Annual EPP Congress, Helsinki, 7-8 November 2018

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Publication Date November 2018
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Summary:

The 25th congress of the European People's Party was held in Helsinki, on 7-8 November 2018. Delegates used the occasion to renew the party statutes and discuss common positions on challenges facing the European Union.

At the congress, the party also elected its lead candidate (Spitzenkandidat) ahead of the 2019 European Parliament elections.

Further information:

Two candidates were competing for the position as EPP lead candidate - Alexander Stubb and Manfred Weber. The two politicians held an exchange of views before the election took place. Mr Weber was eventually declared winner on 8 November.

The congress was held amidst internal division within the European People's Party. At the meeting, delegates adopted a special resolution demanding respect for the values and freedoms at the core of the European Union. While the resolution was not explicitly associated with Hungary, several EPP officials suggested such connection.

Source Link https://helsinki2018.epp.eu/
Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
Politico, 07.11.18: EPP debate: A fight without a single punch thrown https://www.politico.eu/article/epp-manfred-weber-alexander-stubb-spitzenkandidat-debate-a-fight-without-a-single-punch-thrown/
Politico, 08.11.18: Europe’s conservatives need a leader not an apparatchik https://www.politico.eu/article/opinion-manfred-weber-alex-stubb-epp-europe-conservatives-need-a-leader-not-an-apparatchik/
EUObserver, 07.11.18: EPP Spitzen-race: choice between Coke Light and Coke Zero https://euobserver.com/opinion/143306
Politico, 08.11.18: Winners and losers from conservatives’ Helsinki lovefest https://www.politico.eu/article/winners-and-losers-from-conservatives-helsinki-lovefest/
Euro|topics, November 2018: Has the EPP let Orbán boss it around? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/209719/

News
EurActiv, 08.11.18: EPP warns Orbán, but Fidesz still influences the line https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-elections-2019/news/epp-warned-orban-publicly-but-fidesz-still-influences-the-line/
Reuters, 07.11.18: EU's biggest grouping puts Hungary's Orban on notice amid rights concerns https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-hungary-eu-epp/eus-biggest-grouping-puts-hungarys-orban-on-notice-amid-rights-concerns-idUKKCN1NC2G5
RTÉ News, 08.11.18: Varadkar says Irish stance on backstop will not soften despite problems facing May https://www.rte.ie/news/europe/2018/1108/1009439-epp-helsinki-brexit/
EUObserver, 05.11.8: EPP aims to tame Orban with 'values' resolution https://euobserver.com/political/143293

Official
EPP: Press Release, 07.11.18: EPP Congress in Helsinki – Highlights of the First Day https://www.epp.eu/press-releases/epp-congress-in-helsinki-highlights-of-the-first-day/

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Record URL https://www.europeansources.info/record/?p=513193