EPP Annual Review 2014 by European People's Party

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Making History Leading Europe Forward

JEAN-CLAUDE

www.epp.eu

FOCUS! EUROPEAN ELECTIONS 2014 EXPERIENCE. SOLIDARITY. FUTURE.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Who we are

Welcome to the European Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 achieve a prosperous Europe.

Get Social with us! twitter.epp.eu facebook.epp.eu youtube.epp.eu flickr.epp.eu linkedin.epp.eu

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Contents This publication is up-to-date as of early March 2015. However, political situations are changing constantly, and the information in this publication is bound to change. Please visit our website at www.epp.eu for current information.

02 WELCOME to the EPP

Decision-Making Bodies

Communications

20 FOCUS!

European Elections 2014

European Council - EPP Summit

Structure and Resources

Summit Highlights

Political Assembly Highlights

Heads of State and Government

Ministerial Meetings

European Commission

European Parliament

Committee of the Regions

Euronest / Council of Europe / OSCE / NATO

Working Groups / Events

Foreign Affairs

Headquarters / Internship Programme

Member Associations

Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies

EPP Annual Review 2014

This publication is produced by the EPP Press and Communications Department. Date of issue March 2015 Editor in Chief Javier JIMĂ&#x2030;NEZ

Who is Who

Assistant Editor John LAGESON

Design & Production www.blcreative.eu

Member Parties

Map of Europe

Printing Company Dereume Photos European Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Party European Commission European Parliament Download this publication www.epp.eu Questions about this publication press@epp.eu

Printed with the financial support of the European Parliament.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Welcome to the EPP

“ NOW IS THE TIME TO GOVERN.

NOW IS THE TIME TO DELIVER RESULTS. THE EPP IS THE POLITICAL FAMILY THAT WILL ACHIEVE THESE AIMS FOR EUROPE ”.

JOSEPH DAUL EPP PRESIDENT

ANTONIO LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ EPP SECRETARY GENERAL

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 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 and have pioneered the European project since 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. As of the beginning of 2015, the EPP is the largest European-level political party, with 78 member parties from 40 countries, 11 EU and 6 non-EU heads of state and government, 14 European Commissioners including the President, the largest Group in the European Parliament with 219 members, and the heads of two of the main EU institutions: the European Commission with Jean-Claude JUNCKER and the European Council with Donald TUSK. The past year has been truly momentous for the EPP and we are proud of the important contributions we have made to the European political process in 2014. The highlight of the year was, of course, the European elections which took place from 22-25 May. These elections were like none before; in addition to the election of the new European Parliament, the major European parties each nominated a candidate for President of the European Commission. For the EPP, this process began months in advance, when we launched an internal primary process to select our candidate.

In doing so, the EPP was the only major European political party to have a primary process which was democratic, transparent and truly competitive. Following the submission of three highly qualified candidatures, the EPP delegates voted in March at a major EPP Congress in Dublin to select Jean-Claude JUNCKER as the EPP’s candidate for Commission President. Throughout April and May, Jean-Claude JUNCKER travelled across Europe presenting his vision and making the case to the citizens that the EPP is the political family with the best ideas and solutions to address the difficult challenges we face. At the heart of this vision, and at the core of the policy proposals put forward during the campaign, were the values that have guided the EPP throughout our history: freedom and responsibility, equality and justice, solidarity and subsidiarity. On 25 May, it became clear that the values, vision and ideas of the EPP had resonated with the citizens of Europe, who again placed their trust in our political family by voting for more EPP parties and candidates than for those of any other EU-level political party. As a result, Jean-Claude JUNCKER earned the support to move forward and secure the votes of the European Council and European Parliament before taking office as the new President of the European Commission on 1 November. Moreover, Donald TUSK earned the support of the European Council and took office as its new President on 1 December. Throughout 2014, we also had the pleasure of welcoming new EPP heads of state and government. In January, Laimdota STRAUJUMA became the new Prime Minister of Latvia, replacing Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, who later became a Vice-President in the new European Commission. In Poland, Ewa KOPACZ took over as Prime Minister following Donald TUSK’s election as President of the European Council. Alexander STUBB took office as the new Prime Minister of Finland, following Jyrki KATAINEN’s appointment as a European Commissioner and later as a Vice-President in the Juncker Commission.

In October, Boyko BORISSOV again became Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and in November, Klaus IOHANNIS was elected President of Romania, succeeding outgoing President Traian BĂSESCU. Beyond the EU, the October general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were a success for the EPP, with all three members of the new Bosnian Presidency – Bakir IZETBEGOVIĆ, Dragan ČOVIĆ and Mladen IVANIĆ – representing EPP parties. And in December, Isa MUSTAFA took office as the new Prime Minister of Kosovo. For the EPP, 2014 was a year of great challenges and great successes. But we remain mindful that our work is very much in progress, and we will never rest on our laurels. The economic and financial crises of the last years have caused extraordinary hardship for many Europeans and we have faced difficult challenges on our eastern and southern borders. In particular, the unprecedented developments in Ukraine in 2014, and the bravery shown by the Ukrainian people in standing up for European values, further proved that we must never take for granted the importance of our European project as a force for good in the world. The EPP stood firmly in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in 2014 and we will continue to do so. We are grateful for the crucial work carried out by former Commission President José Manuel BARROSO and former Council President Herman VAN ROMPUY. Together with the EPP heads of state and government, these leaders have put Europe back on the right track. We are confident that under the new leadership of Presidents Jean-Claude JUNCKER and Donald TUSK, we will build upon those crucial successes in the coming years. Now is the time to govern. Now is the time to deliver results. The EPP is the political family that will achieve these aims for Europe.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

European Council - EPP Summit

“ ALL EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS MUST WORK TOGETHER FOR

THE COMMON GOOD, WHILE RESPECTING THE ROLE EACH IS HERE TO PLAY. WE WILL CONQUER THE CHALLENGES FACING US WITH ENERGY AND OPTIMISM, OR NOT AT ALL. CERTAINLY, NO EUROPEAN NATION, NO SINGLE STATE, CAN CONQUER THEM ALONE. FOR MY PART, I WILL USE ALL THE SKILLS I HAVE TO KEEP THE WORK OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL RESULTS-ORIENTED AND FOCUSED ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS ”.

DONALD TUSK PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 EUROPEAN COUNCIL - EPP SUMMIT

Prior to the meetings of the European Council, the EPP presidents of the European institutions, EPP heads of state and government, deputy prime ministers, party presidents in opposition, and the EPP Presidency meet for customary Summits which are hosted by EPP President Joseph DAUL.

Statutory Summits are limited to the representatives of the Member States of the European Union, while the Enlarged Summits are also open to EPP leaders from non-EU countries. During these informal and confidential meetings, our leaders try to seek consensus within the EPP political family in an effort to tackle common problems and develop common positions at the European Council. In the first half of 2014, Greece held the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Antonis SAMARAS.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Summit Highlights

01 STATUTORY SUMMIT DUBLIN, IRELAND 06 MARCH 2014 The Statutory Summit which took place during the EPP Congress in Dublin was originally intended to focus on the preparations for the EPP’s campaign for the 2014 European elections. However, due to the events in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea by Russia, the agenda was amended. First in the company of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia TYMOSHENKO, who had just been freed from prison, followed by UDAR President Vitali KLITSCHKO, the Summit participants discussed the situation in Ukraine and Crimea, the EPP resolution on Ukraine and the results of the extraordinary meeting of the European Council in Brussels earlier that day. Following the discussion on Ukraine, the leaders had an extensive debate and exchange of thoughts regarding the EPP’s strategy for the upcoming European elections. This was also the first Summit attended by the new Latvian Prime Minister, Laimdota STRAUJUMA. The leaders thanked Taoiseach Enda KENNY for hosting the Congress in Dublin and congratulated Joseph DAUL on his election as EPP President during the Congress earlier that day.

02 ENLARGED SUMMIT BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 20 MARCH 2014 At the Enlarged Summit of 20 March, the President of the European Council, Herman VAN ROMPUY, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel BARROSO, outlined the main points of the upcoming European Council meeting: employment and the economy, national convergence plans, country-specific recommendations, the status of the EU2020 objectives, industrial competitiveness, climate policy and the situation in Ukraine (President Van Rompuy announced that the political chapter of the Association Agreement with Ukraine would be signed the following day). In particular, the geopolitical situation with regard to Ukraine and EU-Russia relations were discussed at length. The participants adopted a declaration on industrial competitiveness and spoke about the launch of the campaign of the EPP candidate for President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude JUNCKER. This was also the first EPP Summit attended by Erna SOLBERG and Arseniy YATSENYUK in their new capacities as the Prime Ministers of Norway and Ukraine, respectively. EPP Vice Presidents Corien WORTMANN-KOOL and Michel BARNIER were congratulated by the Summit participants for the agreement on the banking union which had just been reached.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS

03 STATUTORY SUMMIT BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 27 MAY 2014 Two days after the European elections, the EPP heads of state and government and party presidents met to discuss and evaluate the results of the European elections, which the EPP decisively won. The leaders expressed their strong support for Jean-Claude JUNCKER who, as a result of the EPP victory, should become the next President of the European Commission. EPP President Joseph DAUL informed the participants that during the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament, most of the political groups had signed a letter acknowledging that Jean-Claude JUNCKER should seek to form a majority in the European Parliament. The President of the European Council, Herman VAN ROMPUY, stressed the importance that he receive a mandate to set the priorities for the institutions for the next five years as well as have the necessary consultations for the nomination of a successor to President Barroso. This was the first Summit attended by Czech Deputy Prime Minister Pavel BĚLOBRÁDEK. The Summit participants also congratulated Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor ORBÁN on his party’s recent victory in the national elections.

