epp annual review 2012

EPPSUMMITSBRUSSELSBUCHAREST

FOCUS!EPP CONGRESSBUCHAREST ROMANIA

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ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

The answer is more Europe!

2014 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

Welcome to the European People’s Party (EPP), the political family of the centre right. The EPP is committed to a strong Europe based on a federal model that relies on the principle of subsidiarity. Through the promotion of the social market economy, the EPP aspires to achievea prosperous Europe.

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ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 01

Contents

02 WELCOMEto the EPP

04European Council- EPP Summit

06Summit Highlights

08Heads of State and Government

11Ministerial Meetings

14European Commission

16European Parliament

17Committee of the Regions

18EuroNest / Council of Europe / OSCE / NATO

19Decision-Making Bodies

20 FOCUS!EPP Congress 2012Bucharest

26Political AssemblyHighlights

27Working Groups

30Foreign Affairs

32Communication

34Structure andResources

35Headquarters / Internship Programme

36Member Associations

38Centre for European Studies

402014 European elections

42Who is Who

44Member Parties

47EPP in Europe

EPP Annual Review 2012This publication is produced by the EPP press and communication department.

Date of issueMarch 2013

Editor in ChiefKostas SASMATZOGLOU

Assistant EditorÓscar SÁNCHEZ BENÍTEZ

Design & Productionwww.blcreative.eu

Printing CompanyDereume

PhotosEuropean People’s PartyEuropean CommissionEuropean Parliament

Download this publicationwww.epp.eu

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Printed with the financial support of the European Parliament.

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ANNUAL REVIEW 201202

Welcome to the EPP

“THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE CONGRESS IN BUCHAREST WAS THE APPROVAL OF OUR NEW ‘PARTY PLATFORM’, WHICH EXPLAINS IN GREAT DETAIL THE VALUES AND PRINCIPLES OF OUR POLITICAL FAMILY.”

ANTONIO LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ EPP SECRETARY GENERAL

WILFRIED MARTENSEPP PRESIDENT

03ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 WELCOME TO THE EPP

Welcome to the European People’s Party (EPP), the political family of the centre right. The EPP’s roots run deep in the history and civilisation of Europe, having pioneered the European project from its inception. Tracing our roots to the European Union’s founding fathers - Robert SCHUMAN, Alcide DE GASPERI, and Konrad ADENAUER – the EPP is committed to a strong Europe based on a federal model that relies on the principle of subsidiarity.

Founded in 1976, the EPP is a party of values based on the Christian view of mankind and the Christian democratic concept of society. The EPP strives for a democratic, transparent and efficient Europe that is close to its citizens. Through the promotion of the social market economy, the EPP aspires to achieve a prosperous Europe.

The EPP is by far the largest Europarty with 73 member parties from 40 countries, 13 EU and 7 non-EU Heads of State and Government, 13 European Commissioners, the largest Group in the European Parliament with 270 members, and heads two of the main EU institutions: the European Commission with José Manuel BARROSO and the European Council with Herman VAN ROMPUY.

2012 was a very exciting year. In February, EPP Honorary President Sauli NIINISTÖ was elected President of Finland and in June, Nea Demokratia leader Antonis SAMARAS won the elections in Greece and became EPP’s newest member in the European Council.

In October 2012, the EPP organised a very successful Congress in Bucharest, Romania, titled “The answer is more Europe!”, which took place in the presence of the President of Romania, Traian BĂSESCU. Almost all of the EPP’s prime ministers and party leaders joined us in Bucharest, as well as hundreds of delegates, journalists, and international visitors.

The highlight of the Congress was the approval of our new “Party Platform” – which replaces the Basic Programme of Athens from 1992 - and explains in great detail the values and principles of our political family. The Congress also saw the approval of our new Manifesto, which draws inspiration from the Party Platform, as well as a number of important resolutions. The EPP Congress also re-elected the President, the Secretary General, and the Treasurer, and elected its ten Vice Presidents.

The EPP is governed under the 2003 “EU Regulation on political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding”. In late 2007, this Regulation was revised in order to allow all European level political parties to campaign for the European elections. Following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in December 2009, which calls for the European Council to take into account the results of the European elections when nominating the President of the European Commission, the EPP will take again the lead by nominating its presidential candidate and campaigning with him/her across Europe.

To this end, the EPP Congress in Bucharest approved a special resolution on the 2014 European elections, which underlines our intention to put forward a presidential candidate who will spearhead the EPP campaign and compete against the presidential candidates of the other European political parties.

04 ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

European Council- EPP Summit

HERMAN VAN ROMPUY PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL

“WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTIES, TO RESTORE GROWTH AND JOBS. THERE IS OF COURSE SHEER NECESSITY. BUT THERE IS MORE THAT GUIDES US: THE WILL TO REMAIN MASTERSOF OUR OWN DESTINY, A SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS, AND IN A WAY SPEAKING TO US FROM THE CENTURIES, THE IDEA OF EUROPA ITSELF”

05ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 EUROPEAN COUNCIL - EPP SUMMIT

Prior to European Council meetings, EPP Heads of State and Government, party leaders in coalition governments and in opposition, the EPP Presidency, and the EPP presidents of the European institutions meet for the customary EPP Summit. The Statutory Summits are limited to the representatives of the member countries of the European Union while the Enlarged Summits are also open to the leaders of non-EU countries. These important meetings offer EPP leaders an informal and confidential setting to air their differences and seek consensus within the EPP political family in an effort to tackle common problems and develop common positions at the European Council.

While the EPP was at the helm of the European Union in 2012, five Summit meetings were held with Herman VAN ROMPUY, as President of the European Council, José Manuel BARROSO, as President of the European Commission and all of our EU Heads of State and Government.

The main focus of the EPP leaders during these meetings was the tackling of the financial and economic crisis.

JYRKI KATAINENFINNISH PRIME MINISTER

“Without EPP meetings it’s hard to imagine how ever we could find a solution for the different issues, because EPP is a family, we share the same values.”


Summit Highlights

01ENLARGED SUMMITBRUSSELS1 MARCH 2012In preparation for the European Council meeting, the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission outlined their respective agendas and reiteratedtheir optimism for the success of the fiscal compact and moving forward with a resolution to the crisis. The leaders discussed the worsening situation in Belarus and Ukraine, including the situation of Yulia TYMOSHENKO. They also discussed ACTA, as well as the planned renewal of the EPP platform at the upcoming Congress in Bucharest. The leaders congratulated Prime Minister Janez JANŠA on the formation of his new Slovenian government, Croatian Democratic Union Chairwoman Jadranka KOSOR on the result of the Croatian referendum on EU membership, and EPP Honorary Chairman Sauli NIINISTÖ on his election as President of Finland.

02STATUTORY SUMMITBRUSSELS23 MAY 2012Convinced of the need for a balanced approach in order to overcome the economic situation in Europe and restore confidence in the economy, the EPP leaders unanimously adopted a common declaration, presented by Swedish Finance Minister Anders BORG, outlining their commitment to fiscal consolidation and growth, which have always been priorities of the EPP. In addition, Nea Demokratia President Antonis SAMARAS (Greece) briefed the EPP leaders on the situation in Greece and the prospects for the next elections.

03ENLARGED SUMMITBRUSSELS28 JUNE 2012The EPP leaders engaged in a thorough discussion on the report on the Economic and Monetary Union and of the economic and financial positions of the various Member States. The need to prepare decisions based on the EPP principles of “solidarity” and “responsibility”– decisions which are ambitious and can be developed throughout the short, medium and long terms – was at the top of the agenda. EPP President Wilfried MARTENS also offered his congratulations on behalf of all EPP leaders to Nea Demokratia President Antonis SAMARAS (Greece) and President Serzh SARGSYAN (Armenia) on the results of their parliamentary elections. The political situations in Ukraine and Armenia, as well as in Syria, were also discussed.

07ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS

04ENLARGED SUMMITBUCHAREST17 OCTOBER 2012The EPP Summit which took place during the Bucharest Congress saw the EPP leaders welcome President Isa MUSTAFA of the newest EPP member party, LDK (Kosovo). The EPP leaders also prepared for the upcoming European Council meeting. An emphasis on building confidence and trust was strongly expressed by leaders of the Member States and at the European level. The EPP leaders extensively discussed the new party platform and the EPP Manifesto as well as a resolution on the nomination of an EPP candidate for President of the European Commission, which was adopted at the Congress. During the Summit, a declaration on the EPP’s commitment to strengthening the Single Market was also adopted.

05ENLARGED SUMMITBRUSSELS13 DECEMBER 2012This EPP Summit was the first meeting involving the new EPP Presidency elected at the Bucharest Congress. The EPP leaders hailed the agreement reached by the Ecofin Council on the banking supervision and discussed the topics on the agenda of the European Council. A comprehensive declaration on “Completing and Stabilizing the Economic and Monetary Union” underpinned by four guiding principles of the EPP – maintaining the unity of the EU, linking solidarity and governance, promoting competitiveness, growth and jobs, and respecting of the Community method – was adopted. The Summit also welcomed Italian Prime Minister Mario MONTI and a frank and in depth discussiontook place on the political situation in Italy ahead of the national elections in February. Furthermore, the recent developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Georgia, as well as the political situation in other non-EU Member States, were extensively debated.


Heads of State and Government

As of March 2013, the EPP has 13 outof 27 EU Heads of State and Government, which meet at the EPP Summit meetings, in preparation of the European Council meetings.

EULEADERS

Nicos ANASTASIADESCyprus, DISY

Traian BĂSESCURomania

Valdis DOMBROVSKISLatvia, Vienotība

Jean-Claude JUNCKERLuxembourg, CSV

Enda KENNYIreland, FG

Angela MERKELGermany, CDU

Pedro PASSOS COELHOPortugal, PSD

Fredrik REINFELDTSweden, MOD

Donald TUSKPoland, PO

Antonis SAMARASGreece, ND

Viktor ORBÁNHungary, FIDESZ

09ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

The EPP has 7 NON-EU Headsof State and Government, which are invited to attend the enlarged EPP Summit meetings.

