The EPP's Way to Number 1
Description
In 1999, the European People's Party (EPP) emerged as the largest political group in the European Parliament, maintaining its dominance for more than 25 years and influencing the direction of the EU through five consecutive Presidencies of the European Commission.
In this Open Access book, the EPP's official think-tank, the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, presents memories from Prime Ministers, Presidents of EU institutions, Party Presidents and EPP officials. The book traces the pivotal moments in EU politics, from the EPP's expansion to include conservative, liberal, and like-minded parties, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, to the actual management of the new enlarged party.
This book sheds light on the EPP's evolution, successes, and controversies through firsthand accounts, offering a comprehensive view of its impact on the European Union over the past quarter-century.
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Persons
Klaus Welle has chaired the Martens Centre's Academic Council since April 2023. He previously served as chair of DEMYC (1991-4), before going on to serve as secretary general of the EUCD (1994-9), of the EPP (1994-9), of the EPP Group in the European Parliament (1999-2004) and of the European Parliament (2009-22). He is a Guest Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics, a Visiting Professor at KU Leuven and a Leader in Residence at the Moynihan Center of the Colin Powell School for Global Leadership in New York.
Sara Pini is a Senior Research Officer at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies and the Assistant Editor-in-Chief of the Centre's policy journal European View. Between 2014 and 2023, she was deputy head of office of the president of the EPP. She studied International and Diplomatic Sciences at the University of Bologna and European Studies at Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris, and she completed a Master's in Politics and Societies in Europe at Sciences Po Paris.
Content
Part I: Introduction.- Chapter 1. The Way to Number 1.- Part II: The beginning.- Chapter 2. The Basic Programme of Athens: The Glue of Values and a Route Guide for a Europe in Turmoil.- Part III: Breaking through - the way to majority.- Chapter 3. Wilfried Martens's Vision for the EPP (Interview with Marianne Amssoms).- Chapter 4. From Alianza Popular to Partido Popular: The History of a Refoundation.- Chapter 5. The History of a Beautiful Political Friendship: The British Conservatives and the EPP.- Chapter 6. Forza Italia's Entry Into the EPP: A Natural Destiny.- Chapter 7. A European Legacy: My EPP Experience.- Part IV: Creating a joint youth structure: YEPP.- Chapter 8. The Path to Founding YEPP.- Chapter 9. The Creation of YEPP.- Chapter 10. The Consolidation Phase.- Part V: The Integration of the EUCD into the EPP.- Chapter 11. A Stronger EPP for a Stronger Europe.- Chapter 12. From Vision to Power: The EPP's Journey Through Enlargement and Strategy (Interview with Wim van Velzen).- Part VI: Mission accomplished - the EDU.- Chapter 13. The EDU - A Building Block for the EPP.- Chapter 14. Cooperation Between Christian Democrats, Conservatives and Other Like-Minded Parties: Through a Minefield to the EDU.- Chapter 15. The EDU: Laying the Foundations for a Centre-Right Lead in Europe.- Part VI: On the right track? - The enlargement of the EPP 30 years later.- Chapter 16. Yes, but . . ..- Chapter 17. Remaining Loyal to Our Roots.- Chapter 18. The Power of Leadership: Wilfried Martens and the EPP's Political Strategy (Interview With Marc Van Peel) .- Part VII: The enlarged EPP in practice.- Chapter 19. The EPP on Its Path to Becoming the Largest Group and the Increase of Competences for the European Parliament.- Chapter 20. Wilfried Martens and Our Ambitions for the EPP.- Chapter 21. Putting the Person at the Centre: How to Successfully Preside Over an Enlarged EPP (Interview with Joseph Daul).- Chapter 22. Reassessing the Effectiveness of the European People's Party.- Part VIII: Conclusion.- Chapter 23. What's Next?.