04 STATUTORY SUMMIT KORTRIJK, BELGIUM 26 JUNE 2014 The EPP Summit was held in Kortrijk, in West Flanders close to Ypres, where a special meeting of the European Council was convened to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. The President of the European Council, Herman VAN ROMPUY, spoke about the signing of the Association Agreements with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, and informed the EPP leaders that he would propose Jean-Claude JUNCKER to be the next President of the European Commission. He also presented the five building blocks of the strategic agenda for the upcoming five years: a union of jobs, growth and competitiveness, the social dimension, a secure energy union, climate action and a union of freedom, security and justice. All the leaders who spoke expressed their support for Jean-Claude JUNCKER. The participants also asserted their position that the next President of the European Council should belong to the EPP, while the High Representative could belong to the PES and the EPP should hold, for example, the portfolio of enlargement and neighbourhood policy in the next European Commission. The new Prime Minister of Finland, Alexander STUBB, as well as the newly elected Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Manfred WEBER, were warmly welcomed to the Summit.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Summit Highlights

05 STATUTORY SUMMIT BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 16 JULY 2014 EPP President Joseph DAUL, together with the other EPP leaders, congratulated Jean-Claude JUNCKER on his election by the European Parliament as the next President of the European Commission. President-elect Juncker reported to the Summit participants on his hearings with the different groups in the European Parliament and the necessity of proposing more female Commissioners. The President of the European Council, Herman VAN ROMPUY, referred to the need for geographic and demographic diversity in proposing candidates for the EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top posts and the difficult balances this entails between women and men, the various political families, and the dimensions of north-south and east-west. He announced that more consultations were needed in order to come up with candidates who would have a reasonable chance of being confirmed. The EPP leaders had an extensive discussion on the qualities that potential candidates should have. The Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Manfred WEBER, also reported on the vote on Jean-Claude JUNCKER by the European Parliament and the need for the EPP-PES coalition to succeed.

06 STATUTORY SUMMIT BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 30 AUGUST 2014 The first part of the EPP Statutory Summit took place in the presence of Ukrainian President Petro POROSHENKO, who updated the Summit participants on the situation in Ukraine and asked for their support and solidarity. EPP President Joseph DAUL reiterated that the EPP stands beside the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian authorities in these difficult times. During the second part of the Summit, the EPP leaders focused on the nominations of the next President of the European Council and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The President of the European Council, Herman VAN ROMPUY, informed the participants that a consensus decision will be taken as part of a global deal. EPP President Joseph DAUL stressed the necessity of having an EPP leader as the next President of the European Council. Commission President-elect Jean-Claude JUNCKER reiterated the need to nominate more female Commissioners.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS

07 ENLARGED SUMMIT BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 23 OCTOBER 2014 The Summit participants congratulated incoming Commission President Jean-Claude JUNCKER on the approval of his Commission. President-elect Juncker explained how he composed and reorganised his Commission. He also spoke about the work ahead, including the investment programme. The Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Manfred WEBER, reported on the Parliament’s vote on the Commission. After introductions by Presidents Herman VAN ROMPUY and José Manuel BARROSO, the leaders discussed the climate change targets as well as the investment package and the Eurozone. The political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Georgia and Moldova were also discussed. EPP President Joseph DAUL thanked Presidents Van Rompuy and Barroso, who were attending their last EPP Summit, and hailed their excellent work at the helm of the European Union through very difficult years. The Summit participants observed a minute of silence following the passing away of Sulejman TIHIĆ, the President of the Bosniak party SDA. President Daul also welcomed the new Polish Prime Minister, Ewa KOPACZ, and congratulated Bakir IZETBEGOVIĆ on his reelection as a Member of the Bosnian Presidency.

08 ENLARGED SUMMIT BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 18 DECEMBER 2014 The December EPP Summit was the first attended by Donald TUSK and Jean-Claude JUNCKER in their new capacities as President of the European Council and President of the European Commission, respectively. EPP President Joseph DAUL welcomed the newly reelected Latvian Prime Minister, Laimdota STRAUJUMA, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko BORISSOV, Austrian Deputy Prime Minister Reinhold MITTERLEHNER and the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mladen IVANIĆ. European Council President Donald TUSK presented the main agenda points of the first meeting of the European Council of his Presidency: the investment climate and the situation on the EU’s eastern borders. Commission President Jean-Claude JUNCKER focused on the investment package as well as the European Commission’s Work Programme. EPP President Daul also thanked outgoing Romanian President Traian BĂSESCU as well as the Swedish Moderate Party leader, Fredrik REINFELDT, for their work and their loyalty to EPP over the years. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano RAJOY thanked his colleagues for their support in selecting Partido Popular and Spain as the host for the 2015 EPP Congress.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Heads of State and Government As of March 2015, the EPP has 11 out of 28 EU heads of state and government who meet at the EPP Summits in preparation of the European Council.

EU LEADERS

Nicos ANASTASIADES Cyprus, DISY

Boyko BORISSOV Bulgaria, GERB

Klaus IOHANNIS Romania

Enda KENNY Ireland, FG

Ewa KOPACZ Poland, PO

Angela MERKEL Germany, CDU

Viktor ORBÁN Hungary, FIDESZ

Pedro PASSOS COELHO Portugal, PSD

Mariano RAJOY Spain, PP

Laimdota STRAUJUMA Latvia, Vienotība

Alexander STUBB Finland, KOK

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

The EPP has 6 non-EU heads of state and government, who are invited to attend the Enlarged EPP Summit meetings.

NON-EU LEADERS

Chiril GABURICI Moldova, PLDM

Nikola GRUEVSKI Mladen IVANIĆ F.Y.R.O.M., VMRO-DPMNE Bosnia-Herzegovina, PDP

Isa MUSTAFA Kosovo, LDK

Serzh SARGSYAN Armenia, HHK

Erna SOLBERG Norway, Høyre

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 Eight EPP Summits were held in 2014, which is considerably more than in previous years. This is due to the fact that more meetings of the European Council took place following the 2014 European elections, which for the first time were spearheaded by lead candidates for President of the European Commission, including the successful EPP candidate Jean-Claude JUNCKER.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Ministerial Meetings

01 FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS

02 GENERAL AFFAIRS MINISTERS

Chaired by Elmar BROK (CDU, Germany)

Chaired by Íñigo MÉNDEZ DE VIGO (PP, Spain) and Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (PO, Poland)

and Sebastian KURZ (ÖVP, Austria) *

In 2014, the EPP Foreign Affairs Ministers held a total of seven regular meetings prior to the Foreign Affairs Council. In addressing ongoing international issues and current events, the Ministers discussed crucial topics of EU foreign policy. As the crisis in Ukraine arose unexpectedly and led to serious subsequent developments, the conflict there, as well as EU-Russia relations, were topics of special focus during the course of 2014. Other crucial topics addressed by the Ministers included ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the Middle East Peace Process, the Western Balkans with a main focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the conflict in the Central African Republic and the outbreak of the Ebola crisis in West Africa. * Radosław SIKORSKI (PO, Poland) served as Co-Chair together with Elmar BROK until November 2014.

Elmar BROK and Sebastian KURZ

The General Affairs Ministers Meeting gathers Foreign and European Affairs Ministers in preparation for the General Affairs Council. During the course of 2014, the Ministers mainly focused their discussions on the regions surrounding the European Union, with a special focus on Syria, the Middle East as well as the war in Ukraine. Transatlantic relations, with a special focus on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), were also high on the agenda.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 MINISTERIAL MEETINGS

03 ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS Chaired by Jorge MOREIRA DA SILVA (PSD, Portugal) and Phil HOGAN (FG, Ireland)*

In 2014 the Environment Ministers focused on the 2030 framework for the EU’s climate and energy policies, which was then adopted by the Council on 23 October 2014. The Ministers also discussed the EU’s position towards the COP20 Climate Change Conference taking place in Lima, Peru, in December, as well as the path towards the 2015 global climate agreement. In addition, the Ministers debated the Commission’s proposal on the possibility of restricting and prohibiting the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). * Phil HOGAN served in this role until June 2014.

04 ECONOMY AND FINANCE MINISTERS (ECOFIN)

05 COMPETITIVENESS MINISTERS (INDUSTRY AND SINGLE MARKET)

Chaired by Luis DE GUINDOS (PP, Spain) and Anders BORG* (MOD, Sweden)

Chaired by Antonio TAJANI (FI, Italy)

The meetings of the EPP Economy and Finance Ministers in 2014 built on the strong success of these meetings in previous years and continued to play an integral role in the preparation and implementation of far-reaching reforms in the EU. Significant emphasis was placed on the banking union, discussing the economic and financial priorities of the new European Parliament and European Commission, and the implementation of the European Semester. The Ministers worked together with the leading EPP Members of the European Parliament on economic and financial topics on which the European Parliament and the Council share competences.

The EPP Competitiveness Ministerial Meetings in 2014 focused on measures to strengthen the economic recovery and set the building blocks for sustainable economic growth in the EU. The Ministers focused in particular on small and medium-sized enterprises, the completion of the single market and better regulation to support economic growth in the EU.

Prior to the new Commission taking office on 1 November, the Ministers worked in close cooperation with the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Michel BARNIER, and Algirdas ŠEMETA, the European Commissioner for Taxation. Once the new Commission led by President Jean-Claude JUNCKER took office, the Ministers began working with the Vice-President of the European Commission on the Euro and Social Dialogue, Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, and with the Vice-President of the European Commission for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, Jyrki KATAINEN. * Anders BORG served in this role until October 2014. Mateusz SZCZUREK was appointed as Co-chair together with Luis DE GUINDOS in February 2015.

and Richard BRUTON (FG, Ireland)

The Ministers worked in close cooperation with the leading EPP Members of the European Parliament in the fields of industrial and single market policies. Michel BARNIER, who served as the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services through October 2014, worked closely with the Ministers.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 MINISTERIAL MEETINGS

The European People’s Party organises and coordinates from its Brussels headquarters a series of Ministerial Meetings, which underpin the horizontal activity of the Party with all the main EU institutions including the Council of the EU.

06 EMPLOYMENT MINISTERS

08 AGRICULTURE MINISTERS

09 ENERGY MINISTERS

Chaired by Pedro MOTA SOARES (CDS-PP, Portugal)

Chaired by Andrä RUPPRECHTER (ÖVP, Austria)

and Marianne THYSSEN* (CD&V, Belgium)

and Simon COVENEY (FG, Ireland)

Chaired by Günther OETTINGER (CDU, Germany)* and Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (PO, Poland)

In 2014, the EPP Employment Ministers focused on measures to tackle the serious problem of high unemployment in the EU, and in particular youth unemployment. Boosting jobs and growth are key priorities of the new European Commission led by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, and the Ministers wholeheartedly welcomed the Commission’s priority of addressing youth and long-term unemployment. The Ministers also worked in close cooperation with the new European Commissioner Marianne THYSSEN, who is responsible for employment, social affairs, skills and labour mobility. Leading EPP Group MEPs in the field of employment policy also took part in the meetings.

