15/12/2000: XIV EPP Congress in Berlin from 11-13 January 2001

 Programme

The EPP's place in the centre of European politics, and the party's re-statement of its core political beliefs set out in the Congress document A Union of Values, will be the main themes of the XIV EPP Congress in Berlin from 11-13 January 2001. (Venue: Intercontinental Hotel, Budapester Straße 2, Berlin)."

On Thursday, 11 January CDU President Angela MERKEL will open the Congress at 16.00h. The EPP President, Wilfried MARTENS, the EPP heads of government José Maria AZNAR (E), Jean-Claude JUNCKER (Lux), Wolfgang SCHÜSSEL (A) and Saul NIINISTÖ (FIN, in coalition government) well as heads of governments from central Europe and candidate countries such as Mikulas DZURINDA (Slovakia), Viktor ORBAN (Hungary), Mart LAAR (Estonia) and Edward FENECH-ADAMI (Malta) and the President of the European Parliament, Mme Nicole FONTAINE will address the Congress. A more complete list of speakers, which includes Edmund STOIBER (CSU), Silvio BERLUSCONI (Forza Italia) and François BAYROU (Nouvelle UDF) amongst others, is attached.

On Friday, 12 January four working groups will discuss the Congress document (more information on the EPP, as well as a draft of the Congress document and Congress agenda, is available on the website of the EPP http://www.eppe.org).

Angela MERKEL will chair a colloquium will be held on the subject "New challenges for the Social Market Economy" from 9.30h to 11.30 h.

On Saturday, 13 January the plenary will adopt the Congress document as well as various resolutions which member parties can table on topical political questions. The Congress will be closed by a report from Hans-Gert POETERING, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament, and a closing speech by Wilfried MARTENS.

The EPP consist of 23 parties from Member States of the EU and 17 associated parties form candidate and other European countries. The EPP Congress meets every two years to decide on political guidelines and the party programme. In addition, EPP government and party leaders also meet every six monthe ahead of EU summits.

Press Service and press briefings:

Background press briefing with CDU President Angela MERKEL, EPP President Wilfried MARTENS, EPP Vice-President Karl LAMERS, EPP-ED Group President Hans-Gert POETTERING and EPP Secretary-General Alejandro AGAG

on Wednesday, 10 January 2000 at 19.00h
in the Intercontinental Hotel, Budapester Strasse 2

Ad hoc briefings and interviews will be arranged during the Congress as the need arises.

An equipped press centre will be available - Accreditation of journalists at the reception desk on presentation of their press card.


Meeting of the EPP-ED Group in Berlin from 9-11 January 2001

The EPP-ED Group, with 232 members from all 15 member states of the EU by far the largest political Group in the European Parliament, will hold a group meeting in Berlin on 9 and 10 January 2001. On Wednesday, 10 January the Group will hold a study day on the subject of enlargement (15.00-18.00 h). This meeting is open to the press.

Place of all meetings: Intercontinental Hotel, Budapester Straße 2, Berlin

Further information: EPP Press Office:
Edward Gamper Steen Tel: +32 2 2854156

EPP-ED Group press office:
Robert Fitzhenry, Tel: +32 2 2842228 or +32 475 493356
Katrin Ruhrmann, Tel:+32 2 2842573 or +32 475 493357
Rupert Krietemeyer, Tel:+32 2 2842058 or +32 475 808600

List of speakers: Congress delegates will participate in all debates throughout the Congress. For the opening ceremony on Thursday 11 January the following have, so far, confirmed they will contribute:

_{Angela MERKEL (CDU)
Wilfried MARTENS (EPP)
José Maria AZNAR (Prime Minister)
Wolfgang SCHÜSSEL (Prime Minister)
Jean-Claude JUNCKER (Prime Minister)
François BAYROU (Nouvelle UDF)
Sauli NIINISTÖ (Deputy Prime Minister)
Silvio BERLUSCONI (Forza Italia)
Edmund STOIBER (CSU)
Kostas KARAMANLIS (Nea Demokratia)
José Manuel DURÅO BARROSO (PSD)
John BRUTON (Fine Gael)
Ivan KOSTOV (UDF)
Stefaan DE CLERCK (EVP)
Jaap DE HOOP SCHEFFER (CDA)
Bendt BENDTSEN (KFP)
Bo LUNDGREN ( Moderaterna)
Mikulas DZURINDA (Prime Minister)
Victor ORBAN (Prime Minister)
Maat LAAR (Prime Minister)
Nicole Fontaine (EP President)
Edward FENECH-ADAMI (Prime Minister)}


Congress Agenda, Congress Document and draft resolutions

List of EPP Parties