EPP creates working group to prepare for 2029 elections — Politico Europe
In Brussels, Belgium, the European People’s Party has created the Win2029 working group to prepare its election platform for the 2029 European Parliament elections. It will be chaired by Spanish MEP Esteban González Pons. Initial discussions are due to take place at an October retreat in Sicily and continue until the EPP congress in Rome next spring.
As Politico Europe reports, Europe’s largest political family aims to win back voters who support far-right parties. At the same time, disputes are intensifying within the EPP over cooperation with such forces and how far the party should shift to the right on migration, climate and social policy.
Differences over cooperation
Polish and Romanian EPP representatives oppose any rapprochement with the far right. Meanwhile, conservatives in Spain, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands have already been part of governments alongside such parties. In Germany, some politicians are questioning the policy of isolating Alternative for Germany, although most German EPP members in Brussels continue to oppose this.
According to the publication, the leadership of the group in the European Parliament generally seeks not to support initiatives by the far-right Patriots group, while considering the European Conservatives and Reformists — which includes the party of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — an acceptable partner. The EPP also expelled Slovenian MEP Branko Grims after he took part in an event organized by AfD.
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Migration and social policy
At the congress following the 2024 EU elections, EPP President Manfred Weber said he intended to change the party’s political course in order to win back supporters attracted by far-right populists. This involved tougher migration policy, more deportations and the easing of environmental rules. At the political assembly in Vienna, delegates backed greater investment in Frontex and replacing the term “irregular migration” with “illegal migration” in documents.
German MEP Dennis Radtke cautioned against explaining the rise in support for the far right solely through migration. According to him, the number of asylum seekers is declining, yet the radical right retains support because of unresolved social problems.
Differences also concern workers’ rights, gender equality, reproductive rights and the easing of environmental regulation. Some delegations opposed a resolution on strengthening social protection, skills development and support for youth employment, and the vote on it was postponed. There is also no common position within the EPP on the extent to which restrictions on industrial emissions should be eased and internal combustion engines phased out.
