Fine Gael to host EPP Congress in Dublin for launching 2014 European election campaign
Dublin, 17 June 2013
(originally published by Fine Gael on 16 June 2013:
Fine Gael is pleased to announce that it has been selected to host the Congress to launch the 2014 European election campaign of the European People’s Party (EPP). The Congress will take place in Dublin in late February/early March of 2014 at the Dublin Convention Centre. The exact dates will be confirmed in the coming days.This Congress will bring together the heads of government, party leaders, ministers, national and European parliamentarians, and delegates from EPP member parties throughout Europe. The EPP is the largest political party at European level with 13 EU heads of government, 13 members of the European Commission, the largest group in the European Parliament and 73 member parties in 40 countries.
The expected 2,000 delegates at the Dublin Congress will launch the EPP’s campaign for the 2014 European Parliament elections by approving its manifesto and selecting the EPP’s candidate for President of the European Commission. Starting from Dublin, the EPP presidential candidate will campaign in all the Member States of the European Union until the scheduled European elections of 22-25 May 2014.
Enda Kenny, Taoiseach and Leader of Fine Gael said:
“I am delighted that the European People’s Party has decided to hold this very important Congress in Dublin.
“As a founding member party of the EPP, Fine Gael is proud to host this event and to welcome the leaders and delegates of our sister parties from all over Europe to Dublin.
“Next year’s European elections are crucially important for the future of the European Union. At this Congress, which will be the biggest event ever organised by the EPP and will attract great international media attention, we will decide on our election manifesto and we will choose a presidential candidate that will lead the party’s EU-wide election campaign.
“The Congress, with an expected attendance of hundreds of journalists and television broadcasters from around the world, will be a welcome boost for Dublin and will have a knock on effect on the local economy.”
Minister of State for European Affairs and EPP Vice President, Lucinda Creighton TD, said:
“These will be European elections like no other. Europe and European policies are in sharp focus right now and it is an opportunity for parties to put forward competing ideas.
“It is also unique in that every political party is running a candidate for the post of President of the Commission, which has never happened before.”
Note to editors:
The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right, which currently includes 73 member-parties from 40 countries, the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, 13 EU and 6 non-EU heads of state and government, 13 members of the European Commission and the largest Group in the European Parliament.
For more information:
Kostas Sasmatzoglou, EPP Spokesman, Tel. +32-2-2854147
Javier Jiménez, EPP Senior Press and Communication Officer, Tel. +32-475480446