During the first half of 2014, the Ministers focused predominantly on the Delegated Acts of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform and the future of the dairy sector. In the second half of 2014, the meetings addressed the consequences of the Russian ban on EU agricultural products by putting in place emergency market measures. The Ministers reviewed the Commission’s proposal for the 2015 EU budget and warned against reducing the funding for CAP. The Ministers also discussed organic farming and the state of play in international agricultural trade issues. Finally, the Ministers exchanged their concerns about the fishing opportunities for deep-sea stocks for 2015-2016.

* Marianne Thyssen was appointed Co-chair in March 2015.

07 JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS MINISTERS Chaired by Thomas DE MAIZIÈRE (CDU, Germany) and Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS* (PP, Spain)

The priorities of the EPP Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in 2014 continued to focus on migration issues and the situation in the Mediterranean. The Ministers also discussed the challenging situation arising from the war in Syria and the activities of ISIS, including how to tackle the situation of refugees from Syria and how to address potential security threats within the EU which are posed by European citizens who have trained and fought in ISIS-held areas. * Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS was appointed as Co-chair in March 2015.

Throughout 2014 the Agriculture Ministers meetings regularly included Phil HOGAN, who in November 2014 became the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.

The 2014 meetings of the EPP Energy Ministers focused on the EU’s gas supply and international relations in the field of energy, including the situation regarding Ukraine and Russia. The Ministers also debated the European Energy Security Strategy and the 2030 framework for the EU’s climate and energy policies as well as energy prices and costs in Europe. During the October meeting in Milan, which was aligned with the informal meeting of the Energy Council, Commissioner Oettinger presented the results of the energy security stress tests. * Günther OETTINGER served in this role until October 2014.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

European Commission The new European Commission under President Jean-Claude Juncker took office on 1 November 2014. JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER President of the European Commission

“I am an advocate of a stronger Europe in many fields. But I do not believe in more Europe for the sake of more Europe. I want a better Europe. A Europe that is big on big things and small on small things”.

KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA

VALDIS DOMBROVSKIS

JYRKI KATAINEN

Vice-President; Budget and Human Resources – Bulgaria

Vice-President; Euro and Social Dialogue – Latvia

Vice-President; Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness – Finland

“In these difficult economic conditions for so many of our citizens who were negatively affected by the protracted crisis, we have to restore the confidence of our people in the European project. We must use our EU budget to restore our competitiveness, our job markets, and our standard of living”.

“Over the past years significant progress was achieved in terms of restoring financial stability and sustainability of public finances. Along with the ambitious EU investment plan, it is now the right time to move forward with ambitious structural reforms to ensure sustainable growth and job creation. For this we need leadership and commitment both at the EU and Member States level”.

“We want to make sure that real investments happen in the real economy and that we create real new opportunities in Europe. We are changing the way public money is used for investment in Europe. In doing so, we are changing the European investment landscape permanently, and structurally, for the better”.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 EUROPEAN COMMISSION

DIMITRIS AVRAMOPOULOS

ELŻBIETA BIEŃKOWSKA

Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship – Greece

Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs - Poland

“In this critical hour, where Europe is facing a growing number of challenges, the EU and the Member States, together, have to take credible and effective action on migration. Europe has to take charge. We have no time to spare. Together, we will move forward with commitment and resolve”.

“We need to accelerate the implementation of concrete actions to support a competitive industrial economy. And we have to better integrate competitiveness in all policy areas, at all levels of government”.

MIGUEL ARIAS CAÑETE

JOHANNES HAHN

Climate Action and Energy – Spain

European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations – Austria

“It is only if climate and energy policies are integrated that we can effectively achieve our aims of creating more jobs and ensuring sustainable growth, through a greener and more energy-resilient economy for Europe”.

“2014 was a remarkable year: We laid the legal foundation within the structural funds encompassing all 274 European regions to steer European investments towards European goals to trigger jobs and growth and set course for a new mandate of the European Commission”.

PHIL HOGAN

CARLOS MOEDAS

Agriculture & Rural Development – Ireland

Research, Science and Innovation – Portugal

“Agriculture and Rural Development are part of the Jobs, Growth and Investment priority at the heart of the Juncker Commission. Agriculture is well placed to make a central contribution to the new economic agenda. It is my priority, as Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, to set the framework to make agriculture and rural development policies a driver for growth.”

“I will not rest until all of Europe − every government, research institution, business, industry, university, developer, inventor and investor − has woken up to the fact that we must, by working together with citizens, take European research, science and technology to another level of disruptive innovation”.

TIBOR NAVRACSICS

GÜNTHER OETTINGER

Education, Culture, Youth and Sport – Hungary

Digital Economy and Society – Germany

“Europe is about much more than markets and institutions. It is about building a community of communities, and above all, it is for its citizens. It is them who we need to put at the centre of our actions, and I want to use my responsibilities in the Commission to contribute to this important task”.

“President Juncker has made this policy field a priority and I am committed to move ahead swiftly and with ambition on such diverse areas as the reform of copyright, digital network infrastructure, the reform of the telecoms rules but also the support to our vibrant European cultural and creative industries as well as to digital research and innovation”.

CHRISTOS STYLIANIDES

MARIANNE THYSSEN

Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management – Cyprus

Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and

“I want to be the spokesperson of the most vulnerable, ‘the voice of the voiceless’. My purpose is to bring the voices of those suffering from conflicts and disasters to the decision-making tables. Our principle is clear: humanitarian aid is based on needs. Not on political expediency”.

Labour Mobility – Belgium

“Europe is about people. Their health, their work, their prosperity and their well-being. If, in five years, we can say: today Europe counts more jobs and less poverty, then we will know that we really made a difference for the people”.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

European Parliament In May 2014 the Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) was reestablished as the largest political force in the European Parliament, for the fourth consecutive time since 1999. With 219 MEPs from 27 Member States, the EPP Group, representing the political centre of the new Parliament, has been given a clear mandate to address the key challenges facing Europe. These include creating the conditions for economic growth and new jobs, especially for the new generation, and continuing successful policy responses to strengthen the financial markets. This mandate will be reinforced by the policies of the EPP-led European Commission under its President, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, who was our successful candidate for the European elections. The EPP Group will ensure we can push forward our policies in close co-operation with the European Commission. The mission of the EPP Group centres on the promotion of a society founded on the Christian Democratic values of liberty and solidarity, based on a sustainable social market economy in a unified and peaceful continent. For the EPP Group, the EU is fundamentally about people. It has allowed peace and prosperity to reign in Europe since its foundation. It has improved our lives and protected our values and freedoms. The EPP Group stands for an EU where entrepreneurship, innovation, opportunity, integrity, prosperity and sustainable employment for all European citizens are key. The EPP Group was the voice of reliability and reform throughout the past legislative term, working hard at national and European level to overcome the current economic and financial crisis. Under the leadership of our new Chairman, Manfred WEBER, we are ready to take up the challenge and deliver results in the 2014-2019 Parliamentary term, boosting growth and employment, making our continent a safer place, and ensuring that Europe speaks with one voice on the international scene.

In 2014 the EPP Group played a leading role in actively pursuing policies to strengthen the common currency. The Stability and Growth Pact was reinforced ensuring preemptive surveillance of the national budgets and structural reforms in Member States. On 1 January 2014 Latvia acceded to the Eurozone, becoming the 18th Member State to join the single currency union. Lithuania adopted the euro on 16 July and formally joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2015, furthermore sending a strong signal that the EU is successfully overcoming the financial crisis.

The EPP Group stands by Ukraine and supports a peaceful solution to the armed conflict in its eastern regions, thereby supporting the aspirations of those wishing to take the European path. In 2014, meetings of the EPP Group Bureau were convened in Krakow, Riga, Dublin and Albufeira. The aim of the Group’s external meetings is to engage political themes crucial at national level, thus feeding into the Group’s work in the European Parliament.

The EPP Group is confident that the new Parliamentary term will mark a period when the European Parliament, under the enhanced powers ascribed to it by the Lisbon Treaty, develops its active role in shaping and defining The Eurozone architecture was further legislation until 2019. Our Group is determined strengthened when, in April 2014, a vote to push forward the policies required to achieve in the European Parliament completed the this objective, firm in the belief that the EU Banking Union, thus contributing to regaining trust in the banking sector and thereby economic is essential in the daily lives of the citizens our Group strives to represent. recovery in the EU. To this end, the EPP Group managed to establish strong provisions to prevent national taxpayers bearing the losses of failing banks. Further economic and monetary integration remains an EPP Group priority if the EU is to successfully meet the challenges of the 21st century. 2014 marked the 10th anniversary of a historic reunification of the peoples of Europe. As enlargement has been one of our most successful political strategies, the EPP Group is a proud champion of further integration to erase completely the divisions in our continent. Events in Ukraine indicate that those who defend ultra-nationalism and xenophobia are also attacking the European Union and the values of peace and freedom which we hold dear. In September the European Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) simultaneously ratified the Association Agreement with an overwhelming majority, sending a symbolic message of shared European values.

For more information please visit:

www.eppgroup.eu

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Decision-Making Bodies Within the EPP there are three levels of decision-making: the Presidency, Political Assembly and Congress. The EPP heads of state and government and party leaders can also give policy recommendations, while the EPP Working Groups perform the preparatory political work.

The Political Assembly is composed of designated delegates from EPP member and associate 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 PRESIDENCY The 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 ASSEMBLY The 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 CONGRESS The Congress is the highest decision-making body of the EPP. It is composed of delegates from EPP member and associate 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 state and government and party leaders. WORKING GROUPS The Political Assembly defines the mandate of the Working Groups, which prepare the Partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy documents and recommendations. All EPP member and associate 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.

