EPP President on Europe Day: "2014 European elections, a chance for people to choose the next Commission President"
Brussels, 9 May 2013
On the anniversary of Europe Day, the President of the European People's Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens made the following statement:"During the current challenging times, it is important that we reflect on, and seek inspiration from, the European project's achievements. Europe has been the answer for many past problems: I am convinced that it will continue to be the key to unlocking many of the challenges we face together today and in the future.
In addition to tackling the difficult economic situation, the European project is under attack from the extremes. Extremists from the right and the left are deploying populist rhetoric and manipulative tactics which remind many of Europe's tragic past.
Everyone who believes in European democracy has the responsibility to explain to and convince people that the EU is not the problem - as the extremes claim - but the solution. In this respect, the role of the EPP and all other pro-European political parties is crucial in reaching out to Europe's citizens. If we truly want to bridge the gap between the EU and our citizens, European political parties must take the lead in the democratization and politicization process of Europe, starting with the campaign for the 2014 European elections. This is the chance for people to choose not only their MEPs, but also the next President of the European Commission."
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