40 years of the EPP: Manfred Weber calls on Europe to stand together

"Europe is on the defensive. Today, those who have simple and wrong answers are winning elections. We must defy them", said the Chairman of the EPP Group, Manfred Weber MEP, at the ceremony for the 40th anniversary of the European People's Party in Luxembourg. “Of course, everyone has to bring their national concepts and fight for them. But at the same time, we must put an end to national divisions, incitement and hatred.

Weber warned that the rise of populist forces threatens coexistence in Europe. In times of globalisation, digitalisation, terrorism and international crime, the EPP Group Chairman urged Europeans to stand together: "If we don't stand together today in Europe, then we have no chance in the world of tomorrow.”

Cultural diversity, traditions and values such as democracy and human rights - the ‘European way of life’ - offer the best foundation for this. "Let us be proud again of what makes us Europeans, and let’s fight for it. It's about nothing less than the assertiveness of Europe", concluded Weber.

Manfred Weber and numerous EPP Heads of State and Government leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as EU Council President Donald Tusk and the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, participated at the event.

More than 70 parties from 40 countries are members of the European People's Party. The EPP Group has been the largest political group in the European Parliament since 1999.