European People's Party
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| European People's Party | |
|---|---|
| Europäische Volkspartei Parti populaire européen Partito Popolare Europeo Partido Popular Europeo | |
| Image:EPP logo.svg | |
| President | Wilfried Martens |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Headquarters | Rue du Commerce / Handelsstraat 10, Brussels, B-1000 |
| Political Ideology | Christian democracy, Conservatism, Centre-Right |
| International Affiliation | Christian Democrat International |
| European Parliament Group | European People's Party - European Democrats |
| Colours | Blue, Orange |
| Website | www.epp.eu |
| See also | Politics of the EU |
The European People's Party (EPP) is the largest transnational European political party. Founded in 1976, the EPP includes Christian Democratic and conservative parties in Europe. The EPP has 72 member-parties from 39 countries, 10 EU and 6 non-EU heads of government, 9 European Commissioners (including the President), and the largest group in the European Parliament with 278 members.
According to its website, the EPP is "the family of the political center-right, whose roots run deep in the history and civilization of the European continent and has pioneered the European project from its inception."
Its current President is former Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried Martens. Martens was re-elected President at the March 2006 EPP Congress in Rome for a 3-year term. In the same Congress, French Minister Michel Barnier (UMP), Finnish Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen (KOK), former Slovenian Prime Minister Lojze Peterle (NSi), former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Fidesz), German State Secretary Peter Hintze (CSU), Irish opposition leader Enda Kenny (FG) and Chairman of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (PO) were elected as EPP Vice-Presidents.
The EPP currently holds the Presidencies of two of the EU main institutions: the European Commission led by President José Manuel Barroso (PSD), and the European Parliament led by President Hans-Gert Pöttering (CDU). In the first half of 2008, it will get also the presidency of the third institution when the Presidency of the European Council will be led by Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša (SDS).
EPP has 10 out of the 27 heads of State or Government in the European Council: Jan Peter Balkenende (Netherlands, CDA), Lawrence Gonzi (Malta, PN), Janez Janša (Slovenia, SDS), Jean-Claude Juncker (Luxembourg, CSV), Aigars Kalvītis (Latvia, TP), Kostas Karamanlis (Greece, ND), Angela Merkel (Germany, CDU), Fredrik Reinfeldt (Sweden, MSP), Nicolas Sarkozy (France, UMP) and Donald Tusk (Poland, PO).
Besides, it has 5 heads of State or Government who do not normally take part in the European Council since that responsability belongs to the other leaders of their countries: Anibal Cavaco Silva (Portugal, PSD), François Fillon (France, UMP), Horst Köhler (Germany, CDU), Edward Fenech Adami (Malta, PN) and Traian Băsescu (Romania, PD).
EPP, through its associate parties, also has 6 heads of State or Government from non-EU countries: Ivo Sanader (Croatia, HDZ), Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Turkey, AKP), Vojislav Koštunica (Serbia, DSS), Sali Berisha (Albania, DP), Nikola Gruevski (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, VMRO-DPMNE), Viktor Yushchenko (Ukraine, NSNU) and Mikheil Saakashvili (Georgia, UNM).
By invitation of the EPP President, the heads of government - along with leaders of the opposition - the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Parliament customarily meet a few hours prior to the Summit of the European Council at Brussels suburb of Meise for the EPP Summit to form common positions.
EPP has 9 out of 27 members of the European Commission: President José Manuel Barroso (Portugal, PSD), Vice President Jacques Barrot (France, UMP), Vice President Franco Frattini, (Italy, FI), Joe Borg, (Malta, PN), Stavros Dimas (Greece, ND), Ján Figeľ (Slovakia, KDH), Andris Piebalgs (Latvia, TP), Viviane Reding (Luxembourg, CSV), and Benita Ferrero-Waldner (Austria, ÖVP).
In the European Parliament the EPP is allied with the more eurosceptic 'European Democrats' sub-group to form the EPP-ED Group of 277 MEPs. The current Group Chairman in French UMP politician Joseph Daul, replacing Hans-Gert Pöttering who was elected as the new President of the European Parliament in January 2007.