2014 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

European Elections 2014

The European elections in May of 2014 marked an unprecedented achievement in the European project. For the first time, European-level political parties campaigned across the European Union.

Botond Horvath / Shutterstock.com

And, for the first time, voters were able to not only choose their representatives in the European Parliament, but also to express their choice for the next President of the European Commission.

The 2014 elections were more transparent, more democratic and more European than ever before.

2014 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

JEAN-CLAUDE

2014 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

HISTORY IN THE MAKING The 2014 European elections were like none before, as they were the first to take place since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in December 2009. As a result of the Lisbon Treaty, the concept of the “Spitzenkandidaten”, or top candidates, came into reality for the first time in the 2014 European elections.

“

The campaign, which will be spearheaded by the political parties’ presidential candidates, must offer real political alternatives, positive ideas and concrete programmes. We need to trigger an open pan-European political debate that reaches out to and actively involves our citizens across the European Union. We are starting the process [...] This will be followed by the establishment of an open, transparent and competitive process for selecting our presidential candidate.

”

Wilfried Martens (1936-2013) PRIME MINISTER OF BELGIUM 1979-1981, 1981-1992 PRESIDENT OF THE EPP 1990-2013 CHAIRMAN OF THE EPP GROUP IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 1994-1999

According to the “Spitzenkandidaten” concept, each major European political party may put forward, ahead of the European Parliament elections, a candidate for President of the European Commission, who may also lead the party’s campaign at the EU-level. Following the elections, when nominating a candidate for President of the European Commission, the European Council must take into account the result of the elections, as stipulated by the Lisbon Treaty. In this way, the winning party’s “Spitzenkandidat” must be taken into account in the European Council’s deliberations in selecting a nominee for Commission President. In 2014, for the first time, most of the major European political parties nominated a top candidate ahead of the elections, and then campaigned with that candidate leading up to the elections from 22-25 May. As a result, the 2014 elections were the most democratic and transparent elections in the history of the European Union. While the “Spitzenkandidaten” concept was first implemented in the 2014 elections, it has been a priority of the EPP and our leadership for years.

2014 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

In the 2014 elections, the EPP was the most democratic and transparent party from start to finish.

Beginning with the internal process of selecting our candidate for President of the European Commission, the EPP was the only major EU-level political party to have a primary process which was open, democratic and competitive. In February of 2014, the EPP opened its primary process to interested political leaders from throughout our political family. Candidatures were received from Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, the former Prime Minister of Latvia; Jean-Claude JUNCKER, the former Prime Minister of Luxembourg; and Michel BARNIER, the EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services and an EPP Vice President. On 6 and 7 March, the EPP held its XXII Congress in Dublin, Ireland at the invitation of Taoiseach Enda KENNY and EPP member party Fine Gael. On the second day of the Congress, the delegates elected Jean-Claude JUNCKER to be the EPPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s candidate for President of the European Commission. The Congress delegates also elected Joseph DAUL as EPP President.

2014 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

JUNCKER FOR PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN After being selected at the Dublin Congress as the EPPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s candidate for European Commission President, Jean-Claude JUNCKER embarked on a major, EU-wide campaign. In his visits with political leaders and ordinary citizens alike, he presented his vision for moving Europe forward.

During the course of the campaign in April and May, Jean-Claude Juncker visited 32 cities across the European Union.

2014 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

THE PATH TO THE PRESIDENCY

On the evening of 25 May, the final day of the elections, Jean-Claude Juncker joined the EPP family, guests and journalists at the party headquarters in Brussels to await the results.

22-25 MAY

EUROPEAN ELECTIONS; EPP WINS THE MOST SEATS OF ANY PARTY IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

27 JUNE

NOMINATION OF JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER FOR COMMISSION PRESIDENT BY THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL

As the results came in throughout the evening, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, as well as key EPP officials including President Joseph DAUL, Secretary General Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ and Campaign Director Martin SELMAYR, delivered remarks to the media. As it become clear that the EPP would win the elections and remain the largest Group in the European Parliament, Jean-Claude JUNCKER and his staff travelled in the campaign bus from the headquarters to the European Parliament, where he delivered an address. Following the success of the EPP in the May elections, Jean-Claude JUNCKER secured the support of the European Council in June, followed by the support of the European Parliament in July. On 1 November, he officially took office as the new President of the European Commission.

In 2014, the process of selecting the President of the European Commission, as envisaged in the Lisbon Treaty, became reality.

15 JULY

ELECTION OF JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER AS COMMISSION PRESIDENT BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

2014 European Election Results (Number of seats in the European Parliament)

52 48

221 EPP Group

50 52 67

191 Election results as of May 2014.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Political Assembly Highlights 27-28 JANUARY 2014 BRUSSELS In light of the grave situation in Ukraine, the Political Assembly unanimously adopted an emergency resolution proposed by the EPP Presidency which strongly condemned the violence directed at peaceful protesters. The Political Assembly expressed its solidarity and called on the EU Member States and institutions to take immediate action, including travel restrictions and the freezing of assets of those responsible for violations of human rights. The Political Assembly also unanimously adopted a resolution on “European Digital University”, submitted by European Democratic Students (EDS), as well as the following policy documents: “EPP Policy Guidance on Cyber Security”, drafted by the EPP Cyber Security Advisory Board; “EPP Policy Paper on Climate Change and Energy”, submitted by the ad hoc Working Group on Climate Change; and the “EPP Priorities to achieve a Digital Single Market”, drafted by EPP Competitiveness Ministers, which was further submitted to the EPP Congress.

“Together towards an age-friendly society in Europe”; “Improving the employability of youths and older workers in the European Union, 2014–2020”. The Resolutions Committee also advised the PA to adopt the emergency resolutions on Venezuela and on EPP Priorities for reducing bureaucracy and cutting red tape in Europe.

2-3 JUNE 2014 BRUSSELS The Political Assembly analysed the outcome of the 2014 European elections and expressed its strong support for the election of Jean-Claude JUNCKER as the next President of the European Commission. In addition, the application procedure to host the next EPP Statutory Congress in 2015 was announced, as well as the procedure to host a Political Assembly once per year outside of Brussels. The Political Assembly also unanimously adopted a resolution titled “Internships: An essential part of Higher Education”, presented by EDS.

11-12 SEPTEMBER 2014 BRUSSELS

The Political Assembly welcomed the new Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Manfred WEBER, as well as the new Coinciding with the Congress in Dublin, the Chairman of the EPP Group in the OSCE Political Assembly validated the candidatures of Parliamentary Assembly, George TSERETELI. Jean-Claude JUNCKER and Michel BARNIER, In view of the upcoming presidential elections both of whom were vying to be selected by the in Romania, the Political Assembly adopted Congress as the EPP’s candidate for President of a resolution condemning the socialist government the European Commission (Valdis DOMBROVSKIS for changing the electoral law by emergency had previously withdrawn his candidature). ordinance in order to encourage mayors and councilmen to switch to a different party The Political Assembly also reviewed the EPP without losing their seat. Action Programme, Manifesto and Youth Manifesto for the 2014 European elections, as well The Political Assembly also discussed the alarming as seven ordinary resolutions and two emergency humanitarian situation in the Middle East caused resolutions put forward to the Congress via the by the actions of extreme Islamic militant groups, Resolutions Committee. The Resolutions namely the Islamic State (ISIS), and other Committee supported the ordinary resolutions associated groups, and adopted a resolution on “Entrepreneurship and start-ups for more calling on the European Council and the United growth and better jobs in Europe. EPP’s 10 Nations to condemn terrorist attacks and take Commitments”; “From Reform to Growth and action to strengthen security in Mediterranean Jobs – People are at the Heart of our Agenda”; countries. The Political Assembly approved “EPP Priorities to achieve a Digital Single Market”; the membership applications of the People’s “Women and Entrepreneurship”; Movement Party (PMP) and the National Liberal

6 MARCH 2014 DUBLIN

Party of Romania (PNL). Populars for Italy (PpI) and New Centre-Right (NCD) of Italy were approved unanimously as a full members. HDZ 1990 of Bosnia and Herzegovina was accepted as an observer member and the name change of PDL Italy to Forza Italia was also approved. The Political Assembly also praised the appointment of Donald TUSK as the next President of the European Council.

17-18 NOVEMBER 2014 BRUSSELS The Political Assembly welcomed the approval of the new European Commission led by Jean-Claude JUNCKER and thanked Presidents José Manuel BARROSO and Herman VAN ROMPUY for their committed work over the previous years. The Political Assembly unanimously approved member party Partido Popular of Spain as the host of the 2015 EPP Congress, as well as approved member party National Party of Malta as the host of an EPP convention in 2017. The EPP Internal Regulations were amended by deleting Art. VIII and IX on the elections of the Secretary of External Relations and Spokesman. The Political Assembly also discussed the situation in Albania and adopted a resolution calling on all democratically elected parties in Albania to respect the country’s constitution and laws and to support all institutions of the state and participate in their proceedings. A resolution titled “How women are renewing labour market patterns” was unanimously adopted. Finally, the Political Assembly approved the EPP’s 2015 budget and membership fees.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Committee of the Regions 2014 was a busy year for the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions (CoR). Under the guidance of its President, Michael SCHNEIDER, the EPP/CoR’s political representatives aimed to secure better investment opportunities for local and regional authorities through an enhanced role in the design and implementation of the new structural funds and operational programmes. At the 6th European Summit of local and regional authorities in Athens on 7-8 March, it emphasised that the delivery of the Europe 2020 Strategy is being undermined by a lack of involvement from local and regional governments. The EPP/CoR was also actively involved in promoting and supporting the EPP in the European elections. The first Summit of EPP regional and political leaders took place in Poznań, with the participation of Jean-Claude JUNCKER and Donald TUSK, and was co-organised by the EPP and Platforma Obywatelska. Other priorities for the year included providing innovative solutions for a European Industrial Renaissance at its Group seminar in Badajoz, promoting the Charter for Multilevel Governance in Europe, debating EU policy on the tastes of Europe’s regions and cities, youth employment and re-thinking European media and communications policies in a post-election Europe.

