EPP Congress Zagreb

The  EPP held its XXVI Congress on 20 and 21 November in Zagreb, Croatia. Co-hosted by Prime Minister of Croatia and Hrvatska demokratska zajednica (HDZ) leader, Andrej Plenković, a the Congress in Zagreb focused on effective policies to combat climate change, on empowering the younger generations and the Western Balkans.

During the Congress the EPP Presidency was elected, including the President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer and Secretary General. 2000 participants from more than 40 countries were invited to participate in the Congress in Zagreb. Donald Tusk was elected as the new EPP president, and we would like to use this opportunity to reiterate our support for the new president. We hope that in the coming years we can continue a good cooperation as was the case with the previous  EPP president Joseph Daul. We also rely strongly on the Secretary General Antonio López-Istúriz and the support of the General Secretariat.

The ESU has been invited to participate in the Congress with a delegation with voting rights consisting of president An Hermans and six members with voting rights. This means that the ESU actively participated in the election of the EPP president and the leadership of the EPP. The ESU also had a voice in the discussion and adoption of resolutions. For this Congress it was mainly our Secretary General Guido Dumon and Vice-President Heinz Becker who, during the preparations of the Congress, represented the voice of the seniors.

Speech by our president at the EPP Congress

At the Congress the ESU president An Hermans gave a speech which can be consulted online: “An Hermans, ESU President (Zagreb Congress)”.

An Hermans said: “Seniors of today don’t want to be a burden, but cooperative partners in society and in opening a new chapter for the future of Europe. 

Therefore, I ask you: 

• Recognize our talents and experiences and don’t say too easy ‘They live too long’; ‘They cost too much’.
• Don’t forget the older generations in reflections on sustainable economic growth. ‘People’s wellbeing and economic growth are interdependent and mutually reinforcing’.
• Let’s make of the development of the ‘Silver Economy’ and intergenerational cooperation and solidarity opportunities for the future.”

 More information, including adopted resolutions, speeches,… can be found on : https://www.epp.eu/press-releases/epp-congress-in-zagreb-