The Political Assembly (PA) of the European People’s Party (EPP) met today in the European Parliament in Brussels to finalize the preparations for its 21st Congress in Bucharest, Romania, which will take place on the 17th and 18th of October. Attended by representatives of 73 member parties from 40 countries, the EPP PA also reiterated its support to Yulia Tymoshenko and discussed the latest political developments in Georgia with Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili:

"The EPP is looking forward to hold its 21st Congress next month in Bucharest. Hosted by President Traian Basescu and our member parties PDL and UDMR, the EPP Congress will bring to the forefront our tireless efforts to tackle the current challenges which European citizens face, in light of the continuous global economic crisis. The only answer to these challenges is ‘More Europe’, as the theme of our 21st Congress suggests," EPP President Wilfried Martens stated.

"Moreover, I welcome the decision of the leadership of the Party of European Socialists (PES) to cancel their Congress in Bucharest and to move the venue to Brussels. The PES decision clearly shows that Socialist heads of government and party leaders placed European values above partisan considerations," the EPP President added.

"Democracy and rule of law are values shared and defended by the EPP throughout our European continent, which is why the EPP Political Assembly welcomed Eugenia Tymoshenko, the daughter of Yulia Tymoshenko who remains in jail together with other political prisoners. Her vibrant testimony on her mother’s politically motivated incarceration is a constant reminder of the fragility of democracy in Ukraine," Martens said.

"The EPP Political Assembly also welcomed the Prime Minister of Georgia Vano Merabishvili, who reported on the implementation of reforms in the fields of police, the fight against corruption and constitutional changes. The Prime Minister also outlined the government’s priorities for the coming years. Needless to say, Georgia has become a role-model of reform for the entire Eastern Partnership region," the EPP President concluded.

Note to editors:

The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right, which currently includes 73 member-parties from 40 countries, the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, 16 EU and 7 non-EU heads of state and government, 13 members of the European Commission and the largest Group in the European Parliament.

For more information:

Kostas Sasmatzoglou, EPP Spokesman, Tel. +32-2-2854147

Javier Jiménez, EPP Senior Press and Communication Officer, Tel. +32-475480446