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 municipalities of Europe. It works towards a Europe that will uphold a prosperous and peaceful future for all its Following the election of Ramón Luis citizens. Under the motto “think globally - act VALCÁRCEL SISO to the European Parliament locally,” the EPP/CoR promotes the principal in May 2014, the CoR elected EPP candidate Michel LEBRUN as its new President on 26 June. of subsidiarity. This means that decisions should always be taken at the level closest He played an active role in the hearings of the to the citizens, unless a better result can be European Commissioners and ensured that the achieved by working at the national or voice of Europe’s regions and cities was heard during the setting up of the Juncker Commission. European level. Thanks to close cooperation with the EPP, the EPP Group in the European He also launched an action plan together Parliament, the European Commission and with the European Investment Bank to boost the European Council, the EPP/CoR is a the delivery of the 315 billion euro Juncker Plan distinctive and influential voice on the and EU structural funds. A number of “Citizens’ European stage. Dialogues” were held with the aim of making European action more visible in Europe’s cities and regions.

For more information please visit:

www.epp.cor.europa.eu

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Euronest / Council of Europe / OSCE / NATO EPP IN THE EURONEST PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, established in 2011, is a multilateral institution for parliamentary dialogue and exchange with the Eastern Partnership countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The aim is to foster common interests such as stability, democracy, trade, energy, the rule of law and people-to-people contacts. The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly is organised into four different committees: political, economic, energy and social affairs. Chaired by Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI, EPP Vice President and MEP, the EPP Group in Euronest was particularly active in 2014 in Ukraine and was present at Maidan Square several times to advocate for democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

EPP IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE The EPP is committed to its involvement in the Council of Europe, an organisation that promotes the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms. The EPP Group (EPP-CD) in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is led by Pedro AGRAMUNT (PP-ES) and, at the beginning of 2014, elected a new board with 11 vice-presidents. Over the course of the year, Chairman Agramunt, along with the different EPP and like-minded members, successfully contributed to the various electoral missions of the PACE to Ukraine, Moldova, Tunisia and Serbia, among other activities. Moreover, through their actions within the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and in their national parliaments, the more than 200 members of the EPP-CD Group worked to promote respect for the principle of subsidiarity and local autonomy, as well as the defence of national, social and other minorities. They 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.

EPP IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE OSCE The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE (OSCE-PA) elected a new chairman, Ilkka KANERVA (KOK-FI), during its annual meeting, which took place in Azerbaijan. Looking ahead to the Helsinki +40 celebrations and activities, this is a great success for the EPP family. Moreover, in 2014 our EPP and like-minded group in the OSCE-PA elected a new board. George TSERETELI (UNM-GE) was elected as chairman of the Group together with 5 Vice Presidents: Lord Peter BOWNESS (Conservative-UK), Vilija ALEKNAITĖ-ABRAMIKIENĖ (TS-LKD-LT), Margareta CEDERFELDT (MOD-SE), Hans FRANKEN (CDA-NL) and Kyriakos HADJIYIANNIS (DISY-CY). Our longstanding chairman, Walburga HABSBURG-DOUGLAS, founder of the EPP and like-minded Group, became Honorary President. The EPP and like-minded members showed their commitment to the Assembly throughout 2014 through their work within the bureau and their involvement in the parliamentary proceedings. In particular, they carried out important tasks including observing the elections in Serbia, Hungary, F.Y.R.O.M, Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the US mid-term elections, following the Copenhagen Agreement of 1990.

EPP IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF NATO The EPP and like-minded members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly continued their work in 2014 under the leadership of their Chairman, Karl LAMERS (CDU-DE). The EPP and like-minded group advocated their positions through working committees. During the two annual plenary sessions in Vilnius in May and in The Hague in November, the Group led the discussion on important international issues including the crisis in Ukraine, the Syrian civil war, security in the Sahel, energy security, Afghanistan beyond 2014, and the humanitarian crisis along Europe’s southern borders.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Working Groups / Events

Working Groups are the backbone of the EPP’s political work, where representatives from the EPP member parties develop common positions and strategies on major policy areas and submit specific recommendations to the Political Assembly for final approval. A Working Group can also be given a specific mandate for preparatory work for EPP Summits and EPP Congresses, as well as for organising conferences, roundtable discussions and other important events. WORKING GROUP 1 In 2014 the EPP Working Group 1, titled “European Policies”, was co-chaired by EPP President Joseph DAUL and EPP Vice President Peter HINTZE (CDU-DE). The main focus was to finalise the EPP Action Programme 2014-2019, in advance of the European elections, and to process the final stage of the amendments. This important document outlines the key priorities of the EPP in areas such as economic and social policy, climate change and energy, security, and Europe’s role in the world. The EPP members actively participated in the discussion and brought forth a large number of amendments. The EPP Action Programme was officially adopted during the EPP Congress in Dublin in March of 2014. In the autumn of 2014, the delegates of Working Group 1 began preparing the document, focused on EPP values and foreign and security policy, for the EPP Congress which will take place in Madrid, Spain in 2015.

WORKING GROUP 2 EPP Working Group 2, which focuses on economic and social policy, was co-chaired by European Commissioner and EPP Vice President Johannes HAHN (ÖVP-AT), and EPP Group Vice Chairman Gunnar HÖKMARK, MEP (MOD-SE) in 2014. The Working Group contributed a resolution on reducing bureaucracy to the Dublin Congress. Following the European elections in May, the Working Group continued to focus on regulation and subsequently formulated a policy paper on smart regulation. Working Group 2 also advocated reducing red tape to improve the business environment in the EU, while also focusing on other issues throughout 2014 including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the digital single market.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 WORKING GROUPS / EVENTS

WORKING GROUP 3 EPP Working Group 3, chaired by EPP Vice President Corien WORTMANN-KOOL (CDA-NL), promotes, facilitates and incorporates new parties which have made a request to become a full member, associate member or observer member of the European People’s Party. On 2 September 2014, Working Group 3 held a constructive discussion about the political situation in Romania and Italy while reviewing applicant parties from those countries. Following the positive recommendations of the Working Group members, the EPP Political Assembly on 11-12 September accepted two new parties from Romania, the People’s Movement Party (PMP) and the National Liberal Party (PNL), as well as two new member parties from Italy, Populars for Italy and New Centre-Right. At the same Political Assembly, a party from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Croatian Democratic Union 1990 (HDZ 1990), was granted observer member status following the advice of the Working Group 3 members. In addition to the issues of party membership, members of the Working Group met on 2 September 2014 to exchange views concerning the upcoming presidential elections in Belarus in 2015, the opposition forces in Belarus, and the undemocratic actions of country’s authorities.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 WORKING GROUPS / EVENTS

SAINT GÉRY DIALOGUE In 2014, the EPP continued its tradition of organising the Saint Géry Dialogue, which is an annual forum held in the Brussels city centre in which key decision makers and experts discuss topics in economic policy. The fourth Saint Géry Dialogue was held on 27 January with the title “From Reform to Jobs and Growth”, and featured high-level speakers including the German Minister of Finance, Wolfgang SCHÄUBLE, Luis DE GUINDOS, the Minister of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain, Alexander STUBB (currently the Prime Minister of Finland, who was at that time the Minister for European Affairs and Trade), Anders BORG, the Minister of Finance of Sweden at that time, and Kostis HATZIDAKIS the then-Minister of Development and Competitiveness in Greece. EPP President Joseph DAUL delivered an opening speech and EPP Secretary General Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ made closing remarks.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Foreign Affairs

THE EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY The European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) constitutes one of the key pillars of the EPP’s external relations. Under the legacy of the late EPP President Wilfried MARTENS, the EPP has remained committed to a robust strategy towards the EU’s neighbouring countries in order to achieve more stable, democratic and prosperous states. In 2014, multiple official visits took place, diverse events were organised and key documents were adopted in order to strengthen the political dimension of the ENP.

EASTERN PARTNERSHIP The Eastern Partnership (EaP) remains a paramount priority for the EPP. Over the course of 2014 the EPP continued its efforts to promote the development of this process, which offers EaP countries a large number of tools and opportunities to enhance their economic and political integration in the EU. In doing so, the EPP was confronted with sensitive issues such as the security and energy crisis resulting from the conflict in Ukraine and the subsequent deterioration of the strategic relationship between the EU and Russia. Following the dramatic events in Ukraine in the first part of 2014, a high-level EPP delegation spearheaded by EPP President Joseph DAUL and EPP Group Chairman Manfred WEBER, along with EPP Vice President Jacek SARYUSZWOLSKI and the Chairman of the AFET Committee Elmar BROK, visited Ukraine in July 2014. Throughout 2014, the EPP family continuously showed its solidarity and commitment not only for the EPP political forces in Ukraine but also for the Ukrainian people, which successfully contributed to the signing of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine in June. In addition, after the successful signing of the EU-Moldova Association agreement in June, EPP President Joseph DAUL visited Moldova to express the EPP’s support for and endorsement of the PLDM party prior to the parliamentary elections in November 2014.

The electoral outcome resulted in the victory of the PLDM, led by its Chairman Vlad FILAT and Prime Minister Iurie LEANCĂ, along with a coalition of pro-European and democratic political forces. The EPP has also been closely observing the situation in Belarus over the past years, and continues to do so with great concern. We at the EPP have supported our sister parties and other opposition representatives in view of promoting democratic values and principles as well as the rule of law and respect for human rights. On 5 November and 5 December of 2014, EPP representatives met two groups of Belarusian opposition activists, along with the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation, in order to asses and discuss the latest political developments in Belarus. The EPP also remained concerned about the developments in Georgia involving political prosecutions and detentions which are hampering democratic governance. After the signing of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, the current government has continued to engage in undemocratic practices and the harassment of UNM members, which could slow Georgia on its path towards EU integration. In order to support our partners in Georgia, an EPP delegation assisted in the launch of the local election campaigns in June 2014. In March 2014 an EPP delegation visited Yerevan in order to assess the latest developments in Armenia and to support the three EPP member parties, both in government and in opposition. The EPP delegation discussed Armenia’s strategic role in the region and strengthening EU-Armenia relations.

