The European People’s Party (EPP) is organizing this year its second Congress. Why two Congresses in one year?

Thank you, first of all, for having me here today; I think New Europe has an important role in the Brussels-based media. Regarding your question, our first Congress which took place in April 2009 in Warsaw was organized solely for the purpose of launching our campaign for the European elections. The campaign was successful, we had a huge victory and President Jose Manuel Barroso, our candidate, was re-elected.  The upcoming Congress is statutory, meaning that it’s the regular Congress that takes place once every three years where we elect our leadership and renew and update many of our policies. This one is dedicated to the Social Market Economy and we expect all of our leaders and nearly 1500 delegates from across Europe to participate.

What is the key to EPP’s political success in the European Union?

European voters have greater confidence in the EPP and our member-parties. We inspire trust and security in European societies and in a moment  of  crisis, such as the current economic and financial one, we are viewed as the only steady hand that can  rapidly  lead Europe to renewed economic development and prosperity via effective and measured policies. The Socialists, on the other hand, have a reputation of being reckless public spenders, of over-inflating the state and civil service, of focusing on tactics and communication tricks at the expense of serious policy-making.

With the Lisbon Treaty now ratified, how do you see the evolution of the EU?
With the Lisbon Treaty finally in place, the EU is now entering a new era. It will now function in a more efficient way; it will become more democratic and more transparent. It will become less bureaucratic since the decision-making process will become much more political. This also means that European political parties, like the EPP and all our competitors, will become more engaged in all the EU institutions and will be more influential in policy formulation.  Also, the connections to the national parliaments will be strengthened thereby reducing the democratic deficit of the European Union. 

Being Secretary General of the largest European political party, how do you see the role of parties in the EU?
European political parties have come a long way since their inception some decades ago. From very loose umbrella organizations, they have evolved into ‘real’ political parties and, in many aspects they resemble their national counterparties in the way they function. We have the exclusive responsibility to campaign for the European elections; our political groups are not allowed to campaign. European political parties, especially the three big ones – EPP, PES, ELDR - are involved in the political process of all the EU institutions and are making them more democratic by being more political. With Lisbon, this “horizontal” political role of European parties in the EU institutions is being reinforced and their influence will increase. I believe that, through this process, through the debate of ideas and political competition, European political parties will slowly but surely bridge the gap between Brussels and civil societies - at least this is the ambition of the EPP, the largest political party in Europe.

In your opinion, which personalities will lead Europe in the coming years?

Centre-right personalities. Since the EPP is the leading party, it is natural that our political personalities will have leading roles; President Nicolas Sarkozy, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Chancellor Angela Merkel and many others, will continue to have central roles. Moreover, with the Lisbon Treaty now ratified, President Barroso has the overall lead in the EU and also the opportunity to make Europe more result-oriented, more transparent, and more visible in the daily lives of people. Europe needs to deliver and President Barroso, together with President Van Rompuy and President Buzek, are ready for the challenge.

Antonio Lopez-Isturiz  is  the Secretary General of the European People's Party EPP-ED