The EPP Group in the European Parliament has set up four think tanks to reflect on the future of the political group, on its way of communicating and, more generally, on the future of the European Union, including its report on China, following a study meeting in Salzburg on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 February.
Under the leadership of Frenchman François-Xavier Bellamy, a group of MEPs will look at the future of the Christian Democratic political family. Objective: to brainstorm on how to stop the electoral losses (the EPP represented more than 36% of the hemicycle in 2009 against 24% in 2019). Another team, to be led by Ireland's Maria Walsch, will focus on how the group communicates on social media.
A third team, led by the Portuguese Paulo Rangel, will ponder the future of the European Union by 2040, while a final team, coordinated by the Pole Radosław Sikorski, will focus on 'Preserving the European way of life towards China'.
This title is strongly reminiscent of the first title of the portfolio given to Commissioner Margaritis Schinas, which had made headlines, prompting Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to subsequently rename the portfolio to "Promoting the European way of life" (see EUROPE 12341/1). China has been named explicitly because of the number of European companies based in the People's Republic, we are told.
These initiatives were launched at the instigation of the Group Chairman, Manfred Weber of Germany, who also took charge of appointing the various team leaders. They will hand over their work at an upcoming study meeting, scheduled for 6 and 8 May in Crete. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)