EPP Group Stories

Because we believe in people, we also believe in bringing results for what matters to you the most

The European Union is facing unprecedented challenges. Strong migration pressure, security challenges, high unemployment and tough global competition are coupled

with a loss of trust in the ability of politics to deliver solutions.The EPP Group in the European Parliament, the EPP political family in the European Commission and in the Member States have led the reforms allowing the European Union to overcome the immediate financial crisis. We now want to equip the EU with a successful reform agenda for Europe’s future, to enable it to meet the challenges ahead by improving Europe’s competitiveness for more growth and jobs. We want to take the lead in finding a common answer to the asylum crisis and security threats.

We believe in people and we believe in bringing results on what matters to you. #bringingresults

A rEform AGEndA for Europe’s future

Refugee camp in Bicske, Hungary, visited by EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber

The refugee crisis is a European problem which can only be solved through European solutions. The Group of the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament

has been at the front line calling for a realistic, responsible and common European response to the current refugee crisis.Not every migrant that comes to Europe can stay in Europe. We believe it is our duty to offer safe harbour to Syrian civil war refugees who are fleeing for their lives. But in order to be able to welcome them, we need to draw a clear line between them and economic migrants; we cannot welcome them all. Therefore, migrants who are not granted asylum should be systematically sent back to their home countries. This is why we need to introduce a European list of safe countries.It was mainly on our demand that the EPP-led European Commission came up with an ambitious package of measures well before the recent wave of refugees on the Western Balkans route. We believe that there should be more solidarity between the Member States and a fair burden-sharing on how to deal with the influx of refugees.

Together, we ask for a balanced approach that tackles the refugee crisis at its roots. Humanitarian aid has to be further stepped up to stabilise the crisis regions. We also have to step up the fight against criminal networks of human traffickers. The EU now has a robust mandate to do so.Finally, Frontex must be turned into a genuine European border protection force with its own personnel and equipment that can intervene on the spot. This is how we will protect the Schengen area and freedom of movement in Europe, while effectively protecting our external borders.To put it in a nutshell, we in the EPP Group believe that the priorities are: firstly, to limit the number of migrants that come to Europe; secondly, to organise a fair burden-sharing and a fair distribution of refugees between the Member States, and thirdly, to secure the EU’s external borders.It is now up to the Member States to deliver. They must implement what they committed themselves to doing.

Together, we are #bringingresults.

thE rEfuGEE crisis is a European problem that requires a European solution

#migrationEU #TimeForAction #bringingresults

Discussing industrial policy and emission limits with MEP Françoise Grossetête at the Caterpillar plant near Lyon, France

Afew months after its launch, the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), also known as the ‘Juncker Plan’, is on track and financing projects in the

real economy. Backed from the beginning by the EPP Group and championed by Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, this plan, which is due to activate at least €315 billion in private investment – and especially €75 billion for SMEs – has already seen 13 projects approved for an overall investment volume of €9.4 billion. These projects come from many Member States, including Finland, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Ireland, France, Austria, the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, and cover, amongst others, the fields of energy, health, transport and Research & Development. More projects are being chosen every month.The European Investment Fund (EIF), which is destined to smaller businesses under EFSI, has already signed more than 60 operations, with total financing exceeding €1.5 billion, which in turn should trigger more than €19 billion of private investment.

The EFSI helps European companies, especially the SMEs that represent 99% of businesses in Europe, to launch projects that would not be possible without this aid. In the coming years, tens of thousands of SMEs could benefit from it throughout Europe.The ‘Juncker Plan’ is a real opportunity for the European economy to boost innovation and create jobs. Growth cannot be produced overnight. It is built step by step, brick by brick, and EFSI has laid the initial foundations. The European Investment Advisory Hub provides aid to companies who are looking for help to construct their financing project. From the beginning of 2016, the European Investment Project Portal will explain the projects in need of financing to potential investors.

The EPP Group’s priority is to trigger new investment, without creating new debt.

invEstinG in Europe

#reform2grow #bringingresults

It’s easier to help when you are one of them. MEP Lara Comi with ULB students discussing youth employment and Erasmus

We believe in young people and their potential. Our mission is to offer them better prospects by building a more dynamic economy, which is innovative and

competitive. By bringing tangible results, the EPP Group wants to help restore young people’s trust in the European Union and its policies.First of all, we need to improve the quality of education, make it more accessible and invest in lifelong learning.How can we do that? For example through Erasmus+, the EU programme for education, training, youth and sport. More than 4 million Europeans will have the opportunity to study, train, gain work experience and volunteer abroad through it. For 2016, we have increased the budget of Erasmus+ by €6.6 million. Moreover, we believe in the importance of nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit of young people. We have obtained that the teaching plans will, from 2015 onwards, include also entrepreneurship education. Entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs can take advantage of the “Erasmus for young entrepreneurs” programme.And then, how to enter the labour market for the first time? To reduce the number of young people who are not in education,

employment or training, the EU and the Member States have put in place the Youth Guarantee, offering young people under 25 a job, an apprenticeship or professional training courses in the first four months after they leave school or lose their jobs. Following the proposal of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen, supported by the EPP Group, the European Parliament approved higher pre-financing for the Youth Employment Initiative, making it easier for Member States to finance youth employment programmes. In the EPP Group we know well that businesses create jobs. Therefore, we fought for SMEs, start-ups and young entrepreneurs to have more economic incentives through the EU research programme Horizon 2020 and the SME programme Cosme. We want to improve the access to finance of start-ups, also through microcredits and simplifying bureaucratic procedures that hamper business and competitiveness.

