“The time to unite democrats is now”: Gozi closes the EDP Congress in Athens

The European Democratic Party wrapped up its Congress in Athens on 24 October 2026 with a strong message of unity, courage and political ambition. More than 100 delegates from across Europe and over 300 participants from Greece attended, a sign of the growing strength of Europe’s democratic family.

In his closing address, EDP Secretary General Sandro Gozi urged democrats to go beyond declarations and act: to defend freedom, strengthen European sovereignty and build a worldwide alliance against authoritarianism and nationalism.

“We are in Athens. Where democracy was born. And where, today, we must make a promise: democracy will not die on our watch!” Gozi said. “Democracy is under attack. Freedom is under attack. Truth itself is under attack. And the greatest danger is not only the strength of those who attack democracy. It is the weakness of those who should defend it.”

A sovereign Europe, not a playground for global powers

Gozi asked European leaders to end their political paralysis and raise their level of ambition. “Europe must become a power. Or Europe will become a playground for other powers,” he warned. “National sovereignty without European sovereignty is an illusion.”

He called for an end to national vetoes, for treaty reform, for majority voting and for a genuine European defence. He also stressed that sovereignty must bring concrete results for citizens: lower energy bills, more opportunities for young people, less bureaucracy and greater economic security.

Turning to nationalist movements, he said: “They promise sovereignty. They deliver dependence. They promise strength. They deliver isolation.”

A global alliance of democracies

The EDP’s plan for a global alliance of democratic forces across continents was at the heart of the Congress. “Authoritarians are increasingly united in their determination to weaken democracy. Democrats cannot afford to remain divided in defending it,” Gozi said.

He reaffirmed the EDP’s solidarity with democratic movements in Ukraine, Serbia, Albania and Türkiye, and with all those defending freedom beyond Europe. He also set out an international agenda that reaches from Canada and the United States to India and Taiwan. “Our next great political project must be a global alliance of democracies.”

On the United Kingdom, Gozi called for a new level of ambition: “The return of the UK to the EU would be one of the greatest democratic victories over nationalism and populism in our generation!”

“We are here to build tomorrow’s Europe”

In an emotional conclusion, Gozi paid tribute to the courage and lifelong commitment of EDP President François Bayrou. He also thanked Stefanos Kasselakis for his determination to build a stronger democratic alternative in Greece.

“We can be remembered as the generation that watched Europe become irrelevant. Or as the generation that finally made Europe sovereign. We are not here to defend yesterday’s Europe. We are here to build tomorrow’s Europe!”

The Congress ended with a clear commitment to turn the strength and solidarity of these two days into political action across Europe and beyond.

“History does not belong to those who are afraid. History belongs to those who have the courage to change it,” Gozi concluded. “The time to defend democracy is now. The time to build European power is now. The time to unite democrats is now.”