Jyrki KATAINENFinland, KOK

Mariano RAJOYSpain, PP

NON-EULEADERS

Sali BERISHAAlbania, DP

Recep Tayyip ERDOĞANTurkey, AKP

Vlad FILATMoldova, PLDM

Bakir IZETBEGOVIĆBosnia-Herzegovina, SDA

Mikheil SAAKASHVILIGeorgia, UNM

Nikola GRUEVSKIF.Y.R.O.M., VMRO-DPMNE

Serzh SARGSYANArmenia, HHK


The EPP held throughout 2012 a total of five summits, including one on the sidelines of the Bucharest Congress. They were attended by EPP Heads of State and Government, Deputy PMs and leaders of the opposition.

11

Ministerial Meetings

01FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERSChaired by Paulo PORTAS (CDS-PP, Portugal) and Elmar BROK (CDU, Germany)

EPP Foreign Ministers convene on a regular basis to prepare the Foreign Affairs Council and to discuss issues such as the Middle East Peace Process, the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership, Mediterranean Union, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and relations with strategic partners. The EPP Foreign Ministers have regularly adopted EPP position papers. For instance, they drafted a resolution on religious attacks in Nigeria on 22 January 2012 which was adopted at the Political Assembly on 10 February 2012.

During the meeting of 14 May 2012, the EPP Foreign Ministers released a statement on Ukraine, condemning the violation of the rule of law and breaches of democratic standards; calling for the release of political prisoners, amongst them Yulia TYMOSHENKO and Yuriy LUTSENKO; and defining the conditions the Ukrainian regime must fulfil in order to have the Association Agreement signed.

02DEFENCE MINISTERSChaired by Pieter DE CREM (CD&V, Belgium)

The EPP Defence Ministers’ Meeting, chaired by Belgian Defence Minister Pieter DE CREM,continued its work successfully in 2012. On 17 April, EPP Defence Ministers exchanged views with the President of the European Council, Herman VAN ROMPUY, on the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in order to prepare for the NATO Summit in Chicago in May 2012. The CSDP operations and the pooling and sharing of military capabilities were discussed in Cyprus on the 26 September 2012.

03GENERAL AFFAIRS MINISTERSChaired by Lucinda CREIGHTON (FG, Ireland)and Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (PO, Poland)

The EPP General Affairs Ministerial Meeting was established in February 2012 and gathersForeign and European Affairs Ministers in preparation for the General Affairs Council meetings. Given that the preparation of the European Council is one of the main respon- sibilities of this Council configuration, the EPP General Affairs meeting is also an opportunity to prepare the EPP Summits held prior to the European Council. Over the course of the year, Ministers have discussed and coordinated positions on important initiatives of the European Council, including the Fiscal Compact and the report “Towards a GenuineEconomic and Monetary Union”. A special emphasis was placed on the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework, for which the EPP seeked to find common ground between EPP representatives in all EU institutions involved in the process (Council, Commission and European Parliament) in order to reach a final agreement on the EU budget for the period 2014-2020. For these discussions, the European Commissioner for Budget and Financial Programming Janusz LEWANDOWSKI, as well as EPP Members of the European Parlia-ment responsible for this topic, were invited.

04ENVIRONMENT MINISTERSChaired by Phil HOGAN (FG, Ireland)

In 2012 the focus was on the COP18 Climate Change Conference which took place in Doha, Qatar in November, as well as the terms of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol. Ministers also reviewed the outcome of the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development in June and the EU’s role in formulating the sustainable development goals. Another important issue discussed was the future of the EU Emission Trading Scheme which in 2013 enters into its third phase.

02Herman VAN ROMPUYand Pieter DE CREM during an EPP Defence Ministerial Meeting.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

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06COMPETITIVENESS (INDUSTRY AND SINGLE MARKET)Chaired by Antonio TAJANI (PdL, Italy)

The strategic objective of the meeting of EPP Industry Ministers, which takes place prior to the Competitiveness Council, is to lay the groundwork for improving competitive-ness in Europe through structural reforms, the development of the Single Market, stimulating entrepreneurship and creating a future-oriented industrial policy. Therefore, the implementation of the “Compact for Growth and Jobs”, adopted by the European Council in June of 2012, has been a priority for EPP Ministers. Over the course of the year, Ministers have attached particular importance to strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises and their access to financing.

The European People’s Party organises and coordinates from its Brussels headquarters a total of 12 Ministerial meetings, which underpin the horizontal activity of the Party with all the mainEU institutions including the Councilof Ministers.

05ECONOMY AND FINANCE MINISTERS (ECOFIN)Chaired by Luc FRIEDEN (CSV, Luxembourg) and Anders BORG (MOD, Sweden)

The meetings of the EPP Economy and Finance Ministers have continued to provide an opportunity for highly relevant discussions between Ministers from our political family regarding the far-reaching decisions made in the ECOFIN Council and the Eurogroup. Consequently, these discussions have contributed to the debate on how to overcome the economic and financial crisis in Europe. Over the course of the year, these discussions have laid the groundwork for the political agreement on the Single Supervisory Mechanism and have shed light on the next steps towards reaching a banking union.

EPP Ministers have also found common ground on the introduction of the financial transaction tax by some Member States. These projects were developed in close cooperation with Michel BARNIER, Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, and Algirdas ŠEMETA, Commissioner for Taxation, who take part in the EPP ECOFINmeetings. EPP Ministers have also contributed to the agreement and implementation of the Fiscal Compact, as well as the implementation of the European Stability Mechanism. The meeting has also given Ministers from the Eurozone the opportunity to exchange views with their colleagues from outside the Eurozone on the implications of the Euro debt crisis on all 27 EU Member States.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 MINISTERIAL MEETINGS

05ECOFIN Ministerial Meeting

with Nicos ANASTASIADES in Cyprus.

13ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 MINISTERIAL MEETINGS

09JUSTICE MINISTERSChaired by Viviane REDING (CSV, Luxembourg) and Beatrice ASK (MOD, Sweden)

For the EPP Congress in Bucharest, the Ministers drafted a resolution titled “Justice for Growth” in which they state that economic growth, institutional efficiency and the rule of law are directly correlated. They also presented measures which can lead to even better cooperation and coordination in the field of justice. Other major topics which were discussed throughout the year included data protection and the European Sales Law.

10AGRICULTURE MINISTERSChaired by Nikolaus BERLAKOVICH (ÖVP, Austria) and Simon COVENEY (FG, Ireland)

The main topics addressed during the course of the year were the Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations and the agriculture budget, which was a challenge to maintain at current levels. In addition, the CAP reform negotiations were an important issue of discussion, including the coordination of agriculture policy within the EPP political family. The EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian CIOLOŞ, also took active part in the discussions and contributed to the work of the EPP Agriculture Ministers.

11ENERGY MINISTERSChaired by Günter OETTINGER (CDU, Germany) and Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (PO, Poland)

The meetings of the EPP Energy Ministers focused on topics including the internal energy market and the security of energy supply and international cooperation. Commissioner for Energy Günter OETTINGER initiated debate with the Ministers on how to make the internal energy market work more efficiently, how to create a level playing field and attract investment. Ministers also discussed how to consolidate the EPP position and advance EU interests in the field of energy beyond EU borders. In particular, there was some concern about energy security in Moldova, energy security of the Eastern neighbourhood and the role of Russia.

12TRANSPORT MINISTERSChaired by Anca BOAGIU (PDL, Romania)

The EPP Transport Ministers meeting, chaired by EPP Vice President Anca BOAGIU, involved discussions on the current state of play in Europe’s transport sector. Proposals for the development of the trans-European transport network featured prominently in the discussions.

07EMPLOYMENT MINISTERSChaired by Ursula VON DER LEYEN (CDU, Germany)

The top priority of EPP Employment Ministers is improving the situation of the labour markets in all Member States of the European Union. Ministers attach particular importance to combatting youth unemployment and improving opportunities for young people, especially through exchanging best practices for cooperation between the public and private sectors, and on improving national education systems. In this context, EPP Ministers proposed closer cooperation between the national public employment services to build upon the expertise of those authorities which best know the situations found in European labour markets. In their meetings, EPP Ministers also place particular importance on the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy in the field of employment and social policy.

08HOME AFFAIRS MINISTERSChaired by Hans-Peter FRIEDRICH (CSU, Germany) and Manfred WEBER (CSU, Germany)

This Ministerial grouping was particularly active in 2012. During their meetings, common positions were sought among the Ministers, as well as with members of the European Parliament, on topics on the agenda of the Council. Moreover, the Ministers drafted in close cooperation with the EPP leadership a resolution titled “Security for EU Citizens” that was tabled at the EPP Congress in Bucharest in October. This resolution addresses important issues such as organised crime, corruption, terrorism, the security of EU borders, police cooperation and cyber security, and presents the EPP’s positions on these matters.

08Participants of the Home

Affairs Ministerial Meeting.


European Commission

VIVIANNE REDINGVice President; Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship - Luxembourg

“Planning for a post-crisis Europe gives us the opportunity to develop our Union into a strong political union. To this end we need to be more united than ever and to have the citizens fully on board. We need to have the determination to roll up our sleeves and act”.

MICHEL BARNIERInternal Market and Services - France

“Member States have agreed to hand over the key supervisory tasks over their banks to the European Central Bank. This is the first step towards the Banking Union. This Single Supervisory Mechanism will be a great asset for financial stability in Europe”.

ANTONIO TAJANIVice President; Industry and Entrepreneurship - Italy

“Our aim is to push for more investment and to remove uncertainties surrounding investments. We must invest in the early stages of adopting new technologies. Only then, will we take the technological lead and get a return on our investment. A return in terms of jobs and growth”.

JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSOPresident of the European Commission - Portugal

“What I demand is a decisive deal for Europe. A decisive deal to project our values, our freedom and our prosperity into the future of a globalised world. A deal that combines the need to keep our social market economies on one hand and the need to reform them on the other. A deal that will stabilise the Economic and Monetary Union, boost sustainable growth, and restore competitiveness. A deal that will establish a contract of confidence between our countries, between Member States and the European institutions, between social partners, and between the citizens and the European Union”.

15ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 EUROPEAN COMMISSION

GÜNTER OETTINGEREnergy - Germany

“We are well on track to reach our target of a 20% share of renewable energy in final EU energy consumption by 2020. The European Union and its Member States have decided to put in place a reliable and stable regulatory framework setting strong mandatory targets for 2020 to secure investors’ trust”.

ALGIRDAS ŠEMETATaxation and Customs Unions, Audit and Anti-Fraud - Lithunia

‘‘I have presented the way forward for a stronger EU approach to tax evasion. Now it is up to the Member States to play their part. They must commit to deeper coordina-tion, support the new tools proposed and unite in pushing our standards globally. The rewards on offer are great: billions of euros in revenue, and fair and competitive tax systems for recoveryand growth”.

ANDRIS PIEBALGSDevelopment - Latvia

“The vision behind the European project was never an inward-looking one. It was about sharing European values and the all-important solidarity. Sharing them with the people of countries like my own and with the people living of countries in the developing world struggling to escape poverty and embrace development”.

TONIO BORGHealth and Consumer Policy - Malta

“Policy makers must ensure structural support for research and innovation. If we want better outcomes of our healthcare systems, and if we want to ensure their sustainability, we need to encourage innovation of products, services and processes”.

KRISTALINA GEORGIEVAInternational Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response - Bulgaria

“We all know that no country is rich enough to keep on the payroll as many first responders as the most dramatic disaster may call for. This is why there is already a lot of experience in volunteering. I learned that if Europeans volunteers would form a country, they would be the largest Member State with 100 million people”.

DACIAN CIOLOȘAgriculture & Rural Development - Romania

“I have wanted to make “Young Farmers” central to the post-2013 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. And it is a subject to which I gave much attention. We must not stop half-way. It is a subject we must continue to deal with until the final adoption of the reform”.

JOHANNES HAHNRegional Policy - Austria

“To achieve the goals of Europe 2020 we need to nurture our small and medium sized enterprises, and foster innovation. Cities have a special potential for both. I believe firmly in the need for cities to take their place as European actors, partners in tackling European objectives”.

JANUSZ LEWANDOWSKIFinancial Programming and Budget - Poland

“I am pleased that the European Union, its citizens, regions, businesses and scientists now have a budget for 2013. Even in times of austerity, if not especially in times of austerity, the EU budget is a tool for investment and hope for European citizens”.

CONNIE HEDEGAARDClimate Action - Denmark

“The EU supports the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities. But it must never be an excuse for inaction. The climate change challenge can only be met if all contribute to the best of their abilities. Let us work together in bringing more big economies on board”.


European Parliament

2012 was marked by intensive work in the area of financial services regulatory reform in order to remedy the fault lines in the architecture of the Eurozone that were exposed by the financial crisis. The EPP Group, chaired by Joseph DAUL, MEP (UMP-FR), advocates legislation that deepens and reinforces the Economic and Monetary Union. Strengthening the Economic and Monetary Union urgently requires the implementation of a banking union in order to break the vicious cycle between sovereign debt and bank debt, and thus ensure financial stability. The EPP Group also supported further economic integration through the continued development of the Single Market, which in 2012 marked its 20th anniversary.

In the field of legal and home affairs, the EPP Group achieved a breakthrough in the reform of the Brussels Regulation, which abolishes time-consuming and costly procedures for the recognition and enforcement of judgments in another Member State.

In 2012 the EPP Group in the European Parliament also intensified its international presence and contacts with political actors all over the globe, inter alia, through the work of inter-parliamentary delegations. Since the onset of the Arab Spring, the Group has actively supported the political aspirations of people in the region. The EPP Group has also continued to forge closer ties with parliamentarians in the Mediterranean countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy and within the Union for the Mediterranean.

In 2012, meetings of the EPP Group Bureau also took place outside of the official three seats of the European Parliament. EPP Group Study Days - designed to engage political themes important at the national level, thus feeding into the EPP Group’s work in the European Parliament - were convened in Turku, Finland and Bucharest, Romania on the sidelines of the EPP Congress.

With 270 active and dedicated members, as well as three Croatian observers, the Group of the European People’s Party represents the largest political grouping, and therefore the most influential political force, in the European Parliament.

For more information please visit: http://www.eppgroup.eu


Committee of the Regions

The European People’s Party is the largest political Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR). Chaired by Michael SCHNEIDER (CDU-DE), the EPP Group is the CoR’s driving force in the EU decision making process. Thanks to its size, the EPP Group authors many opinions and resolutions for adoption by the Plenary, and is on the winning side of most decisions. It also holds a range of key positions within the Committee. In July 2012, Ramón Luís VALCÁRCEL SISO (PP-ES) was elected President of the CoR for a period of two and a half years, giving new impetus to the contribution of regions and cities in the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy for growth and jobs. The chairmanship of four of the seven Commissions is also in the hands of the EPP. Under the motto “think globally – act locally”, it works on the principle of subsidiarity.

This means that decisions should always be taken at the level closest to the citizens, unless a better result can be achieved by working at the national or European level.

Given that approximately two-thirds of EU legislation is implemented by local and regional authorities, the EPP Group allows them to become more involved in framing European policies. Local and regional politicians are also ideally placed to establish and maintain close links with European citizens. The new EPP platform embraces this notion through its specific chapter on the importance of regions in economic, cultural and social terms, but also in the process of European integration.

The EPP Group aims to enhance the efficiency and influence of the CoR by representing the interests of citizens in the diverse cities, regions and munici- palities of Europe. The EPP Group works towards a Europe that will uphold a prosperous and peaceful future for all its citizens.

For more information please visit: http://www.epp.cor.europa.eu


EuroNest / Council of Europe / OSCE / NATO

EPP IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEThe EPP is committed to the Council of Europe, an organisation that promotes the principles of the rule of law and the values of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Through their activity in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and in their national parliaments, more than 200 members of the Group of the European People’s Party (EPP-CD Group) have committed themselves to consolidating and stabilising freedom and democracy, human rights, peace, prosperity, solidarity and social cohesion throughout the European continent and the world. Chaired by Luca VOLONTÈ (UDC-IT), the members of the EPP-CD Group defend freedom of expression and information, as well as freedom of movement of ideas and of religious tolerance. In January 2012 Jean-Claude MIGNON (UMP-FR) was elected President of PACE, and initiated a dialogue with the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean with the goal of granting them “partner for democracy” status.

EPP IN THE EURONEST PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLYIn 2012, the European People’s Party established a Group within the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, in order to promote and strengthen the political dimension of the Eastern Partnership. This EPP Group is chaired by EPP Vice President, MEP and Vice President of Euronest Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (PO-PL) and brings together EPP MEPs and EPP MPs from Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine as well as guests from Azerbaijan. The first meeting was hosted by the UNM delegation in Tbilisi, Georgia on 31 March 2012 ahead of the Euronest plenary session in Baku, Azerbaijan. The second meeting took place in Chisinau, Moldova on 13 October 2012.

EPP IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF NATOIn 2012 Karl LAMMERS (CDU-DE) ended his term as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO having defended with great success the goals of the organisation. He remains a member of the bureau as Vice President, together with EPP and like-minded members Nicole AMELINE (UMP-FR), Cheryl GALLANT (Conservative Party, Canada) and Pierre Claude NOLIN (Conservative Party, Canada). During the annual meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly in Prague many EPP-affiliated members were elected in key positions.

EPP IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE OSCEThe EPP and the like-minded Group in the OSCE-PA, is chaired by Walburga HABSBURG DOUGLAS (MOD-SE). During the annual meeting of 2012 in Monaco, Riccardo MIGLIORI (PdL-IT) was electedPresident of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. During 2012, the EPP members of the OSCE-PA were very active in election observation missions including Ukraine in October, where EPP chairwoman Walburga HABSBURG DOUGLAS led the OSCE mission. At the end of the mission, she underlined the democratic shortcomings of the election: “considering the abuse of power and an excessive role of money in this election, democratic progress appears to have reversed in Ukraine.”


Decision-MakingBodies

THE PRESIDENCYThe Presidency decides on the general political guidelines and presides over the Political Assembly. The Presidency is composed of the President, the Secretary General, 10 Vice Presidents, and the Treasurer. The Presidents of the European Commission, European Council, European Parliament, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (if they belong to the EPP), as well as the Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, are ex officio members of the EPP Presidency.

THE POLITICAL ASSEMBLYThe Political Assembly defines the positions of the Party between each Congress, decides on membership applications and finalises political guidelines. The Political Assembly also decides on the budget and safeguards the political presence of the EPP between Congress meetings.

The Political Assembly is composed of designated delegates from EPP member and associated member parties, member associations and groups. The number of delegates for each party is linked to the election result in the last European election so that parties are weighted according to their strength. This allows the taking of decisions by majority. The Political Assembly meets three to five times per year.

THE CONGRESSThe Congress is the highest decision-making body of the EPP. It is composed of delegates from EPP member and associated member parties, member associations and parliamentary groups, as well as representatives from observer member parties. The EPP Congress meets statutorily once every three years and elects the EPP Presidency. The Congress decides on the main policy documents and electoral programmes, and highlights EPP Heads of Government and party leaders.

WORKING GROUPSThe Political Assembly defines the mandate of the Working Groups, which prepare the Party’s policy documents and recommendations. All EPP member and associated member parties, member associations and groups, as well as members of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, are able to participate in the Working Groups.

Within the EPP there are three levels of decision-making: the Presidency, Political Assembly and Congress. The EPP Heads of Government and EPP Ministers can also give policy recommendations, while the EPP Working Groups perform the preparatory political work.