MEDITERRANEAN, NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST (MENA) Over the course of 2014, the EPP monitored with great interest the developments throughout the region and assessed opportunities for strengthened strategic cooperation with political partners in the different countries of the Mediterranean basin. In January 2014, EPP President Joseph DAUL and EPP Secretary General Antonio LÓPEZISTÚRIZ co-hosted the third session of “Training and Seminars for political parties of Northern Africa and Middle East” together with the EPP Group in the European Parliament and the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies (WMCES), which welcomed a delegation of parliamentarians and party representatives from Algeria. The Algerian delegation had the opportunity to learn about the functioning of the EU by visiting the EPP headquarters, the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the European External Action Service. The visitors discussed EU politics and the European Neighbourhood Policy, among other topics, during their meetings with the EPP representatives and MEPs. In February 2014, EPP President and thenChairman of the EPP Group, Joseph DAUL, chaired a conference titled “The Future of the Mediterranean Union” in the Valley of the Dead Sea in Jordan. Numerous members of parliament, as well as political leaders from countries throughout the Mediterranean basin discussed recent political developments in the region, as well as possible new means for strengthened cooperation with the EPP family.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 FOREIGN AFFAIRS

WESTERN BALKANS The Western Balkans is a region anchored in a European perspective, and therefore it remains one of the main priorities of the EPP’s foreign policy. The EPP maintains strong and close cooperation with its political partners and is committed to promoting and achieving stability, security, democracy and freedom within the region.

TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS A framework of strong relations with the United States remains one of the key priorities of the EPP’s foreign policy, as defined by the EPP Platform approved at the EPP Congress in Bucharest in 2012. In 2014, a delegation of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) took part in the EPP Congress in Dublin, which contributed greatly to the different debates organised by the WMCES. Along with the WMCES, the EPP also continued its close cooperation with the IRI and the Hudson Institute by organising the fifth WMCES Transatlantic Think Tank Conference (TTTC) in December 2014 in Brussels. The TTTC, which included the participation of EPP President Joseph DAUL and EPP Secretary General Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ, featured many high-profile European and American speakers. This event also brought together high-level think tankers, experts, policymakers and other stakeholders from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss important themes in transatlantic relations.

During the conference, both partners discussed important international issues including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), Russia and the Eastern Neighbourhood, NATO and the crises in the Middle East, among other topics. The cooperation between the EPP and its transatlantic partners, carried out through constant political dialogue and a strong sense of joint commitment, helps to promote common goals and strengthen common values.

In April 2014, an EPP delegation led by EPP President Daul took part in a conference, co-hosted by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), titled “European Values and Identity, A compass for political cooperation in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, in Sarajevo. During the conference three EPP parties from Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDA, HDZ BiH and PDP), along with two other like-minded political forces, HDZ 1990 (which later joined the EPP in September 2014) and SDS, jointly signed a declaration in view of a stronger and strengthened multi-party cooperation, which set up a political base for a solid coalition for after the October 2014 general elections. In addition, EPP President Joseph DAUL had high-level meetings with members of the Bosnian government, including President Bakir IZETBEGOVIĆ. In view of the parliamentary elections in Kosovo in May 2014, an EPP delegation led by the President of the WMCES, Mikuláš DZURINDA, took part in the launch of the LDK electoral campaign, which endorsed the candidacy of LDK President Isa MUSTAFA. After some months of negotiations, Isa MUSTAFA became the Prime Minister of Kosovo in December 2014.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Communications

Through its Press and Communications Department, the EPP promotes the ideas and values of our political family, informs the public about our activities, and makes direct contact with European citizens. This work is carried out in close cooperation with our counterparts in the EU institutions in order to streamline our messaging, receive the best exposure and continue to make the case to EU citizens that they should support the EPP. The Press and Communications Department was especially active during the “Juncker for President” campaign in 2014, by organising press conferences, arranging interviews with Jean-Claude JUNCKER and top campaign officials and sending almost-daily press releases on the activities of the campaign.

“ THE EPP BELIEVES IN OPENNESS AND

TRANSPARENCY AND STRIVES TO PROVIDE THE EUROPEAN CITIZENS WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE WORK OF THE PARTY ”.

Get Social with us! twitter.epp.eu facebook.epp.eu youtube.epp.eu flickr.epp.eu linkedin.epp.eu

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 COMMUNICATIONS

Twitter account

76,900 Followers Facebook page

224,300 Likes EPP in numbers. March 2015

Flickr account

5,330,000 Photo views

80,000 70,000

EPP AND OUR COMPETITION (FOLLOWERS)

60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000

INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING At the end of 2014, the EPP headquarters launched the new “Internal Communication and Marketing Department”. This department aims to facilitate the flow of information between and among the EPP headquarters and all stakeholders within the EPP political family, including with our member parties across Europe, the EU institutions and like-minded groups and organisations in Europe and beyond. As part of this effort, the EPP is increasingly active in producing videos highlighting our work. Check out youtube.epp.eu to see our activities!

Greens/EFA Group

EGP

ALDE Group

EDP

ALDE

S&D Group

PES

EPP Group

EPP

0 SOCIAL NETWORKS In 2014, the EPP significantly increased its presence on all major social networks. The EPP Facebook page reached tens of thousands of new fans and now counts nearly a quarter of a million “likes”. The Twitter account nearly doubled its number of “followers,” reaching almost 77,000, and the Flickr account more than doubled its number of views, to well over five million.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Structure and Resources

EPP Treasurer Ingo FRIEDRICH

EUROPEAN LEGAL STATUTE FOR EUROPEAN POLITICAL PARTIES In September 2014, the European Council adopted new rules on the statutes and funding of European political parties following a firstreading agreement reached with the European Parliament earlier in the year. The new rules aim to create a genuine European legal statute for European political parties and foundations, giving them legal personality in all the EU 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 foundations to act as representative agents of the European public interest and will increase their visibility, recognition, effectiveness, transparancy and accountability. The new regulation will apply as of 1 January 2017.

PUBLIC FUNDING The European Parliament budget for 2014 set aside 27.8 million euro for party funding. Fifteen percent of the budget is distributed among the parties in equal shares, while 85 percent is distributed on the basis of the number of seats in the European Parliament held by each party. Thirteen European political parties were recognised in 2014 and received funding from the European Parliament (in millions of euros): • European People’s Party (EPP) - 9.4 • Party of European Socialists (PES) - 6.3 • Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE) - 2.8 • European Green Party (EGP) - 1.9 • Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR) - 1.9 • Party of the European Left (EL) - 1.2 • Movement for Europe of Liberties & Democracy (MELD) - 1.0 • European Democratic Party (EDP) - 0.6 • European Free Alliance (EFA) - 0.5 • European Alliance for Freedom (EAF) - 0.5 • EU Democrats (EUD) - 0.3 • European Christian Political Movement (ECPM) - 0.3 • Alliance of European National Movements (AEMN) - 0.3

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 fees of the associate and observer member parties is calculated by the Political Assembly on the basis of the votes obtained by these parties during their last national elections. Seventy percent of the 2014 membership fees were settled before 31 December 2014. The accounts of all European political parties are audited by a single auditor (Ernst & Young) appointed by the European Parliament.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Headquarters / Internship Programme 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, Presidency and Ministerial meetings. Almost daily the EPP HQ welcomes visitors from our 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 also hosts most of the EPP member associations, the Centrist Democrat International and the Forum for European Studies.

EPP INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME 2014: THE ECAMPAIGNERS During the campaign for the 2014 European elections, the EPP was active on social media through national Twitter accounts in national languages, as well as on national Facebook subpages. In order to run this social media campaign, the EPP hired 26 young, internetsavvy representatives from our member parties to participate in a six-month internship programme. THE 2014 ECAMPAIGNERS Andrei Pana PDL-RO

Florence Verschueren CD&V-BE

Gerasimos Zagoritis ND-GR

Stefan Wacker ÖVP-AT

Agata Kronczynska PO-PL

Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr UMP-FR

Robert Torvelainen KOK-FI

Charalambos Stavrides DISY-CY

Nuria Lista Mateos PP-ES

Simeon Velkov GERB-BG

Stanislav Jancik TOP09-CZ

Salome Olsson KD-SE

Jaksa Bilic HDZ-HR

Jack O’Donnell FG-IRL

Stanislav Zupa KDH-SK

Catarina Alves CDS-PP-PT

Dominik Suplata KDH-SK

Bruno Ferreira PSD-PT

Gergely Tackacs FIDESZ-HU

Darja Kulagina Unity-LV

Matteo Albania IT

David Villadsen DKF-DK

Juri Schnöller CDU-DE

Dovydas Skarolskis TS/LK-LT

Rok Tus SDS-SL

Anne Schmitz CDA-NL

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Member Associations

YEPP

ESU

EPP WOMEN

Konstantinos KYRANAKIS

An HERMANS

Doris PACK

Colm LAUDER

Guido DUMON

Hillie VAN DE STREEK

YEPP is the youth branch of the European People’s Party. Continuing to grow from 2013, YEPP now has 60 member organisations in 40 countries. In 2014, YEPP focused its energy on job creation, with campaigns such as Bureaucuts, Backing Small Business, Low Tax Hero, and start-ups. YEPP also launched its alumni organisation “The Reinfeldt Club” in June. They continued to grow the Brussels Group, a direct link between policy makers and YEPP, allowing youth input into legislation going through the institutions. YEPP also actively contributed to the European election campaign of Jean-Claude JUNCKER, undertaking five simultaneous campaign road trips across Europe.

PRESIDENT

SECRETARY GENERAL

For more information please visit:

youthepp.eu

YEPP - Activities in 2014. • 27 February-2 March: Council of Presidents, Rome, Italy • 3-6 March: Council Meeting, Nicosia, Cyprus • 25 April-25 May: European Election Road Trips • 14 June: Launch of the Reinfeldt Club, Stockholm, Sweden • 17-20 July: Summer School, Klaipeda, Lithuania • 2-4 October: Fact Finding Mission, Belgrade, Serbia • 12-14 November: Transatlantic Youth Summit, Washington DC, USA • 4-7 December: Council of Presidents, Athens, Greece.

