In June 2009, the EPP won its third victory in a row in the European elections. What is the key to EPP’s success?

First of all, thank you for inviting me again to New Europe. Regarding our victory, I’m particularly pleased that the EPP and our parties were victorious in most EU member-states and that the difference between us and the Socialists was larger than ever; this is truly unprecedented. Moreover, we currently have 13 out of 27 EU heads of state and government and we are leading all 3 main EU institutions: the Commission with Jose Manuel Barroso, the Parliament with Jerzy Buzek, and now that the Lisbon Treaty is in force, the Council with Herman Van Rompuy. Clearly, Europe is embracing the centre-right policies of the EPP.

But how does the EPP manage to become stronger at a moment where Europe is in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the 2nd World War?

This misperception has been systematically fueled by certain media groups in Europe which, frankly speaking, are not very favorable towards the EPP and our parties. When the economic crisis erupted, many pundits in Europe where quick to lay the blame on the centre-right; they predicted our demise.  On the contrary, we have been the first ones to blame the current economic and financial turmoil on the extremists’ liberal market policies. We strictly abide to sensible economic policies which traditionally combine free market spirit with social peace and stability throughout Europe. All the other so-called “experts” are clearly out of touch with European societies. Europeans are looking for stability, responsibility and good governance not for experimentations, improvisations, or overbearing state intervention which would make the Euro tumble and inflation rise. 

But as a party that supports the free market, why do many of your governments support at least partial state intervention in the financial sector or aiding the welfare state? These policies are normally associated with the Left.

Well, actually this is another misperception that I would like to clarify. One of the fundamental pillars of our ideology is what we call the “Social Market Economy.” The EPP has always been in favor of a healthy market economy in Europe and in our Member States but at the same time we are also in favor  of cultivating a strong social consciousness in our policies. For example, we  have always supported the existence of healthy and sustainable welfare systems and, unlike the Socialists, we  have made sure that they were managed in a sound and efficient way. We’ve always supported programs for the unemployed in order to re-integrate them in the work-force. We have a long tradition in dealing successfully with social issues and our sensitivity on these matters remain central in our Centre-Right policies. I would like to add that in our upcoming Congress in Bonn on the 9th and 10th of December, we will be updating our “Social Market Economy” position and aligning it with the challenges that Europe currently faces. As you can see, it is the EPP who holds the key to the successful exit strategy from the current crisis.

How do you see Barroso’s re-election and his new Commission?

Obviously, the EPP is very happy with his re-election because, as you know, he was again our official candidate during this year’s election campaign. Since we won the elections, the Council had to accept again our candidate – and it did unanimously – and then Parliament gave him a strong vote of confidence thanks to our EPP Group and its leader, Joseph Daul.  Also, with the Lisbon Treaty now in force, I believe that President Barroso and his new Commission will function much more in political terms; interestingly enough, this new reality is making some leading civil servants in the Commission nervous; but they shouldn’t be. It’s in the interest of the Commission to function more transparently and address citizens in simple, understandable political terms. People have an aversion to bureaucratic talk and behavior. I’m also happy that the Barroso II Commission has 13 members affiliated to the EPP; two of them are Vice Presidents of the EPP – Antonio Tajani and Michel Barnier. I’m confident that the new Commission under Lisbon will be ambitious and will meet people’s expectations.

Under Lisbon, the European Parliament for example will be the most powerful to date. Do you think that more power should be given to Brussels or have we reached a point where national governments are in danger of becoming redundant?

Honestly, I don’t think national government will ever become redundant. The European Union cannot exist without the Member States but at the same time, and in today’s globalized world, European sovereign states cannot exist on their own. Look at what happened in Iceland. A country which, until recently, was considered a unique economic miracle and was a frequent reference point for Euroskeptics, is now bankrupt. Now Iceland has applied for EU membership because it has come to understand the importance of being part of the European project and the added-value that it brings to Member States. The EPP does not want a United States of Europe but it does want a strong, united Europe that can deal effectively and efficiently with the many complex challenges that lie ahead.

Wilfred Martens is the President of the European People's Party EPP-ED