FOCUS!21st EPP Congress

The statutory Congress in Bucharest was a turning point for the EPP political family. With the 2014 European elections in mind, the EPP renewed its political programme, reelected President Martens and elected a new Presidency. Under the motto “The answer is more Europe”, the EPP Congress demonstrated a strong sense of unity in the party’s commitment to overcoming the current economic crisis, safeguarding the euro and generating sustainable economic growth and jobs.

21ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

Bucharest - Romania17 - 18 October 2012

“THE MESSAGE GIVEN TO US BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IS THAT THE WORLD NEEDS AND THE WORLD WANTS A STRONG EUROPE.”JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

22 ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 EPP CONGRESS 2012

PARTY PLATFORMTwenty years after the “Basic Programme” of Athens, the EPP delegates adopted by a large majority the new “Party Platform”. The platform takes into account the challenges posed by an unprecedented and intensifying global world but also reiterates the values that guide the EPP such as freedom and responsibility, equality and justice, truth, solidarity, subsidiarity and the importance of a social market economy.

The new party platform envisions a better European Union which is open to the world and contributes to the spread of human rights and pluralist democracy, which is closer to European citizens and responsive to their concerns, and which is firmly rooted in the principle of subsidiarity in order to strengthen democratic participation. It also emphasises the need for a stronger role for European political parties in the emergence of a European public sphere.

23ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 BUCHAREST - ROMANIA

MANIFESTOThe new “Manifesto” is a comprehensive document summarising the party platform and highlighting the party’s values and main political positions. The document underlines our clear commitment to establishing a real political union by enabling citizens to make clear and comprehensible choices.

24 ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 EPP CONGRESS 2012

Debating with our international guests about the future of the MENA region.

THEMATIC SECTIONS The EPP Congress in Bucharest hosted three thematic sections featuring EPP Prime Ministers and Members of Parliament who exchanged views with the Congress delegates on topical issues. The first event focused on how to strengthen Europe’s economy in light of global challenges, the second discussed how to preserve Europe for future generations by paving the way for a green and sustainable economy, and the third examined Europe and its neighbours, both in the context of new challenges and new opportunities.

25ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 BUCHAREST - ROMANIA

REELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT“My new mandate will face many challenges, but it will be mainly focused on the preparation and launch of EPP’s campaign for the 2014 European elections. In the run-up to these crucial elections, we must increase our efforts to bring the European Union closer to the citizens and to offer them hope and perspective. During the campaign, the EPP and the other European political parties, must engage in a substantial pan-European political debate that, ultimately, will create a genuine European public space. As I have mentioned many times before, the EPP is committed to putting forward again its candidate for President of the European Commission, as it did in the 2004 and 2009 elections, and this candidate will spearhead EPP’s 2014 election campaign”.

The newly elected presidency of the EPP on stage.


Political AssemblyHighlights

9-10 FEBRUARY 2012 BRUSSELSThe EPP accepted three Armenian parties as observer members. “One key mission of the EPPis to promote our values and European standards in countries with a European perspective such as Armenia. The acceptance of the Republican Party of Armenia, Country of Law and Heritage, in the EPP is of the utmost importance in fulfilling this mission”, EPP President Wilfried MARTENS stated.

Regarding foreign policy issues, three key resolutions were unanimously adopted on Syria, Nigeria and Belarus: the Political Assembly firmly condemned the continuing violations of human rights, which have been committed on a massive scale by the Syrian government against its people amounting to crimes against humanity, and expressed serious concerns about the situation in Nigeria and the political developments in Belarus.

The EPP also adopted a resolution on Data Protection and Internet Security, which was tabled by the Youth of the EPP (YEPP).

4-5 JUNE 2012 BRUSSELS The Political Assembly discussed solutions that will put the European Union on the path to sustainable growth and unanimously adopted a resolution on “A Trade Policy for Europe”. “Europe is at a turning point and the remaining weeks ahead of the upcoming European Council at the end of this month, will be crucial in the for-mulation of solutions for EU economic recovery.

Only budget discipline, competitiveness and sustainable growth will lead to economic development and job creation”, EPP President Wilfried MARTENS stated on that occasion.

On the eve of the kick-off of the Euro 2012 football tournament in Poland and Ukraine, the EPP reiterated its concerns regarding the continued incarceration of Yulia TYMOSHENKO, the deterioration of democracy and human rights and the on-going repression of the democratic opposition in Ukraine.

The Political Assembly also welcomed the Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran SARGSYAN, who reported on the significant progress that his country made in implementing democratic norms and practices in the parliamentary elections of 6 May 2012.

The EPP also adopted resolutions which were tabled by two EPP member associations: “Knowledge is power” was presented by the European Democrat Students (EDS), and Improving equality on the labour market: “Chances through diversity” and “Women in conflict zones and situations” was presented by EPP Women.

3 SEPTEMBER 2012 BRUSSELSThe Political Assembly finalised preparations for the 21st EPP Congress to be held in Bucharest on 17-18 October 2012, with the theme “The answer is more Europe!”The EPP reiterated its support for Yulia TYMOSHENKO and welcomed her daughter

Eugenia TYMOSHENKO, who delivered a vibrant testimony on her mother’s politically motivated incarceration and reiterated the fragility of democracy in Ukraine.

The Political Assembly welcomed the Prime Minister of Georgia Vano MERABISHVILI, who reported on the implementation of reforms in the fields of police, the fight against corruption and constitutional changes. The Prime Minister also outlined the government’s priorities for the coming years. President Martens underlined that “Georgia has become a role-model of reform for the entire Eastern Partnership region”.

In addition, a lively debate took place on the financial and economic crisis, the European project and the difficult political situation in Romania.

16 OCTOBER 2012 BUCHARESTThe Political Assembly was held in Bucharest, Romania immediately prior to the EPP Congress of 17-18 October.

The EPP granted observer status to the Kosovar party LDK whilst underlining that this decision was independent of granting a final status to Kosovo. Key topics were discussed, including the completion of the Single Market, industrial policy, the political developments in Ukraine, the Euronest and the future of Erasmus. The Political Assembly also unanimously approved its budget and membership fees for 2013.

27

Working Groups

The resolution proposes concrete measures for labour markets, the development of the digital single market, of the internal market in energy and of the European Research Area.

The scope of the Resolution “EU Cohesion Policy – Key to improving competitiveness and achieving convergence in Europe” is to return cohesion policy to its primary function: helping the EU’s least competitive countries and regions to become more competitive and to catch up with more developed European regions.

This Resolution presents cohesion policy as an investment and development policy, which enables economic growth. It also underlines that structural funds must primarily be used to support new future-oriented opportunities.

WORKING GROUP 1 EPP Working Group 1, which is co-chaired by EPP President Wilfried MARTENS and EPP Vice President Peter HINTZE, focused on finalising the new EPP “Party Platform” and the EPP “Manifesto” in 2012. The process of drafting these documents already began in 2011 in close cooperation with representatives of the EPP member parties, as well as with established and upcoming experts alike, who offered important views and contributions to the text. This process was concluded with the adoption of both documents at the EPP Congress in Bucharest in October. Working Group 1 was also responsible for discussing the resolutions which were put forward at the EPP Congress in Bucharest.

WORKING GROUP 2 The main focus of Working Group 2, which was chaired in 2012 by EPP Group Vice Chairman Gunnar HÖKMARK, MEP (MOD-SE) and former EPP Vice President Rumiana JELEVA (GERB-BG), was the elaboration of two Resolutions: “The European Single Market – Key to making Europe the leading economy in the world” and “EU Cohesion Policy – Key to improving competitiveness and achieving convergence in Europe”, which were adopted at the EPP Congress in Bucharest. Over the course of this process, the Working Group invited decision makers and senior experts from academia, think tanks and the business community to contribute qualified input.

The objective of the Resolution “The European Single Market – Key to making Europe the leading economy in the world” is to present the single market as a primary source of economic growth in the European Union.

The Resolution proposes that we make better use of the opportunities provided by the world’s biggest economic area, which is the EU with its internal market.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

28

WORKING GROUP 3 Working Group 3, chaired by EPP Vice President and MEP Corien WORTMANN-KOOL (CDA-NL), promotes and incorporates new parties which have applied to become full members, associate members or observer members of the EPP.

On 10 February 2012, the EPP Political Assembly voted in favour of accepting three Armenian parties as EPP observer members: the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), Country of Law (OEK) and Heritage. The HHK President and President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh SARGSYAN became the EPP’s 7th non-EU Head of State and Government.

Working Group 3 also organises workshops as a vehicle to exchange views and share knowledge between experts and working group members in different areas of foreign policy.

On 29 March 2012, Working Group 3 members met to exchange views on the political, social and economic situation in the Western Balkans and Kosovo as part of the workshop “Kosovo on its way towards stability and European integration”. This workshop provided the background information prior to the fact-finding mission to Kosovo that took place from 14- 16 June 2012. Following Working Group’s positive recommendations on 3 October 2012, the Political Assembly on 16 October accepted the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) as an EPP observer member.

The continiously deteriorating situation in Belarus was raised and discussed with the experts from that country at the Working Group 3 meeting on 29 March 2012 and again on 3 October 2012.

On 3 October 2012, the Working Group 3 members were also able to get detailed and first-hand information about Ukraine and Georgia by exchanging views with the EPP Vice President Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI, MEP (PO-PL) and Krzysztof LISEK, MEP (PO-PL) who was member of the EP electoral observation mission to the 2012 Georgian Parliamentary elections.

In order to support its political partners, the EPP organises study visits. For instance, from 19–21 September 2012, the Working Group 3 delegates, headed by EPP Vice President Corien WORTMANN-KOOL, visited Georgia and praised the significant achievements of the UNM government in building a democratic and stable European country and in reinforcing EU and euro-atlantic integration in Georgia.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 WORKING GROUPS

29ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 WORKING GROUPS

CYBER SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD AND EPP TASK FORCE ON RESPECTFUL INTERNET FREEDOMSIn 2012, two very important meetings were set up within the EPP framework to deal with cyber security, data protection, net neutrality, and copyrights in the internet. The first one was chaired by Monika HOHLMEIER, MEP (CSU-DE) and the second one by Christofer FJELLNER, MEP (MOD-SE) and Konstantinos KYRINAKIS, YEPP Vice President. The EPP brought together politicians and experts with a legal, academic and technical background. The goal of such meetings is to formulate EPP’s positions in these very complex but increasingly important fields.

