Brussels, 06/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - A week before it is officially reconstituted in Brussels on 12 July, the EPP-ED group at the European Parliament began its study days on Monday, which are taking place in Budapest from 5-8 July. Beginning the activities, president of the group, Hans-Gert Pöttering, welcomed the results of the European elections, which according to him confirmed the "pride of place" of his political family. Pöttering announced that, "Our group will be, with its 270 members, the driving force of the new parliament. Numerically, the largest, it is united around essential values such as respect for others, the spirit of responsibility and equality of all". After having congratulated former MEP Otto Habsburg and the president of the EPP party Wilfried Martens, the president of the group thanked his Hungarian hosts, the FIDESZ and the MDF.
Speaking on behalf of the FIDESZ president, Viktor Orban, the president of the Hungarian delegation at the EPP-EDD group, Josef Szajer, welcomed the members of the group. He pointed out that his party with 47% of the vote has obtained one of the best scores in Europe at the last European elections. MDF president Ms Ibolya David underlined the weight of responsibility on the shoulders of the leaders of the new re-united Europe countries.
Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader reaffirmed the desire of his country to join the EU as soon as possible. he thought that accession negotiations for his country could be finished in two and a half years time or in three years at a maximum.