Key facts
- The European People's Party (EPP) has launched a "Win2029" task force to prepare for the 2029 European elections.
- The task force is led by Spanish MEP Esteban González Pons and aims to develop a policy platform to counter the far right.
- Internal disagreements exist within the EPP regarding cooperation with far-right groups and policy alignment on migration, climate, and social issues.
- Some EPP members, particularly from Poland and Romania, oppose alignment with the far right, while others in Spain, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the Netherlands have governed with them.
- The EPP has attempted to maintain a firewall against far-right initiatives in the European Parliament, while sometimes backing similar proposals from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).
- EPP lawmakers have debated shifting the party's narrative towards tougher migration policies and rolling back green rules to regain voters from the far right.
The European People's Party (EPP), Europe's largest center-right political group, has initiated an early strategy for the 2029 European elections with the launch of a "Win2029" task force. This move underscores the urgency felt by party leaders as far-right parties gain traction across the European Union. The task force, led by Spanish MEP Esteban González Pons, aims to develop a policy platform that can effectively challenge and win back voters from these growing far-right movements.
However, the EPP faces significant internal divisions regarding its approach to the far right. While some member parties, particularly in countries like Poland and Romania, are hesitant to cooperate or align on policy, others in Spain, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and the Netherlands have already entered into governing coalitions with far-right groups. This divergence reflects differing national political realities and creates a complex internal debate about whether the EPP should maintain its centrist stance or shift further right.
Despite attempts to maintain a parliamentary firewall against far-right initiatives, the EPP has found itself drawn into cooperation on specific legislative files, such as the EU's long-term budget, where a right-wing majority voted to remove green and gender criteria. The party's strategy on migration also shows a lean towards tougher measures, adopting language more commonly associated with the far right, such as replacing "irregular migration" with "illegal migration." This has sparked debate within the party, with some lawmakers questioning whether migration alone explains the rise of the extreme right and advocating for addressing broader social issues.