The European People’s Party (EPP) is the political family of the centre-right in the European Parliament. They are the party of Germany’s Merkel and used to be the group to which the UK Conservatives were allied – before the Tories left the EPP to join another group.
Founded in 1976, the EPP strives – in its own words – for a democratic, transparent and efficient Europe that is close to its citizens. “The EPP wants a prosperous Europe through the promotion of a free market economy with a social consciousness. The EPP is the largest political organisation in Europe with over 70 member-parties from 40 countries, the most heads of state and government (both, EU and non-EU), 13 European Commissioners (including the President), and the largest Group in the European Parliament.”
You can see exactly which parties make up the EPP in which EU country here: http://www.epp.eu/member-parties
EPP Platform
The EPP Party Platform is the core programme of the party outlining their main values, explaining the challenges society is facing and presenting their vision for the future of European Union.
The Party Platform was developed in EPP Working Group 1 for “European Policy” chaired by EPP President Wilfried MARTENS and EPP Vice President Peter HINTZE. The Working Group consists of delegates of EPP member parties who prepared and worked on this document for more than two years and received input from the drafting committee as well as senior and young experts.
The document was adopted at the 2012 EPP Congress in Bucharest, thus replacing the Basic Programme of Athens from 1992.
Here you find the website of the EPP’s candidate for President http://juncker.epp.eu/
