Berlin (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European People’s Party (EPP) leaders said the bloc’s economy must become more competitive, and both migration and security must be tackled.
The center-right European People’s Party (EPP) gathered in Berlin on January 18, 2025, to delineate its preferences for 2025, with leaders concentrating on stopping the upgrade of the hard right, boosting competitiveness, and tackling illegal migration. Euronews reported.
The leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union, Friedrich Merz, described to his fellow EPP members,
This year, the EPP will ensure that competitiveness and securing prosperity are number one on the agenda.
The second major issue is we must now stop illegal migration, not just talk about it, but act. And the third: We must ensure that we secure peace. And we can only do that by taking a strong military stance.
We need tougher rules to limit irregular migration to Europe,
he said.
Moreover, the center-right party underlined that European industry is experiencing less competitive as growth in Europe drags behind other regions.
The main reason for the worsening situation is lower productivity in the EU, which leads to slower income growth and weaker domestic demand in Europe. Recently, international trade has come under pressure – putting additional strain on many export-oriented sectors of our economies,
the party said.
It further added that
the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the subsequent increase in energy prices have additionally worsened the economic outlook in Europe.
What role does the EPP play in shaping EU policy?
The European People’s Party, or EPP, is a center-right party in the European Union, formed by a significant coalition of parties across Europe. The EPP promotes a pro-European agenda, that is, democracy, transparency, and efficiency brought close to European citizens.
This party supports the free market economy with a social conscience, taking into account important principles such as justice, solidarity, and responsibility. The EPP has highly visible leadership roles in the EU, including the post of presidency of the European Commission and the European Parliament. It is known for its influence on policies and legislation of the EU.