With more than one million members in 24 countries, the ESU is the largest political organisation of senior citizens in Europe. ESU is dedicated to advancing the rights of European senior citizens and promoting issues such as the role of the elderly in ageing societies, pension systems, long term care, and intergenerational solidarity. Active participation in the European elections was for the ESU and its member associations—both at national and European level—one of the main activities in 2014. In addition, an action plan was drawn to ensure that the issues and concerns of seniors should come up more often in European policymaking. This led to the creation of the “Friends of ESU”, a task group of EPP MEPs committed to tackling these themes. On the proposal of ESU, the EPP Congress in Dublin adopted a resolution titled “An age-friendly European society”. Various ESU conferences in 2014 dealt with themes such as intergenerational solidarity, European citizenship and European elderly policy.

PRESIDENT

SECRETARY GENERAL

For more information please visit:

esu-epp.eu

ESU - Activities in 2014. • 6 March: Round Table: “Together towards an age-friendly European society”, Dublin, Ireland • 4-6 April: Regional Conference: “Active citizenship in a society of freedom and justice, responsibility and solidarity”, Oświęcim, Poland • 12-14 June: 5th ESU Summer Academy: “We want a better Europe”, Vienna, Austria • 13 June: Executive Committee, Vienna, Austria • 21-23 November: Regional Conference: “Intergenerational Cooperation and Solidarity”, Prague, Czech Republic • 28-30 November: Conference: “New challenges for the EU. New challenges for the ESU”, Leuven, Belgium. • Board meetings on 5 March (Dublin), 12 June (Vienna) and 29 November (Leuven)

EPP Women (EPPW) brings together 52 member organisations from EPP member parties in both EU and non-EU countries. The organisation is dedicated to advancing women’s political emancipation throughout Europe and the promotion of politically relevant women-related issues, such as gender equality in the labour market and the necessary contribution of women in peace operations in conflict situations. The organisation also focuses on the role of women in promoting democracy and the rule of law in the European Union and beyond. For EPP Women, the main topics of 2014 were: “Erasmus+”, “How Women are Renewing Labour Market Patterns”, “Role of NATO today”, “Tensions in the Middle East” and “Towards a New EU Foreign Policy”. At its 2014 Congress in Zagreb, EPP Women actively supported the candidacy of Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIĆ, who later became Croatia’s first female President.

PRESIDENT

SECRETARY GENERAL

For more information please visit:

www.epp-women.org

EPPW - Activities in 2014. • 6-7 April: EPP Women Colloque, Brussels, Belgium • 18-21 July: EPP Women Summer Academy for Leading Women, Zingst, Germany • 10 October: Foreign Affairs Policy Congress, Zagreb, Croatia.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS

EDS

European Democrat Students (EDS) is the official student organisation of the EPP. Founded in 1961, EDS is the strongest voice for centre-right students and is the largest political organisation of students in Europe, aiming to promote a political pro-European exchange. Led by its Chairwoman Eva MAJEWSKI and Secretary General Ingrid HOPP, EDS has 42 member organisations from 35 countries, representing over 1,600,000 students and youngsters, including from non-EU member countries like Norway, Belarus and Ukraine. Currently, the main policy priorities in the field of higher education include student mobility (Erasmus+), entrepreneurship in the education system, and e-learning. EDS raised its voice to promote European values in Ukraine and explored the Balkans on a study mission, visiting all non-EU countries of the Western Balkans to map the challenges regarding student democracy and youth unemployment. In addition, EDS provides training and advice to its members and beyond, and publishes the magazine “BullsEye” four times a year, offering a forum for debate and exchange of political views.

EUCDW

EUCDW is the workers’ association of the EPP, composed of 25 member organisations from 18 European countries. As the official EPP association for wage-earners, 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. In 2014, EUCDW actively contributed to the EPP’s European election campaign. It also held its XI Congress in Germany, where Elmar BROK was re-elected President. EUCDW promoted the interests of its member organisations regarding a number of key EU social policy topics including the posting of workers, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the strengthening of social dialogue. EUCDW defends a Europe of subsidiarity and solidarity which acts for the dignity and freedom of its citizens in the spirit of the social market economy.

SME Europe

Eva MAJEWSKI

Elmar BROK

Nadezhda NEYNSKY

PRESIDENT

Ingrid HOPP

Ivo BELET

Bendt BENDTSEN

PRESIDENT

SECRETARY GENERAL

For more information please visit:

edsnet.eu

EDS - Activities in 2014. • 14-16 February: Mission to Euromaidan, Kiev, Ukraine • 25 February-2 March: Winter University: “U MATTER! European Elections 2014”, Budapest, Hungary • 28-30 March: Students’ Forum: “Our Europe, our Choice”, Vienna, Austria • 22-27 April: Council Meeting: “Youth vs. Extremism”, Split, Croatia • 5-8 June: Policy Days: “Ukraine is Europe – European Identity for Ukraine”, Kiev, Ukraine • 15-22 June: Mission 6.1: Balkans: Belgrade, Skopje, Pristina, Tirana, Podgorica, Sarajevo • 8-13 July: Summer University: “Global Security 2014”, Tallinn, Estonia • 24-28 September: Council Meeting: “Youth Creates Chances for Europe”, Chisinau, Moldova • 26-30 November: Council Meeting: “Bringing Solutions to the Skills Gap in Europe”, Rome, Italy.

SECRETARY GENERAL

For more information please visit:

www.eucdw.org

EUCDW - Activities in 2014. • 23 January: Amendment Committee in Oostende, Belgium • 28 February-1 March: XI. Congress in Bielefeld, Germany • 18 June: Presidium and Board meeting in Albufeira, Portugal • 8 November: Board meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

SME Europe represents the small and medium entrepreneurs of Europe in the EPP family. SMEs are the backbone of the European economy and need tailor-made political solutions. The purpose of SME Europe, which became an EPP member association in 2013, is to shape EU policies in a more SME-friendly way and to bring a new spirit and fresh entrepreneurial wind to the political debate. SME Europe addresses a wide range of issues such as the internal market, international trade, innovation and research, and fighting red tape in order to strengthen the European economy and create sustainable jobs, growth and prosperity. SME Europe works closely together with national business organisations and European policy makers within the EPP political family, with a particular focus on the Parliament. We believe a less and smarter state intervention provides the best framework conditions for SMEs to develop.

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT

For more information please visit:

smeeurope.eu

SME Europe - Activities in 2014. • 14 February: “EPP Policy for SMEs-Building Strong and Dynamic Small Businesses” with Nadezhda NEYNSKY, MEP, and Pablo ZALBA BIDEGAIN, MEP, European Parliament • 18 February: “Modern parcel services for SMEs” moderated by Martin KASTLER, MEP, European Parliament • 10 April: Working Breakfast on “EU and Switzerland-an Outlook into a beneficial future” hosted by Dr Paul RÜBIG, MEP • 11 April: “The Future of Europe’s Powerhub” hosted by Elisabetta GARDINI, MEP, Padua, Italy • 25 April: “Regional cooperation of Danube local authorities: key factors for economic growth and sustainable development of local economies” hosted by Nadezhda NEYNSKY, MEP, Svishtov, Bulgaria • 19 March: “Free Trade Agreement between the United States of America and the European Union (TTIP), with focus on chances and risks for agriculture and trade” hosted by Albert DESS, MEP, European Parliament • 2 December: “Serbian Business meets the EU” hosted by Dr Paul RÜBIG, MEP, European Parliament.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies “THE LEGACY LIVES ON” Under the motto “The legacy lives on” in honour of its late founder Wilfried MARTENS, the new name and logo of the Centre were unveiled at the EPP Congress in Dublin. These changes also reflect the organisation’s maturity and its leading position in the European think tank scene.

The Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies (or Martens Centre), the official think tank of the EPP, had a year of change and exciting new developments in 2014, while continuing to strengthen its cooperation with a growing network of member foundations and partners!

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 WILFRIED MARTENS CENTRE FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES

THE LEGACY LIVES ON The mission and values that the Centre stands for are inspired by Wilfried MARTENS. Following his passing away in late 2013, the decision to rename the Centre in his honour was a natural one. Under the motto “The legacy lives on”, the new name and logo were unveiled during the EPP Congress in Dublin in March. Mikuláš DZURINDA, the former Prime Minister of Slovakia who took over as the Centre’s new President, praised Wilfried MARTENS for his lifelong work and achievements. The Centre will always remain committed to keeping his legacy alive and ensuring that his work in furthering the European project continues.

UP2YOUTH: THIS TIME YOU DECIDE! Following the success of previous online initiatives such as “tellBarroso” and “Springeneration”, the “Up2Youth” project was launched in order to allow young Europeans the chance to express and exchange ideas on the issues that mattered most to them ahead of the 2014 European elections. With over 40,000 participants ranking and offering policy proposals, the best proposals were incorporated into the EPP Action Programme. The EPP thus became the first European political party to “crowdsource” its political programme and to offer youth the opportunity to share their ideas using stateof-the-art digital tools. Furthermore, the ten winners that offered the best policy ideas were awarded VIP passes to attend the EPP Congress in Dublin to present their proposals to all Congress participants.

A CAMPAIGN OF IDEAS At the beginning of 2014, the Martens Centre committed itself to a “campaign of ideas” providing the EPP political family with essential analyses and expertise ahead of the European elections. Under this umbrella campaign, the Centre provided regular political intelligence on opponents, top candidates and key topics. It also produced argument sheets and leaflets on the benefits of the euro and the dangers of populist rhetoric, among other key issues.

Under the title “This time it was different”, the Centre also produced a post-electoral analysis aimed at suggesting best practices and lessons for the 2019 European elections.

SETTING THE GROWTH AGENDA: ECONOMIC IDEAS FORUM The fifth annual Economic Ideas Forum was held in Bratislava under the patronage of WMCES President and former Prime Minister of Slovakia Mikuláš DZURINDA. The Forum welcomed high-level Central and Eastern Europe decisionmakers and experts. The key message of this year’s Forum was that the return to growth requires a renewed commitment to our core principles of reform, innovation, social justice and smart investment. In this context, 25 years after the collapse of Communism, the economies of Central and Eastern Europe can offer important lessons, both for the EU’s eastern neighbours and for other Member States. A mobile phone application was used for the first time during the event, facilitating increased interaction and networking among attendees and speakers. The event was also broadcast online via a live video stream.

