The EPP’s Way to Number 1 : The Rise to Europe's Leading Political Force and Lessons Ahead / edited by Klaus Welle, Sara Pini.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Welle, Klaus, Editor.

Pini, Sara., Editor.

Series:

Political Science and International Studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Europe--Politics and government.

Europe.

Elections.

Political leadership.

World politics.

Political sociology.

European Politics.

Electoral Politics.

Political Leadership.

Political History.

Political Sociology.

Local Subjects:

European Politics.

Electoral Politics.

Political Leadership.

Political History.

Political Sociology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (XIII, 237 p. 13 illus., 1 illus. in color.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2026.

Place of Publication:

Cham : Springer Nature Switzerland : Imprint: Springer, 2026.

Summary:

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.

Contents:

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?.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

3-031-96906-5

9783031969065

OCLC:

1561171471