Founded in 1976, the EPP strives for a democratic, transparent and efficient Europe that is responsive to its citizens. The EPP wants a prosperous Europe through the promotion of a free market economy with a social consciousness. The EPP is Europe’s largest political organization, with 72 member-parties from 39 countries, 19 heads of state and government (13 EU and 6 non-EU), 13 European Commissioners, and the largest group in the European Parliament, with 265 members. The EPP is governed under the 2003 “EU Regulation on political parties at the European level and the rules regarding their funding.” In late 2007, this Regulation was revised in order to allow all European-level political parties to campaign for European Parliament elections. As a result of this mandate, the EPP conducted – in close cooperation with its national member parties – its first Europe-wide campaign for the June 2009 elections and reinforced its leading position in the European Parliament. A central tenet of its 2009 campaign was its official endorsement of José Manuel Barroso for a second term as European Commission President. He was appointed by the Council in June 2009 and his re-election w as ratified by the European Parliament in September 2009. Additionally, after the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon by the 27 member States, the EPP was successful in having Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy named as the European Council’s first President.