THE WEST RISING TO THE CHALLENGE This year’s Transatlantic Think Tank Conference was held in Brussels and welcomed participants from both sides of the Atlantic to analyse developments following crucial elections in both the US and the EU. With ISIS, Putin’s Russia and other global threats emerging, the West’s approach needs to be reassessed in order to outline a strategy to cope with these challenges. The panel discussions addressed these questions and focused on how to become more effective in transatlantic cooperation and regain the trust of European and American citizens.

A LIFELINE FOR FREEDOM Throughout the year, the Martens Centre has been following with keen interest the developments in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood, aiming to provide swift analysis and support as events unfold. As part of the successful Food for Thought series, expert debates have looked at the political crisis in Georgia, the presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine and the future of EU-Armenia relations. The Centre also dedicated a thematic issue of its academic journal, the European View, to the “changing Eastern Neighbourhood” and launched a research paper that offers policy recommendations for the success of the Eastern Partnership Initiative.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Who is Who Presidency PRESIDENT

SECRETARY GENERAL

Joseph DAUL France – UMP

Antonio LÓPEZ-ISTÚRIZ Spain - PP

VICE PRESIDENTS*

Michel BARNIER France - UMP

Tobias BILLSTRÖM Sweden - MOD

Anca BOAGIU Romania - PDL

Mário DAVID Portugal - PSD

Johannes HAHN Austria - ÖVP

Peter HINTZE Germany - CDU

Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI Poland - PO

Antonio TAJANI Italy - FI

Corien WORTMANN-KOOL Netherlands - CDA

Ingo FRIEDRICH / TREASURER Germany - CSU

Jean-Claude JUNCKER Luxembourg - CSV

Donald TUSK Poland - PO

* In alphabetical order

EX OFFICIO VICE PRESIDENTS Manfred WEBER Germany - CSU

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Secretariat ELECTED OFFICIALS

SPOKESMAN

Siegfried MURESAN

Christian KREMER Deputy Secretary General

Spokesman spokesman@epp.eu

Luc VANDEPUTTE Deputy Secretary General

STAFF

Brenda FURNIERE

Head of the President’s Office bfurniere@epp.eu

Juan MAGAZ

Political Adviser jmagaz@epp.eu

Daphné LAMAL

Assistant to Deputy Secretary General Luc Vandeputte dlamal@epp.eu

Rok TUS

Graphic Designer and Video Editor rtus@epp.eu

Eva PALACKOVÁ

Political Adviser epalackova@epp.eu

Julia ZALUTSKAJA Assistant for External Relations jzalutskaja@epp.eu

Patrick CAMINADE President’s Office pcaminade@epp.eu

Sara PINI

Deputy Head of the President’s Office spini@epp.eu

Giuseppina CURRELI Head of the Secretary General’s Office and Senior Political Adviser gcurreli@epp.eu

Ines Elise PRAINSACK-WARD

Patrick VOLLER

Head of Policy and Strategy Unit iprainsack@epp.eu

Secretary for External Relations pvoller@epp.eu

Javier JIMÉNEZ

Director of Press and Communications jjimenez@epp.eu

Galina FOMENCHENKO

Political Adviser gfomenchenko@epp.eu

Beatriz DE ANTA DE BENITO

Juha-Pekka NURVALA

Karine MILHEIRO

John LAGESON

Maite ZABALETA

Claudia CAJVAN

Yelba TORRES

Pavlína HEYMANSŠPAČKOVÁ

Charlotte FRIZBERG

Guy VOLCKAERT

Gonçalo CARRIÇO

Matteo ALBANIA

Political Adviser bdeanta@epp.eu

Assistant for Working Groups, Ministerial Meetings ytorres@epp.eu

Benjamin Feyen Intern bfeyen@epp.eu

Political Adviser jnurvala@epp.eu

Assistant for Ministerial Meetings, Archives pheymans@epp.eu

Press and Officer Communications Officer jlageson@epp.eu kmilheiro@epp.eu

Assistant Event Management cfrizberg@epp.eu

Manager of Informatics and Internet gvolckaert@epp.eu

Assistant to the Secretary General mzabaleta@epp.eu

IT Administrator gcarrico@epp.eu

Assistant to Deputy Secretary General Christian Kremer ccajvan@epp.eu

Internal Communication and Marketing Officer malbania@epp.eu

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Member Parties European Union Countries +

Associate members ° Observer members

Österreichische Volkspartei / ÖVP / Austrian People’s Party

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

Граждани за европейско развитие на България • Grazhdani za evropeysko razvitie na Balgariya / ГЕРБ • GERB / Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria Демократи за силна България • Demokrati za silna Bulgaria / ДСБ • DSB / Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria Съюз на демократичните сили • Sayuz na demokratichnite sili / СДС • SDS / Union of Democratic Forces Демократическа партия • Demokraticheska partia / ДП • DP / Democratic Party Hrvatska demokratska zajednica / HDZ / Croatian Democratic Union Hrvatska seljačka stranka / HSS / Croatian Peasant’s Party

TOP 09 Křesťanská a demokratická unie – Československá strana lidová / KDU-ČSL / Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People’s Party

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

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

Kansallinen Kokoomus / KOK / National Coalition Party Kristillisdemokraatit° / KD / Christian Democrats

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

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

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

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 MEMBER PARTIES

Fine Gael / FG / Family of the Irish

Forza Italia / FI / Forward Italy Nuovo Centrodestra / NCD / New Centre-Right Unione dei Democratici Cristiani e di Centro / UDC / Union of the Centre Popolari per l’Italia / PpI / Populars for Italy Südtiroler Volkspartei° / SVP / South Tyrolean People’s Party UDEUR Popolari per il Sud / UDEUR / People for the South

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

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

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

Partidul Naţional Liberal / PNL / National Liberal Party Partidul Democrat-Liberal / PDL / Democratic Liberal Party Romániai Magyar Demokrata Szövetség • Uniunea Democrată Maghiară din România / RMDSZ • UDMR / Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania Partidul Mișcarea Populară / PMP / People’s Movement Party Partidul Naţional Ţărănesc Creştin Democrat / PNŢCD / Christian Democratic National Peasant’s Party

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

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

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

Moderata samlingspartiet / MOD - Moderaterna / Moderate Coalition Party Kristdemokraterna / KD / Christian Democrats

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014 MEMBER PARTIES

Non-EU Countries +

Associate members ° Observer members AL

Partia Demokratike e Shqipërisë° / PDSH / Democratic Party of Albania

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

Партыя БНФ • Partyja BNF° / ПБНФ • PBNF / BPF Party BY

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

Stranka Demokratske Akcije° / SDA / Party of Democratic Action Hrvatska demokratska zajednica Bosne i Hercegovine° / HDZ BiH / Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina Hrvatska demokratska zajednica 1990° / HDZ 1990 / Croatian Democratic Union 1990 Партија демократског прогреса • Partija demokratskog progresa° / ПДП • PDP / Party of Democratic Progress

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

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

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

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

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

Уједињени региони Србије • Ujedinjeni regioni Srbije+ / УPC • URS / United Regions of Serbia Vajdasági Magyar Szövetség • Савез војвођанских Мађара • Savez vojvođanskih Mađara° / VMSZ • CBM • SVM / Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians

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

Всеукраїнське об’єднання “Батьківщина” • Vseukrayins’ke Obyednannya Bat’kivshchyna° / UA

Batkivschyna / All Ukrainian Union “Fatherland” Український демократичний альянс за реформи / УДАР • UDAR / Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform Народний Рух України • Narodnyi Rukh Ukrajiny° / Рух • Rukh / People’s Movement of Ukraine

KOSOVO*

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

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

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

Map of Europe

EPP

EUR

° Observer m

ICELAND REYKJAVIK

EU COUNTRY NON-EU COUNTRY

epp.eu

Not visible on this Map:

Guadaloupe (F) / Guayana (F) / Martinique (F) / Mayotte (F) / Réunion (F) / Curaçao (NL) / Bonaire (NL) / Sint Maarten (NL) / Azores (P).

FINLAND HELSINKI

NORWAY OSLO

ESTONIA

SWEDEN

TALLINN

STOCKHOLM

RUSSIA MOSCOW

LATVIA RIGA

IRELAND DUBLIN

LITHUANIA VILNIUS

DENMARK COPENHAGEN

NETHERLANDS

BELARUS

AMSTERDAM

UNITED KINGDOM

MINSK

POLAND

GERMANY

WARSAW

BERLIN

LONDON

BELGIUM BRUSSELS

CZECH REPUBLIC PRAGUE

FRANCE PARIS

UKRAINE KIEV

LUXEMBOURG

SLOVAKIA

LUXEMBOURG

BRATISLAVA

AUSTRIA VIENNA

SWITZERLAND BERN

SLOVENIA LJUBLJANA

ANDORRA

MOLDOVA CHISINAU

BUDAPEST

CROATIA

ROMANIA

ZAGREB

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

MONACO

SPAIN

HUNGARY

LIECHTENSTEIN

SERBIA

BUCHAREST

BELGRADE

GEORGIA TBILISI

SARAJEVO

SAN MARINO

KOSOVO* PRISTINA

MADRID

BULGARIA SOFIA

MONTENEGRO

PORTUGAL

ARMENIA YEREVAN

PODGORICA

LISBON

ITALY

ALBANIA TIRANA

ROME

F.Y.R.O.M. SKOPJE

TURKEY ANKARA

GREECE ATHENS

CYPRUS NICOSIA

MALTA VALLETTA

Printed with the financial support of the European Parliament. This publication is produced by the Press and Communication Department of the European People’s Party (EPP). Published in November 2013. EPP headquarters: 10, rue du Commerce, Brussels B-1000. Switchboard: +32-(0)2-2854140 Email: info@epp.eu Web: www.epp.eu

EP th of

ANNUAL REVIEW 2014

European Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Party 10, rue du commerce B-1000 Brussels

Get Social with us! twitter.epp.eu facebook.epp.eu youtube.epp.eu flickr.epp.eu

epp.eu

linkedin.epp.eu