the results of the Climate Conference in Copenhagen:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, expressed this morning his outrage at the attack against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi last night in Milan. Berlusconi and his PdL party are members of the EPP.

The EPP concluded its second and final day of its Congress proceedings in Bonn at the historic old Bundestag building (see EPP TV video and speeches: 1st day and 2nd day). Over 1500 delegates from 71 parties and 39 European countries attended, as well as hundreds of international guests from across the world. Hosted by German Chancellor Angela MERKEL and the re-elected EPP President Wilfried MARTENS, the Congress adopted many resolutions and a key new document on the Social Market Economy. In addition the EPP Congress elected its new Presidency.

The former Prime Minister of Belgium, Wilfried Martens, was re-elected today for a new 3-year term as President of the European People’s Party (EPP). President Martens (73) received the overwhelming support of delegates (92 per cent) on the first day of the two-day EPP Congress, which is taking place in Bonn, Germany in the historic former Bundestag building. The Congress is hosted by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The EPP concluded today the first day of its two-day Congress proceedings which are taking place in Bonn, Germany at the historic old Bundestag building. Hosted by German Chancellor Angela MERKEL and EPP President Wilfried MARTENS, the Congress featured speeches from the President of the European Parliament Jerzy BUZEK, the Chairman of the EPP Group in the EP Joseph DAUL, and leading non-EU heads of state and government such as Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka KOSOR, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia TYMOSHENKO, Albanian Prime Minister Sali BERISHA, FYROM Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI, and Georgian President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI. Horst SEEHOFER, Minister-President of Bavaria and CSU leader, and Jürgen RÜTTGERS Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia also welcomed the delegates and guests.

The leaders of the European People's Party (EPP) and the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Wilfried Martens and Joseph Daul, have warmly welcomed the electoral victory of Traian Basescu for a new 5-year term as President of Romania:

The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens has made the following statement on the celebration of the Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force today: