Chairs of 21 EPP Parliamentary Groups meet in Brussels

Chairpersons and representatives of EPP Parliamentary Groups from no less than 21 Member States teamed up on Monday in Brussels to discuss common interests such as the situation in Greece, EFSI funds and a future Energy Union.

On the issue of Greece, all representatives expressed their concern about the current situation, especially for Greek citizens. All prefer Greece to be inside rather than outside the Eurozone but underlined that solidarity cannot take place without responsibility and that all Member States should be treated equally. In this regard, EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber MEP said Greece risked leaving the Eurozone as a result of the radical government's failure to reach a new bailout agreement with its creditors. Weber said he hopes Greeks will vote 'yes' in the government’s referendum on the bailout proposal this Sunday.

The participants also got first-hand information on the investment fund EFSI from European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen. The Commissioner said with a wink that he is counting on jealousy: as soon as one Member State has a successful EFSI investment platform, others will follow.

Italian MP Maurizio Lupi commented that the EFSI is very positive, also considering the almost 2000 projects proposed. However, he pleaded for simplified procedures. French senator Jean Bizet asked Katainen for special attention for very small companies.

A future Energy Union interested many MPs and MEPs, especially when it comes to creating interconnections between Member States. For example Latvian MEP Krišjānis Kariņš pointed at plans for an LNG terminal in Latvia to end the country’s current energy dependence on Russia.

The 22nd summit in the European Parliament in Brussels was a success. "It is wonderful to have 27 Members from 21 Member States here together", stated Esther de Lange MEP, EPP Group Vice-Chairwoman responsible for relations with national parliaments. She chaired the summit together with Latvian group chair Solvita Aboltina MP. The EPP Group is the only Group with a long-standing tradition of meeting with national counterparts.