EXPERT GROUP ON FOREIGN AFFAIRSOn 6 June 2012, the EPP launched the Expert Group on Foreign Affairs. This group - chaired by Franco FRATTINI, former Italian Foreign Minister and former Vice President of the European Commission, and Mário DAVID, MEP (PSD-PT) and EPP Vice President - is composed of members of the European Parliament and national parliaments who deal with foreign affairs, as well as former Foreign Ministers. The main objective of this group is to contribute to the shaping of EPP policy on foreign affairs focusing mainly on the Eastern Partnership, the Middle East and North Africa, the Western Balkans, the transatlantic dimension, relations with the BRIC countries and on all major international issues.

Two successful meetings were held on the 6 June and 4 September 2012 in Brussels, the second featuring Majlinda BREGU, Minister of European Integration in Albania.

On 18 October 2012 during the EPP Congress in Bucharest, this expert group organised a comprehensive exchange of views between EU representatives including the Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs

Committee, Elmar BROK, MEP (CDU-DE), the Chairman of the Security and Defence Subcommittee, Arnaud DANJEAN, MEP (UMP-FR) and the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Riccardo MIGLIORI (PdL-IT), as wellas distinguished guests from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) including former Prime Minister of Lebanon Fouad SINIORA, former Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority Nabil SHAATH and Abdelfattah MOUROU, Founder and Vice-President of Ennahdha in Tunisia. The high-level roundtable discussion titled “New challenges and opportunities: Europe and the responsibility of its neighbours” enabled a discussion of the latest significant developments in the Muslim world and the chance for participants to search for common ground for further cooperation between MENA countries and EU.

CAMPAIGN MANAGERS MEETINGSeveral times per year the EPP organises campaign managers meetings, in which the key campaign operatives from the EPP member parties meet to discuss the national and European campaigns, to exchange experiences, to develop common strategies and to discuss new techniques in campaigning.

In 2012, the EPP campaign managers met twice, in May in Brussels and in November in Madrid. The first meeting in Brussels was mostly focused on national campaigns, election strategy, the role of social media and communication strategy.

The meeting in Madrid also reviewed the recent national campaigns; however the main topic of discussion was the European elections 2014. Kostas SASMATZOGLOU, EPP spokesman and campaign manager for the 2014 European elections conducted a round table discussion on the main challenges of the upcoming European campaign and presented the EPP roadmap. In addition, participants had an opportunity to have a close and detailed look at Eurobarometer survey, as well as to discuss new techniques in research and electoral communication.

Fouad SINIORA, former Prime Minister of Lebanon; Abdelfattah MOUROU, founder and Vice-President of Ennahdha, Tunisia; and Nabil SHAATH, former Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority.


Foreign AffairsANNUAL REVIEW 2012

THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICYThe European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is the cornerstone of the EPP’s external relations. This framework has enabled the EPP to develop its political cooperation with the EU’s neighbouring countries and to support them in building more stable, democratic and prosperous states. Several official visits were held, diverse events organised and documents adopted in order to strengthen the political dimension of the ENP.

EASTERN PARTNERSHIP The Eastern Partnership (EaP) remains a key priority for the EPP. In 2012 the EPP continued its efforts to promote the development of this process, which offers EaP countries a large number of tools and opportunities aimed at enhancing their economic and political integration in the EU. In doing so, the EPP was confronted with sensitive issues such as the relationships between EaP countries and Russia as well as the EU-Russia relationship.

The political dimension of the EaP was strength-ened in 2012 by the establishment of the EPP Eastern Partnership Leaders’ Summit, which is attended by EPP President Wilfried MARTENS, the President of Georgia Mikheil SAAKASHVILI, the President of Armenia Serzh SARGSYAN and the Prime Minister of Moldova Vlad FILAT.The first Summit was held in Batumi, Georgia on 11 July 2012 and the second on 30 November 2012 in Yerevan, Armenia. The two declarations adopted in Batumi and Yerevan can be considered as the EPP’s roadmap for the Eastern Partnership. The participation of the President of the European Commission José Manuel BARROSO to the second EPP EaP LeadersSummit, demonstrated the importance of this meeting.

In order to develop the parliamentary dimension of the Eastern Partnership, the European People’s Party is the first political family to have established a parliamentary group within the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, bringing together EPP MEPs and EPP MPs from Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia, as well as guests from Azerbaijan. The creation of this group, chaired by EPP Vice President and MEP Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (PO-PL), allows the EPP to enhance its political influence within Euronest and within its committees. Two successful meetings took place, on 31 March 2012 in Georgia and on 13 October 2012 in Moldova.

However, in 2012 the EPP remained concerned about the political developments in Ukraine. It is unfortunate that the road to a democratic and prosperous state for Ukraine has turned out to be a long and painful process because of the violations of human rights, the repression of the opposition and abuse of the rule of law. The Ukrainian Parliamentary elections on 28 October 2012 were conducted in a non-transparent and flawed manner.

The EPP continues to support the main opposi-tion parties Batkivschyna and UDAR in their fight against creeping authoritarianism. EPP Vice President and MEP Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (PO-PL), visited Ukraine in September 2012 in order to facilitate the dialogue between the EPP and like-minded opposition parties, while Elmar BROK (CDU-DE), EPP foreign affairs coordinator and MEP, made an official visit to the country in December 2012.

31ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 FOREIGN AFFAIRS

In 2012 the situation in Georgia has escalated and became worrying. Since the new administration has taken office after free and fair elections organised by the administration of President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI, it has been demonstrating undemocratic practices, harassing UNM members and undermining the institutions they do not control, which could slow down Georgia on its way towards EU integration.

NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EASTIn 2012 the EPP continued its commitment to promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue with the Muslim world, while supporting Arab countries which are striving for peace, democracy and stability.

In January 2012 EPP President Wilfried MARTENS visited Lebanon, a symbolic and strategic country with a difficult internal political situation and which is directly confronted with the dramatic events in Syria. The EPP President discussed the political developments in Lebanon and the cooperation between the EU and Lebanon during his meetings with President Michel SLEIMAN, Prime Minister Najib MIKATI, former Prime Minister Fouad SINIORA, Lebanese forces President Samir GEAGEA and Kataëb President and former President of Lebanon, Amine GEMAYEL. The situation of the Christians in the region was one of the main points raised during the EPP President’s meeting with the Patriarch of the Maronites, Bechara BOUTROS RAÏ.

From 12-14 February 2012, President MARTENS had the opportunity to visit Tunisia, the country that sparked the Arab Spring uprisings and then held its first democratic elections in October 2011. He discussed the on-going work of the Constituent Assembly of Tunisia, witnessed the internal progress and discussed the role of religion in the functioning of the state. Moreover, the President met Tunisia’s main political leaders (Prime Minister Hamadi JEBALI,the Parliament President Mustapha BEN JAAFAR and former Prime Minister Beji CAÏD ESSEBSI) as well as leaders of the main parties (Ennahda, Jomhouri, Nidaa Tounes), youth and representatives from civil society.

He encouraged further democratic transition in the country and shared valuable EPP experiences in strengthening pro-democratic forces and institutions.

The EPP supports a continuous and effective Middle East Peace Process. As part of that effort, President MARTENS conducted a two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authorities from 21-22 May 2012 and met the main political leaders, including the President of Israel, Shimon PERES, Prime Minister Benyamin NETANYAHU and the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Salam FAYYAD. He acknowledged the achievements of the Palestinian Authority in state building and reiterated the commitment of the EU to the security of Israel. During his visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the EPP President was confronted with the question of the settlements and stated that all behaviours which undermine the two-state solution must be condemned.

From 17-28 September 2012, the EPP, together with its Parliamentary group in the European Parliament and the Centre for European Studies (CES), established the framework of “Training and Seminars for political parties of Northern Africa and Middle East”. Young, pro-active members from different Tunisian political parties (Ennahda, Front Jeune, Jomhouri, Nidaa Tounes) made their first visit to Brussels and learned about the functioning of the EU by visiting the EPP headquarters, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European External Action Service, in addition to discussing EU politics and policies during their meetings with the EPP representatives and MEPs.

WESTERN BALKANS Between the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, with which it is necessary for Europe to develop a privileged partnership, and the member countries of the Eastern Partnership, whose European destiny is being affirmed day after day, the Balkans occupy a particularly special place.

The relationship with the countries of the Western Balkans therefore remains a top priority of the EPP. From 14-16 June 2012, the Working Group 3 “EPP Membership” conducted a fact-finding mission to Kosovo with the main purpose of assessing the application of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) led by the Mayor of Pristina, Isa MUSTAFA.

TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONSThe European People’s Party continued to expand its activities to strengthen transatlantic relations. Many roundtable discussions and seminars on a variety of topics were organised in Brussels and Washington together with the International Republican Institute (IRI) – covering topics such as Ukraine, Georgia, the Arab Spring, etc – and featured many high-profile European and American speakers. Moreover, in August the EPP organised its quadrennial event in the United States, on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, featuring EPP Group Chairman Joseph DAUL MEP (UMP-FR), as the keynote speaker. Furthermore, during the Tampa Convention, a senior EPP delegation conducted many high-level meetings with the leadership of the Republican Party. Finally, the EPP’s think tank, the Centre for European Studies (CES), and the IRI organised in Brussels in June the third annual Transatlantic Think Tank Conference which brought together prominent speakers from Europe and the United States.

As the European Union is becoming a global player on an international scale, the biggest political force of the EU, the European People’s Party, is actively assisting in strengthening foreign relations at a political level, whilst influencing Europe’s foreign policy priorities.


CommunicationANNUAL REVIEW 2012

The mission of the EPP Press and Communication Department is to promote our political family and disseminate information to the general public and the European and international media. Our team works closely with colleagues in the EU institutions and with the communication departments of our member parties in the national capitals in order to streamline our messaging and maximise our impact on public opinion.

33ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 COMMUNICATION

NEW VISUAL IDENTITYIn 2012 the EPP also rolled out a new visual identity, which brings to the forefront one of our primary colors, blue, while accentuating in an attractive manner one element from our logo – the bridge. The new EPP’s visual identity has been incorporated in almost all our communication tools – press releases, social media, event props, publications, stationary – and it will soon be incorporated in our new and improved website www.epp.eu, which will be launched in March 2013.

COMMUNICATION STRATEGY In 2012, the EPP continued to improve its communication strategy in an effort to help close the gap between the EU and European citizens. We strive to explain in an open and transparent manner our policies through a set of interactive, web-based platforms. Thus, the EPP is not only present in all of the main social networks, but it also has by far the highest level of social engagement - compared to all other European political parties and groups - and continues to rapidly expand its outreach. For example, the EPP Facebook page has attracted a spectacular 120,000 “Likes”, the Twitter page over 12,000 “Followers”, the Flickr page over 1,200,000 photo views, as well as many thousands of video views on our YouTube channel.

Get Social with us!

facebook.epp.eu

twitter.epp.eu

youtube.epp.eu

linkedin.epp.eu

flickr.epp.eu

gplus.epp.eu

Twitter account

12,000 Followers

Facebook page

120,000 Likes

Flickr account

1,200,000 Photo views

EPP innumbers.March 2013


Structure and Resources

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

In September 2012 the European Commission adopted a proposal to create a genuine European Legal Statute for European Political Parties and Foundations, thereby giving them EU legal capacity in all Member States. The creation of a European Legal Statute was a longstanding demand of the EPP. This authentic European legal status will enable the European political parties and their founda-tions to act as representative agents of the European public interest and will increase their visibility, recognition, effectiveness, transparancy and accountability. The EPP is working in close cooperation with the rapporteur and the EPP members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO), as well as our representatives in the European General Affairs Council, to have the Commission’s proposal approved before the European elections in 2014.

EPP FINANCES: SOLID AND TRANSPARENT In 2012 the EPP Auditors Report made the following conclusion: “the EPP GeneralSecretariat practices a detailed budget control and gives proof of commitment and solid professional and transparent financial and budgetary management despite the multitude of new tasks.”

PUBLIC FUNDINGThe European Union budget for 2012 set aside 18.9 million euro for the funding of European political parties. 15% of the budget is distributed among the parties in equal shares, while 85% is distributed on the basis of the number of seats in the European Parliament held by each party. 13 European political parties were recognised in 2012 and received funding from the European Parliament (in millions of euro):

• European People’s Party (EPP) - 6.4• Party of European Socialists (PES) - 4.3• Alliance of Liberals and Democrats

for Europe Party (ALDE) - 1.9• European Green Party (EGP) - 1.3• Alliance of European Conservatives

and Reformists (AECR) - 1.2• Party of the European Left (EL) - 0.8• Movement for Europe of Liberties

& Democracy (MELD) - 0.6• European Democratic Party (EDP) - 0.5• European Free Alliance (EFA) - 0.3• European Alliance for Freedom (EAF) - 0.3• EU Democrats (EUD) - 0.2• European Christian Political Movement

(ECPM) - 0.2• European Alliance of National Movements

(AEMN) - 0.2

The European Parliament funds constitute two-thirds of the EPP’s income. The rest of the income is generated through membership fees. The membership fees of the ordinary member parties are calculated on the basis of the political strength of the party and the number of MEPs. The membership fee of the associate and observer member parties is calculated by the Political Assembly on the basis of the votes obtained by these parties during the last national elections.


Headquarters / Internship Programme

EPP INTERNSHIP PROGRAMMEIn 2012 the EPP continued its successful internship programme by giving young university graduates the opportunity to acquire useful experience in European political life.

EPP internships are focused on immersing the trainees in the short- and long-term political planning and activities of the party, including organising meetings and conferences, preparing reports and press releases, editing publications, updating the website and databases, communicating with member parties, EPP Groups, associations and other affiliated organisations, liaising with officials from the European institutions, etc.

THE 2012 INTERNSLinda EICHLER – Estonia Natalia MTCHEDLISHVILI – Georgia Ferdinando PALMERI – Italy Sara PETRUCCI – Italy Óscar SÁNCHEZ BENÍTEZ – Venezuela

EPP HEADQUARTERS : THE BRUSSELS MEETING POINT OF THE EPP FAMILY.The EPP Headquarters are the true Brussels meeting point for everyone who is linked to the large family of the European People’s Party. The meeting rooms and attractive lounge hosted numerous working groups, conferences, seminars, and Presidency and Ministerial Meetings.

Almost daily the EPP Headquarters welcome visitors from member parties and high-level delegations from all over the globe. All of them are charmed by the modern, efficient and inviting look and feel of our premises.In addition to the EPP staff, the building hosts most of the EPP member associations, the Centrist Democrat International, and the Forum for European Studies.


Member Associations

YEPPYEPP is the youth branch of the European People’s Party. Bringing together 57 centre-right member organisations from 39 countries all over Europe, it is the largest pan-European youth political organisation. Founded in 1997, YEPP gathers Christian democrat and conservative youth parties. In line with the values defended by YEPP such as European integration, the rule of law and freedom, YEPP organised conferences and trainings in 2012 on topical subjects including “The Future of European Integration: Breaking Taboos”, “Youth Unemployment”, “Democracy in North Africa”, “European Internal and External Cooperation”, and “Bringing Citizens Closer to the EU”.

PRESIDENTCsaba DÖMÖTÖR

SECRETARY GENERALJuha-Pekka NURVALA

YEPP - Activities in 2012.23-26 February: YEPP Seminar and Council Meeting, Budapest, Hungary.10-13 May: YEPP Chairmen’s Conference and Council Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal.04-08 August: YEPP Summer School, Larnaca, Cyprus.27-30 September: YEPP Seminar and Council Meeting, Madrid, Spain.17-18 October: YEPP Board Meeting and Sideline Congress Event, Bucharest, Romania.14-17 November: YEPP Study Days, Brussels, Belgium.

ESCUWith more than one million members, the ESCU is the largest political senior citizens’ organisation in Europe. Represented in 27 countries by 41 organisations, the ESCU is dedicated to advancing the rights of European senior citizens and addressing issues such as the role of the elderly in ageing European societies, discrimination against the elderly, European pension systems, volunteering and seniors’ active commitment in society. This year the Vienna Summer Academy focused on Senior Citizens for Europe and emphasised that the expertise and knowledge of seniors can provide solutions to the crisis Europe is currently facing.

PRESIDENTBernhard WORMS

SECRETARY GENERALIngeborg UHLENBROCK

ESCU - Activities in 2012. 18-19 March: ESCU Regional Conference “WEST” in Karlsruhe, Germany.11-13 May: ESCU Regional Conference “EAST” in Prague, Czech Republic.24-26 June: ESCU Third Summer Academy for Leaders, Vienna, Austria.10-11 November: ESCU Regional Conference “SOUTH” in Nicosia, Cyprus.

EPP WOMENEPP WOMEN (EPPW) is composed of 40 member organisations from political parties which are members of the EPP in the European Union and non-EU countries. EPP WOMEN is dedicated to the advancement of women’s political emancipation throughout Europe and the promotion of important women-related issues such as gender equality in the labour market and the political sphere, women and the Arab Spring, women and the financial crisis, etc.

PRESIDENTDoris PACK

SECRETARY GENERALHillie VAN DE STREEK

EPPW - Activities in 2012. 10 February: EPPW Conference on “Quota for women in business leadership positions - does the European Union have to intervene?”, Berlin, Germany.12 April: EPPW Colloque, Brussels, Belgium.12-16 July: EPPW Summer Academy, Istanbul, Turkey.19 October: EPPW Congress Berlin, Germany.

For more information please visit: http://youthepp.eu

For more information please visit: http://eu-seniorunion.info

For more information please visit: http://epp-women.org

37ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

EDSEDS is the official student organisation of the EPP. Since it was founded in 1961, EDS brings together students and young political leaders from all over Europe to promote a political pro-European exchange. Although EDS is a student organisation and therefore takes a special interest in topics like the Bologna Process, the organisation is also especially aware of the importance of promoting values like freedom, democracy and human rights. EDS has 42 member organisations from 35 countries, representing over 1,600,000 students and youth, including in non-EU member countries such as Turkey, Israel, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo. Every year the organisation hosts summer and winter universities and several seminars, publishes its magazine, the “BullsEye” four times per year and engages in campaigns of various types for students and young people.

CHAIRMANJuraj ANTAL

SECRETARY GENERALAnn-Sofie PAUWELYN

EDS - Activities in 2012. 21-26 February: EDS Winter University 2012 “Democratisation Process in the Balkans - Promoting European Values and Human Rights”, Zagreb, Croatia.8-12 May: EDS Council Meeting and Seminar “Knowledge is Power”, Antwerp/Brussels, Belgium.13-17 June: EDS Policy days “Eastern Partnership 2.0 - A chance to deeper integration and cooperation”, Tbilisi, Georgia.15-20 July: EDS Summer University 2012 “Crossing Borders - Uniting Europe”, Sopron/Eisenstadt, Hungary.15-20 October: EDS Council Meeting and Seminar “Youth Involvement in Politics of the 21st Century”, Bucharest, Romania.4-9 December: EDS Council Meeting and Seminar “Living Together in Diverse Societies - A Youth Approach to the Intercultural Dialogue with the Roma Minority”, Trnava, Slovakia.

