EPP Group

The Group of the European People's Party (EPP Group) is the largest in the European Parliament with 265 Members.

It brings together centre and centre-right pro-European political forces from the Member States of the EU.

Most of the parties represented in the EPP Group also belong to the European People's Party. The EPP was the first-ever transnational political party to be formed at European level, and has the strongest representation in the European Council of Ministers. EPP parties came together to advance the goal of a more competitive and democratic Europe, closer to its citizens, and a social market economy.

As the largest political group in a Parliament where non-socialist parties now enjoy a clear majority, the EPP Group is in a stronger position than any other to set that body's political agenda and to win its most critical votes. This strength is reflected in the fact that, since 1999, the EPP Group has been on the winning side of more votes than any other group in the European Parliament's monthly plenary sessions.

Strength of numbers also ensures that EPP Group Members hold a range of key positions within the Parliament - including the Chairmanships of 10 of the EP's 22 committees or subcommittees, 5 of its 14 Vice-Presidents, and 2 of its 5 Quaestors. Within the parliamentary committees, EPP Group Members are best placed to secure the right to author the EP's position on key pieces of draft legislation and other major reports: the Group gets more of these rapporteurships on more important subjects, than any other group.