The European People’s Party (EPP) Presidency reconfirms its strong support for the Spitzenkandidaten process ahead of the 2019 European elections and calls on the European Council to continue backing this democratic advance which brings the EU closer to its citizens.
On 7-8 November 2018, the EPP will elect, in accordance with its statutes, its Spitzenkandidat through an open, transparent and democratic selection procedure at the EPP Congress in Helsinki, Finland. The EPP was the first European political party to nominate a candidate for the Presidency of the European Commission in 2009; this time again, the EPP is the first to have launched its election campaign, with a concrete date for electing the Spitzenkandidat.
EPP calls on other European political parties to come forward as well with a concrete date in 2018 for designating their candidate for the position of EU Commission president. Candidates for the Commission Presidency must outline their vision for the future of the EU, parallel to the European Parliament elections.
All pro-European political parties must take responsibility and give voters a choice in electing the next head of the European Commission is written in a press release issued on February 23.
The Spitzenkandidaten process, EPP’s press release concludes, is not only about making the EU more democratic; it’s also about reconnecting the EU with its citizens. The European Council’s support remains central in building bridges and reaching out to Europeans.