EUCDWThe EUCDW is the workers’ association of the European People’s Party, with 22 member organisations from 17 European countries. As the official EPP representative for wage-earners, the EUCDW supports all related work carried out by the EPP and promotes the interests of its affiliated democratic trade unions, political associations and civil society organisations in the EPP, the European Parliament and at all political and trade union levels in Europe. This year, the EUDCW actively contributed to the new EPP Platform and successfully submitted several resolutions to the EPP Congress in Bucharest. The EUCDW supports stricter rules for a safer and fairer financial sector and the development of EU economic policy in the spirit of the social market economy.

PRESIDENTElmar BROK

SECRETARY GENERALIvo BELET

EUCDW - Activities in 2012.25 January: EUCDW Financial Working Group, Brussels, Belgium.26 May: EUCDW Presidium and Board Meeting, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.12 July: EUCDW Political Working Group, Brussels, Belgium.17 October: EUCDW Delegation Meeting at the EPP Congress in Bucharest, Romania.29 August: EUCDW Board Meeting, Berlin, Germany.6 December: EUCDW Presidium Meeting, Vienna, Austria.

For more information please visit: http://www.edsnet.org

For more information please visit: http://eucdw.orgEPP WOMEN

ESCU

EDS

EUCDW

YEPP


Centre for European Studies

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

The Centre for European Studies (CES) had a remarkable year in 2012. The official think tank of the EPP celebrated its 5th anniversary by playing a significant role in reaching out to the people of Europe and enabling them to better understand the concept and processes of politics at the European level. Its functionas a catalyst for raising awareness of citizens’ mutual responsibility for the future of Europe was recognised by the University of Pennsylvania, which ranked the CES among the EU’s top political think tanks in its prestigious 2012 Global GoTo Think Tank Report.

39ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 CENTRE FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES

ACTIVITIES AND RESEARCHA wide range of political issues were covered in CES publications including migration into the EU, populism, environmental and energy policies for sustainable growth, EU cooperation with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the European future of the Western Balkans and the democratic deficit in the EU. CES activities focused on these and many other relevant topics in the EU political scene.

ECONOMIC IDEAS FORUMExperts and policymakers from across Europe and beyond gathered in Dublin on 19 and 20 April for the third annual Economic Ideas Forum (EIF), organised by the CES with the aim of providing a forum for key decision makers to offer insights and exchange views. Panellists - including EU officials, business leaders, ministers and heads of government - agreed on the importance of promoting fiscal responsibility, completing the European Single Market and forging a new transatlantic trade agreement. Taoiseach Enda KENNY and EPP and CES President Wilfried MARTENS co-hosted the conference, calling for EU countries to continue to support each other through the crisis as well as for new policies to spur growth and job creation and a commitment to continued investment in research and innovation.

THIRD ANNUAL TRANSATLANTIC THINK TANK CONFERENCEAnother important CES initiative was the third annual Transatlantic Think Tank Conference in Brussels on 26 June, carried out in cooperation with the International Republican Institute (IRI). The event brought together influential analysts, experts, policymakers and other stakeholders from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss a wide range of issues, including a new transatlantic trade agreement and the possibility of adopting a common approach towards Asia.

THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAMMEAs part of the EPP Congress in Bucharest, the CES organised its 4th International Visitors Programme (IVP), with the aim of bringing together international guests and world-class thinkers to address pressing issues on the European and global agendas. European Commission Vice-President Antonio TAJANI and CES Secretary Treasurer Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ opened the programme, which was followed by two panel discussions addressing Europe’s role in the world and the achievements and challenges of the European Single Market.

In addition to the panels, the CES organised live interviews with a number of European Commissioners, heads of state, ministers, MEPs and business representatives, which were watched by many Congress participants.

SPRINGENERATION SURVEY RESULTS: IDEAS FOR EUROPE-MENA PARTNERSHIPIn 2012 the CES culminated its ambitious public opinion initiative, the “Springeneration” online survey, which aimed to foster partnership and dialogue between Europeans and people in the Middle East and North Africa. The survey attracted more than 70,000 participants who contributed more than 25,000 comments and ideas. The CES then presented the results of the survey on 5 June in Brussels. CES Secretary Treasurer Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ remarked that it is the duty of the EPP to strengthen ties with those countries and people striving for democracy. In November, nine actual participants of the survey from MENA countries were invited to Brussels in order to further discuss their ideas for EU-MENA cooperation with leading MEPs at an event organised in the European Parliament.


2014 Europeanelections

In 2012, the European People’s Party took its preliminary steps in preparation of the 2014 European elections. Following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in December 2009, which calls for the European Council to take into account the result of the European elections when nominating a President of the European Commission, in 2014 the EPP will again take the lead by nominating its presidential candidate (as it did in 2004 and 2009) and campaign with its candidate across Europe.

To this end, the EPP Congress in Bucharest approved a special resolution, which underlines its intention to put forward a presidential candidate that will spearhead the EPP campaign and compete against the presidential candidates of the other European political parties. Moreover, in preparation of the campaign, the EPP appointed its Spokesman, Kostas SASMATZOGLOU, as its campaign manager, and set up a Campaign Steering Committee (CSC) chaired by EPP President Wilfried MARTENS, which includes representatives from the EPP Presidency, the EPP member parties, the EPP Group in the European Parliament, and the Centre for European Studies.

41ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 2014 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

“AN IMPORTANT MEANS TO DEEPEN THE PAN-EUROPEAN POLITICAL DEBATE WOULD BE THE PRESENTATIONBY EUROPEAN POLITICAL PARTIES OF THEIR CANDIDATE FOR THE POST OF COMMISSION PRESIDENT AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS ALREADY IN 2014. THIS WOULD BE A DECISIVE STEP TO MAKE THE POSSIBILITY OF A EUROPEAN CHOICE OFFERED BY THESE ELECTIONS EVEN CLEARER. I CALL ON THE POLITICAL PARTIES TO COMMIT TO THIS STEP AND THUS TO FURTHER EUROPEANISE THESE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS”

“URGES THE EUROPEAN POLITICAL PARTIES TO NOMINATE CANDIDATES FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COMMISSION AND EXPECTS THOSE CANDIDATES TO PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN, IN PARTICULAR BY PERSONALLY PRESENTING THEIR PROGRAMME IN ALL MEMBER STATES OF THE UNION; STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF REINFORCING THE POLITICAL LEGITIMACY OF BOTH PARLIAMENT AND THE COMMISSION BY CONNECTING THEIR RESPECTIVE ELECTIONS MORE DIRECTLY TO THE CHOICE OF THE VOTERS”

JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO “STATE OF THE UNION” SPEECH12 SEPTEMBER 2012

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTRESOLUTION P7_TA-PROV(2012)046222 NOVEMBER 2012


Who is WhoPresidency

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

Wilfried MARTENSBelgium - CD&V

Lucinda CREIGHTONIreland - FG

Michel BARNIERFrance - UMP

Peter HINTZEGermany - CDU

Antonio TAJANIItaly - PdL

Johannes HAHNAustria - ÖVP

Corien WORTMANN-KOOLNetherlands - CDA

Mário DAVIDPortugal - PSD

Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKIPoland - PO

Tobias BILLSTRÖMSweden - MOD

Anca BOAGIURomania - PDL

Ingo FRIEDRICH / TREASURERGermany - CSU

José Manuel BARROSOPortugal - PSD

Herman VAN ROMPUYBelgium - CD&V

Joseph DAULFrance - UMP

PRESIDENT

VICEPRESIDENTS*

EX OFFICIOVICEPRESIDENTS

* In order of their election.


SECRETARY GENERAL

Secretariat

Ines PRAINSACK Political Adviser [email protected]

Galina FOMENCHENKOPolitical [email protected]

Brenda FURNIERE Head of the President’s Office [email protected]

Pavlína HEYMANS-ŠPAČKOVÁ Assistant (on leave) to the [email protected]

Javier JIMÉNEZ Senior Press and Communication [email protected]

John LAGESON Substitute Assistant to the [email protected]

Daphné LAMAL Assistant to Deputy Secretary General Luc [email protected]

Gonçalo CARRIÇO IT Systems [email protected]

Eva PALACKOVÁ Political Adviser [email protected]

Charlotte FRIZBERGAssistant Event [email protected]

Lisa DUTTON Assistant to the President’s Office [email protected]

Giuseppina CURRELI Head of the Secretary General’s Office and Senior Political Adviser [email protected]

Claudia CAJVAN Assistant to Deputy Secretary General Christian Kremer [email protected]

Beatriz DE ANTA DE BENITO Assistant to the Secretary General [email protected]

Melanie DURSIN Political Adviser [email protected]

STAFF

Siegfried MURESAN Political [email protected]

Sophie PAEME Reception and general administration [email protected]

Karine MILHEIRO Press and Communication [email protected]

Juan MAGAZ Political [email protected]

Guy VOLCKAERT Manager of Informatics and Internet [email protected]

Yelba TORRES Working Groups, Ministerial Meetings [email protected]

Óscar SÁNCHEZ BENÍTEZ Social Media Manager [email protected]

Julia ZALUTSKAJA Assistant to the Secretaryof External [email protected]

Christian KREMERDeputy Secretary General

Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZSecretary General

Luc VANDEPUTTEDeputy Secretary General

Kostas SASMATZOGLOUSpokesman

Nicolas BRIEC Secretary of External Relations


Member PartiesEuropean Union countries

Österreichische Volkspartei / ÖVP / Austrian People’s Party

Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams / CD&V / Christian Democrat and FlemishCentre démocrate humaniste / cdH / Humanist Democratic Centre

Tradice Odpovědnost Prosperita 09 / TOP09 / Tradition Responsibility Prosperity 09Křesťanská a demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová / KDU-ČSL / Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People’s Party

Det Konservative Folkeparti / C / Conservative People’s PartyKristendemokraterne / KD / Christian Democrats

Kansallinen Kokoomus / KOK / National Coalition PartyKristillisdemokraatit° / KD / Christian Democrats

