EDP MEPs in Paris with Gozi, Bayrou and Barrot: priorities for Strasbourg, governance reform, the cost of living, ecological transition and Europe’s global role
Yesterday, 4 September, an important seminar of the European Democratic Party was held at the Paris headquarters of the Democratic Movement, attended by Secretary General Sandro Gozi and EDP MEPs: Engin Eroglu from Germany, Oihane Agirregoitia from the Basque Country, Laurence Farreng and Marie-Pierre Vedrenne from France, Yvan Verougstraete from Belgium, president of Les Engagés, and Ciaran Mullooly from Ireland.
The first part of the meeting was devoted to political priorities ahead of the start of the European parliamentary year, which will officially begin next week with the plenary session in Strasbourg. EDP MEPs stressed that the assessment of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s work cannot be considered positive: Europe is at a crossroads and there is no more time for delays. Either it will be able to change, making its institutions more effective and closer to citizens, or it will risk succumbing to global challenges. The need to reform European governance before any new enlargement or further unification process was strongly reiterated, because without solid and democratic institutions, stability and cohesion cannot be guaranteed. EPP representatives also stressed the urgency of concrete policies for people’s daily lives: ecological transition, combating the high cost of living, access to housing, digital transformation. This vision also includes the proposal to promote a new global alliance for democracy, capable of uniting countries that share the values of freedom, pluralism and the rule of law. Much attention is being paid to President von der Leyen’s upcoming State of the Union address, from which EPP MEPs expect clear and incisive answers.
The second part of the seminar was attended by French Prime Minister François Bayrou, President of the MoDem, and Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. Together with them, the international dimension of European challenges was addressed: from redefining relations with global partners to defending threatened democracies, from energy security to Europe’s role in regional conflicts. It emerged strongly that the Union must assume credible leadership in an increasingly fragile geopolitical context, strengthening its voice and building alliances that make it a protagonist, rather than a spectator, of global change.
The presence of Prime Minister Bayrou gave the meeting even greater significance, not least because it took place just a few days before the vote on the government’s responsibility in the French National Assembly. The European Democratic Party expressed its support and sincere best wishes to President Bayrou ahead of this highly delicate political test, aware of the value that his leadership represents not only for France but also for the future of Europe.
The Paris seminar thus concluded by reaffirming the EDP’s commitment to building a stronger Europe that is closer to its citizens, capable of courageously facing the challenges of the present and promoting, together with its democratic partners, a new global balance based on freedom and solidarity.
