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EPP: Congress draws directions

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Valencia, Spain 29.04.2025 The European People’s party (EPP) Congress takes place in Valencia on 29-30 April. The 2025 EPP Congress is co-hosted by the Spanish party Partido Popular, and will become a defining moment of unity, and a moment of the EPP leadership charting the course for the years ahead, guiding Europe’s future and resolving the collective challenges.

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The Congress offers an opportunity for reflection, celebration of the EPP achievements, and focus on inspirations, but also the confrontation on the critical issues such as Russia’s war in Ukraine, the escalating cost of living, and the rising threats of populism and extremism.
Eight hundred delegates, 1,200 guests from 40 different countries, including the high profile President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

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The EPP Congress in Valencia started the day after the massive electricity blackout, fortunately unhindered. The European People’s Party, the center-right political family to which Forza Italia and Noi Moderati belong, is meeting in Spain to renew its claim for leadership in times of rising tensions between Europe, and the Trump administration, imposing strain on global trade.

On the Congress agenda, first and foremost, is the renewal of the EPP presidency. The German politician Manfred Weber, leading the Party since 2022, is practically certain of reconfirmation, as there are no rival to challenge his leadership. Ten vice presidents, a new secretary-general, and a treasurer are also to be elected.

Antonio Tajani, who has held the vice position continuously since 2002, is also among the contenders. There are twelve candidates, with ten positions to confirm.

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However aside from the positions to be assigned, the event is significant because the EPP is in fact the first European political formation, with over 80 member parties, 14 Commissioners of out 27 places in von der Leyen’s College, and almost a third of the European parliament. This particular constellation explains the list of the illustrious guests including the EU Parliament president Roberta Metsola, 15 Heads of State or Government, along with the German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz and four deputy premiers including Antonio Tajani.

During the event the European institutions, and their direction of the development will be agreed.
Due to this Congress, Weber, who also leads the EPP group in the European parliament, aims to further strengthen the influence of the European center-right and implement a political shift capable of centralizing the continent’s strategic choices, from industrial policies to revising those for the environment, and the Green Agenda.

The EPP’s opposition to the Green Deal as it was requested by the Socialists, and approved in the last Commission is a matter of public discussion. A topic that will certainly be debated during the two days of Congress.

Among the other main issues at the center of the various motions are the launch of a ‘Pact for Competitiveness’ aimed at relaunching employment and growth, the commitment to address the demographic “winter” and the housing emergency, the definition of concrete and humane solutions for managing immigration, and the development of an agricultural strategy to ensure food security and access to quality water resources. Also planned are interventions to make the EU more reactive in the face of emergencies and climate disasters, as well as possible institutional reforms for more effective European governance, especially in the field of foreign policy and common security. Also on the table are urgent resolutions on international issues, including the Gaza crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, tensions in the Caucasus, and the situation in Venezuela. In the draft conclusions to be adopted, viewed by Politico, it is emphasized that the ‘Bucharest Manifesto’ adopted in 2024 by the EPP today guides the Commission’s work program: examples include the creation of a Defense Commissioner and the new European regulation on returns, to combat illegal immigration. The final text of the congress also mentions the creation of a ‘common European shield, for defense against missiles and drones and a rapid deployment European force.’ Tajani will present a resolution on competitiveness and industry, the result of Forza Italia’s mobilization ahead of the Congress. The Deputy Prime Minister will also speak as party leader and the highest-ranking representative of the EPP in the Italian Government during the session dedicated to EU leaders’ speeches. FI, which represents the EPP in Italy, participates with 28 voting delegates. It is the fourth force of the People after the German CDU, the Spanish hosts of the Partido Popular, and the Polish Civic Coalition. The delegation led by Tajani will include all MEPs, Regional Presidents Alberto Cirio, Vito Bardi, Roberto Occhiuto, and Francesco Roberti, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Tripodi, group leaders in the Chamber Paolo Barelli and in the Senate Maurizio Gasparri, Vice Presidents of Cnera and Senate Giorgio Mulè and Licia Ronzulli, National Deputy Secretaries Deborah Bergamini and Stefano Benigni, and President of the Foreign Affairs Commission Stefania Craxi. An important part of the delegation will be composed of members of Forza Italia’s youth movement.

The remarkable impact on the Congress has been made by the Ukrainian leaders who warned against acceptance of the compromise with Kremlin.

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All three Ukrainian leaders – Petro Poroshenko, Yulia Tymoshenko, and Vitali Klitschko – called for joining efforts to support their country against Russian aggression, and pointed to the mutual benefits of welcoming Ukraine as a member of the EU family.
Anna van Densky from Valencia

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