EPP also has parliamentary groups in the parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe and the OSCE.
In recent years, the EPP has been developing beyond Europe bilateral relations with major conservative and like-minded parties. Due its firm transatlantic orientation, North America has been a particular focus of the Party's international activities.
Contents |
[edit] Member parties
|
Part of the Politics series on |
| Parties |
|
Christian Democratic parties |
| Ideas |
|
Social conservatism |
| Important documents |
|
Rerum Novarum (1891) |
| Important figures |
|
Thomas Aquinas · John Calvin |
| Politics Portal · edit |
Image:Flag of Austria.svg Austria
- Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP) (Austrian Peoples Party)
Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium
- Image:Flag of Flanders.svg Flanders
- Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) (Christian Democratic & Flemish)
- Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA) (New Flemish Alliance)
- Image:Flag of Wallonia.svg Wallonia
- Centre Démocrate Humaniste (CDH) (Humanist Democratic Centre)
Image:Flag of Bulgaria.svg Bulgaria
- Демократи за силна България (Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria)
- Съюз на Демократичните Сили (Union of the Democratic Forces)
- Демократическа партия (DP) (Democratic Party)
- Български Земеделски Народен Съюз - Народен Съюз (Bulgarian Agrarian People's Union - People's Union)
Image:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus
- Δημοκρατικός Συναγερμός (Democratic Rally)
Image:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic
- Křesťanská a demokratická unie - Československá strana lidová (KDU-CSL) (Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party)
Image:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark
- Det Konservative Folkeparti (KF) (Conservative People's Party)
- Kristendemokraterne (Christian Democrats)
Image:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia
- Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit (Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica)
Image:Flag of Finland.svg Finland
- Kansallinen Kokoomus (KOK) (National Coalition Party)
Image:Flag of France.svg France
- Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP) (Union for a Popular Movement)
Image:Flag of Germany.svg Germany
- Christlich Demokratische Union (CDU) (Christian Democratic Union),
- Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern (CSU) (Christian Social Union of Bavaria)
Image:Flag of Greece.svg Greece
- Νέα Δημοκρατία (ND) (New Democracy)
Image:Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary
- Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség (Hungarian Civic Union),
- Magyar Demokrata Fórum (MDF) (Hungarian Democratic Forum)
- Kereszténydemokrata Néppárt (KDNP) (Christian Democratic People's Party)
Image:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland
- Fine Gael (FG) (The United Ireland Party)
- Forza Italia (FI) (Go on Italy),
- Popolari-UDEUR (UDEUR) (Democratic Union for Europe),
- Unione Democratici Cristiani di Centro (UDC) (Union of Christian Democratic and Democratics of Centre)
Image:Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia
- Tautas Partija (TP) (People's Party),
- Jaunais Laiks (JL) (New Era)
Image:Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania
- Lietuvos Krikšcionys Demokratai (LKD) (Lithuanian Christian Democrats),
- Tėvynės sąjunga - Lietuvos konservatoriai (TS-LK) (Homeland Union - Lithuanian Conservative Party)
Image:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg
- Chrëschtlech Sozial Vollekspartei (CSV) (Christian-Social People's Party)
- Partit Nazzjonalista (PN) (Nationalist Party)
Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands
- Christen-Democratisch Appèl (CDA) (Christian Democratic Appeal)
Image:Flag of Poland.svg Poland
- Platforma Obywatelska (PO) (Civic Platform)
- Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe (PSL) (Polish Peasant Party)
Image:Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal
- Democratic and Social Center / People's Party (CDS/PP)
- Partido Social Democrata (PSD)(Social Democratic Party)
Image:Flag of Romania.svg Romania
- Partidul Naţional Ţărănesc Creştin şi Democrat (PNŢCD) (Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party)
- Partidul Democrat (PD) (Democratic Party)
