The European People’s Party (EPP) leaders met in Brussels ahead of the European Council. They congratulated President-elect Ursula Von der Leyen on her election as President of the European Commission as well as Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Sebastian Kurz on their respective resounding victories in Greece and Austria.

Following the meeting, the President of the EPP, Joseph Daul, made the following statement: “While the decision of the UK to leave the EU is regrettable, I believe that the deal reached today is fair and balanced and will facilitate an orderly exit. This outcome would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the EU Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and his team. The ball is now in the UK court and Prime Minister Johnson has a responsibility to deliver a majority so that a no-deal Brexit can be avoided.

The leaders also discussed the opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania: “EPP has always been the party that promoted EU Enlargement Policy as a way to bring stability and peace to our continent. We regret that some member states this week blocked opening accession negotiations for North Macedonia and Albania.

Read the full press release here.