The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens welcomed today the agreement of Eurozone heads of state and government to set-up the ‘Euro Pact’ (click here for text). All the final elements of the Euro Pact will be decided at the meeting of the European Council on 24-25 of March, which will be preceded by an EPP Summit meeting on 24 March:

"I am very pleased with the agreement of Eurozone leaders to set-up the ‘Euro Pact’ since, first and foremost, it expresses a clear and firm commitment to economic growth. For example, the adoption of the ‘peer pressure’ method will ensure sustainable public finances and sound financial systems in all the Eurozone countries. Also, the extension of an invitation to non Eurozone Member States to participate in the Euro Pact, sends a clear message that economic competitiveness is an EU-wide effort," President Martens underlined.

"Therefore, as we did at the EPP Summit in Helsinki with our 5-point-plan – which helped inspire many of the components of the Euro Pact – the EPP leaders will meet again on 24 March to help prepare all the final elements of the Pact. I am convinced that March 2011 will be the tipping point for a new era of social market economy in Europe," the EPP President added.

Finally, EPP President Wilfried Martens also welcomed the declaration of the European Council on Libya and North Africa (click here for text):

"In Helsinki we declared that in Libya & North Africa, the EPP is on the side of the people. Yesterday’s declaration of the European Council underpins this commitment and I hope that the people of Libya will soon be successful in removing Gadaffi and his ruthless regime from power. The EPP will use all political means to support freedom and democracy in Libya," 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 39 countries, the Presidents of the Commission, Council, and Parliament, 15 EU and 6 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, Spokesman, Tel: +32-2-2854147
Javier Jiménez, Senior Press and Communication Officer, Tel: +32-475480446