Hrvatska demokratska zajednica+ / HDZ / Croatian Democratic UnionHrvatska seljačka stranka+ / HSS / Croatian Peasant’s Party

Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands / CDU / Christian Democratic Union of GermanyChristlich-Soziale Union in Bayern / CSU / Christian Social Union in Bavaria

Граждани за европейско развитие на България • Grazhdani za evropeysko razvitie na Balgariya / ГЕРБ • GERB / Citizens for European Development of BulgariaСъюз на демократичните сили • Sayuz na demokratichnite sili / СДС • SDS / Union of Democratic ForcesДемократи за силна България • Demokrati za silna Bulgaria / ДСБ • DSB / Democrats for a Strong BulgariaДемократическа партия • Demokraticheska partia / ДП • DP / Democratic PartyЗемеделски Народен Съюз • Zemedelski Naroden Sajuz / ЗНС • ZNS / Agrarian People’s Union

AT

BE

CZ

DK

FI

HR

DE

BG

epp.eu/cdenv

epp.eu/top09

epp.eu/c

epp.eu/kokoomus

epp.eu/hdz

epp.eu/cdu

epp.eu/gerb

epp.eu/dsb

epp.eu/cdh

epp.eu/oevp

epp.eu/kdu

epp.eu/kd-dk

epp.eu/kd

epp.eu/hss

epp.eu/csu

epp.eu/sds-bg

epp.eu/dpepp.eu/zns

Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit / IRL / Pro Patria and Res Publica Union

Union pour un Mouvement Populaire / UMP / Union for a Popular Movement

CY

EE

FR

GR

epp.eu/disy

epp.eu/irl

epp.eu/ump

epp.eu/nd

Fidesz - Magyar Polgári Szövetség / FIDESZ / Fidesz - Hungarian Civic UnionKereszténydemokrata Néppárt / KDNP / Christian Democratic People’s Party

HUepp.eu/fideszepp.eu/kdnp

+ Associate members ° Observer members

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012 MEMBER PARTIES

Vienotība / Unity

Tėvynės sąjunga - Lietuvos krikščionys demokratai / TS-LKD / Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats

Chrëschtlech Sozial Vollekspartei / CSV / Christian Social People’s Party

Partit Nazzjonalista / PN / Nationalist Party

Christen-Democratisch Appèl / CDA / Christian Democratic Appeal

Il Popolo della Libertà / PdL / The People of FreedomUnione dei Democratici Cristiani e di Centro / UDC / Union of the CentreUDEUR Popolari per il Sud / UDEUR / People for the SouthSüdtiroler Volkspartei° / SVP / South Tyrolean People’s Party

LV

LT

LU

MT

NL

IT

epp.eu/vienotiba

epp.eu/tslkd

epp.eu/csv

epp.eu/pn

epp.eu/cda

epp.eu/pdl-itepp.eu/udc

epp.eu/udeurepp.eu/svp

Platforma Obywatelska / PO / Civic PlatformPolskie Stronnictwo Ludowe / PSL / Polish People’s Party

Partido Social Democrata / PSD / Social Democratic PartyCentro Democrático e Social - Partido Popular / CDS-PP / Social and Democratic Centre – People’s Party

Partido Popular / PP / People’s PartyUnió Democràtica de Catalunya • Unión Democrática de Cataluña / UDC / Democratic Union of Catalunya

Moderata samlingspartiet / MOD - Moderaterna / Moderate Coalition PartyKristdemokraterna / KD / Christian Democrats

Partidul Democrat-Liberal / PDL / Democratic Liberal PartyRomániai Magyar Demokrata Szövetség • Uniunea Democrată Maghiară din România / RMDSZ • UDMR / Democratic Union of Hungarians in RomaniaPartidul Naţional Ţărănesc Creştin Democrat / PNŢCD / Christian Democratic National Peasant’s Party

Kresťanskodemokratické hnutie / KDH / Christian Democratic MovementSlovenská demokratická a kresťanská únia – Demokratická strana / SDKÚ-DS / Slovakian Christian Democratic Union – Democratic PartyMagyar Közösség Pártja • Strana maďarskej komunity / MKP • SMK / Party of the Hungarian Community

Slovenska demokratska stranka / SDS / Slovenian Democratic PartySlovenska ljudska stranka / SLS / Slovenian People’s PartyNova Slovenija – krščanska ljudska stranka / N.Si / New Slovenia - Christian People’s Party

PL

PT

ES

SE

RO

SK

SI

epp.eu/po

epp.eu/psd

epp.eu/pp

epp.eu/moderaterna

epp.eu/pdl-ro

epp.eu/kdh

epp.eu/sds

epp.eu/psl

epp.eu/cdspp

epp.eu/unio

epp.eu/kristdemokraterna

epp.eu/rmdsz

epp.eu/sdku

epp.eu/sls

epp.eu/pntcd

epp.eu/mkp

epp.eu/nsi

Fine Gael / FG / Family of the IrishIE epp.eu/fg

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

Non-EU countries

Partia Demokratike e Shqipërisë° / PD - DP / Democratic Party of Albania

Partidul Liberal Democrat din Moldova° / PLDM / Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova

Lidhja Demokratike e Kosovës° / LDK / Democratic League of Kosovo

ერთიანი ნაციონალური მოძრაობა • Ertiani Natsionaluri Modzraoba° / ენმ • ENM - UNM / United National Movement

Partito Democratico Cristiano Sammarinese° / PDCS / Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party

Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi° / AKP / Justice and Development Party

• Hayastani Hanrapetakan Kusaktsutyun° / HHK /Republican Party of Armenia • Orinats Erkir° / OEK / Rule of Law • Zharangutyun° / Heritage

Всеукраїнське об’єднання “Батьківщина” • Vseukrayins’ke Obyednannya Bat’kivshchyna° / Batkivschyna / All Ukrainian Union “Fatherland”Народний Рух України • Narodnyi Rukh Ukrajiny° / Рух • Rukh / People’s Movement of Ukraine

Внатрешна македонска револуционерна организација – Демократска партија за македонско национално единство • Vnatrešna makedonska revolucionerna organizacija – Demokratska partija za makedonsko nacionalno edinstvo+ / ВМРО-ДПМНЕ • VMRO-DPMNE / Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity

Партыя БНФ • Partyja BNF° / ПБНФ • PBNF / BPF Party BPF stands for Belarusian People’s Front. It was forced to change its name after a ban by the Lukashenko dictatorship.

Аб’ядна́ная грамадзя́нская па́ртыя Белару́сі • Abjadnanaja hramadzianskaja partyja Biełarusi°/ АГП • AHP / United Civic Party of Belarus

Høyre+ / H / Conservative PartyKristelig Folkeparti° / KrF / Christian Democratic People’s Party

G17 Plus+ / G17+Vajdasági Magyar Szövetség° • Савез војвођанских Мађара • Savez vojvođanskih Mađara /VMSZ • CBM • SVM / Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians

AL

MD

KOSOVO*

* The EPP does not have a position on the legal status of Kosovo.

GE

SM

TR

AM

UA

MK

BY

NO

RS

epp.eu/hhk

epp.eu/batkivschyna

epp.eu/vmrodpmne

epp.eu/bnf

epp.eu/ahp

epp.eu/hoyre

epp.eu/g17plus

epp.eu/oekepp.eu/zharangutyun

epp.eu/rukh

epp.eu/krf

epp.eu/vmsz

Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei • Parti démocrate-chrétien • Partito popolare democratico+ / CVP • PDC • PPD / Christian Democratic People’s Party

CH epp.eu/cvp

epp.eu/pd

epp.eu/pldm

epp.eu/ldk

epp.eu/enm

epp.eu/pdcs

epp.eu/akp

Stranka Demokratske Akcije° / SDA / Party of Democratic ActionHrvatska demokratska zajednica Bosne i Hercegovine° / HDZ BiH / Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and HerzegovinaПартија демократског прогреса • Partija demokratskog progresa° / ПДП • PDP / Party of Democratic Progress

BA

epp.eu/sda

epp.eu/pdp

epp.eu/hdzbih

+ Associate members ° Observer members

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

EPP in Europe

MADRIDSPAIN

ANDORRA MONACO SANMARINO

DUBLINIRELAND

ROMANIABUCHAREST

SLOVAKIABRATISLAVA

SOFIABULGARIA

BUDAPESTHUNGARYLJUBLJANA

SLOVENIA

PARISFRANCE

GREECEATHENS

ROME ITALY

NICOSIA CYPRUS

VALLETTA MALTA

VIENNAAUSTRIA

PRAGUECZECH REP.

REYKJAVIKICELAND

NORWAYOSLO

RUSSIAMOSCOW

MINSK BELARUS

TALLINNESTONIA

RIGALATVIA

LITHUANIAVILNIUS

KIEV UKRAINE

MOLDOVACHISINAU

BERN SWITZERLAND

ANKARA TURKEY

TBILISSIGEORGIA

YEREVANARMENIA

UNITEDKINGDOMLONDON

LISBONPORTUGAL

STOCKHOLM

HELSINKI

SWEDEN FINLAND

NETHERLANDSAMSTERDAM

BRUSSELSBELGIUM

LUXEMBOURG

BERLINGERMANY WARSAW

POLAND

SKOPJEF.Y.R.O.MTIRANA

ALBANIA

PODGORICAMONTENEGRO

BELGRADESERBIAKOSOVO*

PRISTINA

ZAGREBCROATIA

SARAJEVOBOSNIA &

HERZEGOVINA

DENMARKCOPENHAGEN

EU Country with EPP-led governmentEU CountryNon-EU Country with EPP-led governmentNon-EU Country

Not visible on this Map: Guadaloupe (F) / Guayana (F) / Martinique (F) / Réunion (F) / Curaçao (NL) / Bonaire (NL) / Sint Maarten (NL) / Azores (P).

European People’s Party10, rue du commerceB-1000 Brussels

ANNUAL REVIEW 2012

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epp annual review 2012

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