- Romániai Magyar Demokrata Szövetség/Uniunea Democrată Maghiară din România (UDMR) (Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania)
Image:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia
- Slovenská demokratická a kresťanská únia - Demokratická strana (SDKÚ-DS) (Slovak Democratic and Christian Union - Democratic Party),
- Magyar Koalíció Pártja/Strana maďarskej koalície (SMK) (Party of Hungarian Coalition),
- Krestanskodemokraticke hnutie (KDH) (Christian Democratic Movement of Slovakia)
Image:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia
- Slovenska demokratska stranka (SDS) (Slovenian Democratic Party),
- Nova Slovenija Krščanska ljudska stranka (NSi) (New Slovenia)
- Slovenska ljudska stranka (SLS) (Slovenian People's Party)
- Partido Popular (PP) (People's Party)
- Unió Democràtica de Catalunya (Democratic Union of Catalonia)
Image:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden
- Moderata samlingspartiet (M or MSP) (Moderate Party),
- Kristdemokraterna (KD) (Christian Democrats)
[edit] Associate members
Image:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia
- Hrvatska demokratska zajednica (HDZ) (Croatian Democratic Union)
- Hrvatska seljačka stranka (HSS) (Croatian Peasant Party)
Image:Flag of Norway.svg Norway
- Høyre (H) (Conservatives)
Image:Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia
- Демократска Странка Србије (DSS) (Democratic Party of Serbia)
- Г17+ (G17 Plus)
Image:Flag of Switzerland.svg Switzerland
- Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei (CVP) (Christian Democratic People's Party)
- Evangelische Volkspartei (EVP) (Evangelical People's Party)
[edit] Observer members
Image:Flag of Albania.svg Albania
- Partia Demokratike e Shqipërisë (Democratic Party of Albania)
- Partia Demokrate e Re (New Democratic Party)
Image:Flag of Belarus.svg Belarus
- Biełaruski Narodny Front (BNF) (Belarusian Popular Front)
- Abjadnanaja Hramadzianskaja Partyja Biełarusi (AHP) (United Civil Party of Belarus)
Image:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Stranka demokratske akcije (SDA) (Party of Democratic Action)
- Hrvatska demokratska zajednica Bosne i Hercegovine (HDZBiH) (The Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Partija demokratskog progresa RS (PDP) (Party of Democratic Progress)
Image:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia
- Demokratski centar (DC) (Democratic Center)
Image:Flag of Finland.svg Finland
- Suomen Kristillisdemokraatit (Christian Democrats)
Image:Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia
- United National Movement (UNM)
Image:Flag of Macedonia.svg Republic of Macedonia - FYROM
- Südtiroler Volkspartei (South Tyrolese People's Party)
Image:Flag of Moldova.svg Moldova
Image:Flag of Norway.svg Norway
- Kristelig Folkeparti(KrF) (Christian People's Party)
Image:Flag of San Marino.svg San Marino
- Partito Democratico Cristiano Sammarinese (PDCS) (San Marinese Christian Democratic Party)
Image:Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey
- Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) (Justice and Development Party)
Image:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine
- People's Union "Our Ukraine" (NSNU)
- People's Movement of Ukraine (Rukh)
- All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland"
[edit] External links
- European People's Party official site
- EPP-ED Group official site
Image:Flag of Europe.svg Political organisations at European Union level | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Parliament |
| Image:European Parliament in Brussels.jpg | ||||
| Other confederations of national parties | European Anticapitalist Left · European Christian Political Movement · Euronat · European National Front · Nordic Green Left Alliance · Movement for European Reform · Platform for Transparency | |||||
| Dedicated EU parties | Europe – Democracy – Esperanto | |||||
| Politics Portal · National parties by European group · European Parliamentary Election · Party composition of the Council | ||||||
ca:Partit Popular Europeu cs:Evropská lidová strana de:Europäische Volkspartei eo:Eŭropa Popola Partio es:Partido Popular Europeo el:Ευρωπαϊκό Λαϊκό Κόμμα fr:Parti populaire européen it:Partito Popolare Europeo hr:Europska pučka stranka hu:Európai Néppárt nl:Europese Volkspartij no:Det europeiske folkepartiet pl:Europejska Partia Ludowa pt:Partido Popular Europeu ru:Европейская народная партия fi:Euroopan kansanpuolue sv:Europeiska folkpartiet uk:Європейська Народна Партія
