The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group in the European Parliament welcomed new MEPs at its first meeting after the European elections on Wednesday 12 June.
Croatian Stjepo Bartulica of the Fatherland Movement (Domovinski Pokret), Cypriot Geadi Geadis of the National Popular Front (Ethniko Laiko Metopo, or ELAM) and Latvian Reinis Pozņaks of the United List (Apvienotais Saraksts, or AS) have joined the ranks of the ECR.
The Group also welcomes its first MEP from Luxembourg, Fernand Kartheiser of the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (Alternativ Demokratesch Reformpartei, ADR), and Sebastian Tynkkynen of the Party of the Finns (Perussuomalaiset).
At this stage, the ECR group has a total of 77 confirmed seats in the next European Parliament (see EUROPE 13430/20). This figure differs from that given by the European Parliament, which already included Mr Kartheiser and Mr Tynkkynen (see EUROPE 13427/4).
“Our steady growth shows that our political project, advocating for a middle way that seeks to better balance competences between Brussels and national capitals, is credible and attractive”, commented Italy’s Nicola Procaccini who is currently Co-President of the Group.
“At the ECR Group, we expect to be an important part of a new centre-right majority in the next European Parliament”, he added. “The ECR does not want an EU that bans, censors, fines, and engages in social engineering, but one that inspires, protects, and thrives culturally and economically”, he concluded.
The Conservative Group states that other delegations are expected to join the Group during the next rounds of admission.
Its composition will be made official on Wednesday 26 June, when its Bureau is elected. The 2024-2029 European Parliament will hold its first session in Strasbourg in mid-July. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)