We believe in improving education, investing in innovation and making entrepreneurship a viable choice for European youth.

invEstinG in younG PEoPlE If not now, when?

#ULB students #youth employment #Erasmus #bringingresults

MEP Mariya Gabriel during an EU election observation mission to Burkina Faso

When we think of migration, we think of Africa. When we think of Africa, we think of development. We think that the European Union is the biggest donor. But is our

Union the biggest player?Following the migration crisis, Europeans now know that peace in Africa also means peace for Europe. Development and security issues are interdependent. Investing in development aid means investing in the stabilisation of countries which also means investing in our own security. The more we are involved, the better we can prevent and normalise migration flows. We have to tackle problems at their roots, in Africa, before they become real European problems.The EPP Group called for strengthened cooperation with Africa and last July, the Group’s Presidency went on a fact-finding mission to Addis Ababa, the seat of the African Union headquarters. This mission sent a positive signal. At the Valetta Summit where EU and African leaders met, an important step forward was made in acknowledging that migration is a global issue. We must work together to tackle it. The EPP Group welcomed the Action Plan agreed in Valetta but stressed that without proper political will, there will be no concrete results. More money does not automatically mean more results, and that is where the EPP Group will be very cautious. Our aid can

only be effective if there are real commitments on behalf of the receiving countries to reform for their own benefit and in the interest of their people.The biggest challenge is to transform the donor-beneficiary relationship into a win-win relationship. We cannot tell them that we will mobilise our resources without being firm about what is expected. And in this sense, we must do more to support those who actually make these efforts to work towards the development of their own country. In this way, we will create favourable conditions for people to remain in their countries.On our side, the EU must speak with one voice and insist on conflict prevention. We are now conscious of the fact that it costs less, both in terms of human lives and financially, to have impact before conflicts arise. Prevention of radicalisation, anti-terrorism, the fight against irregular migration and peace-keeping/building are areas where we absolutely need to cooperate with Africa. The EPP Group has always supported a genuine European Foreign Affairs and Defence Policy, including through Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions where needed, and when there is will on the part of the EU and its Member States to speak with one voice on the international scene.

#migration #bringingresults

WE WAnt to bE A PlAyEr, not just a payer

MEP Esteban González Pons at Melilla: protecting our external borders is the key for a safer and stable Europe

#migrationEU #TimeForAction #bringingresults

Over the last year, the EPP Group has promoted several initiatives aimed at better protecting all Europeans. Our MEPs played an important role to reach an agreement

in the European Parliament on the Passenger Name Record (PNR) system, a key instrument to prevent and combat all kind of crimes, and in particular jihadist terrorism, by tracking the activities of European nationals who are recruited and trained outside the EU and could return to carry out terrorist attacks.The EPP Group also promoted the approval of an updated Regulation for Europol which will allow it to better exchange information with European police forces and judicial national bodies, as well as with private entities, in order to fight against a large range of criminal activities, including terrorism or the trafficking of human beings.

During 2015, one of the main challenges for the EU, and one of the main concerns for our Group, was the migratory crisis. The EPP Group supported the European Commission’s proposals to deal with the refugee crisis in the most efficient way. Our Group also backed the initiative of creating a coast guard agency to protect the EU’s external borders – a key issue, taking into account the free movement of people within the Schengen area – and also supported measures such as creating ‘hot spots’ in order to properly respond to the needs of the refugees who arrive to Europe.The final goal of all this legislative work by the EPP Group was to contribute to the creation of a safer and stable Europe for all its citizens.

A sAfEr And stAblE EuroPE for all its citizens

A chat between students at Koningin Beatrixschool in the Netherlands and MEP Esther de Lange on a stable euro and economic growth

A strong and competitive economy that delivers on growth and jobs is and has always been one of the EPP Group’s main priorities. Europe has weathered the

worst of storms with the economic crisis and is now slowly but steadily recovering. The crisis showed the need for stability in the Eurozone, for structural reforms to keep our economies in shape and for a sense of urgency and responsibility. After all, fiscal problems and unsustainable levels of debt in one Member State do not only affect citizens of that country, but the entire Eurozone and the EU as a whole. Being a part of the Eurozone brings advantages, but also requires solidarity in times of crisis and rightly demands that Member States assume their responsibilities.

A child knows you need to earn a euro before you can spend it. In good times, and in bad times, the EPP Group has taken the lead in responsible economic policy-making. Not because we are obsessed by numbers and percentages. But because we do not want to burden the next generation with unsustainable levels of debt that are impossible to manage and repay. The EPP Group has been the driving force behind legislation improving the sustainability of the Eurozone economy, such as the Six-pack, Two-pack and fiscal compact. We are proud of these achievements and continue to work hard for a fair, competitive and sustainable economy.

We will continue to take responsibility for the present and for the future of our children and grandchildren.

EnsurinG a basis for growth

#euro&economic growth #reform2grow #bringingresults

MEP Marian Jean Marinescu in Strasbourg discussing how to spend the EU Budget where it is most needed

Europeans enjoy open borders and an ever-increasing number of travel options. Thanks to the efforts of the EPP Group in the European Parliament in the area of transport policy, easy

travel has become a reality and right for millions of citizens.Take Strasbourg, the official seat of the European Parliament. The first tram line in Strasbourg opened in 1878 and was originally horse-drawn. After 1894, when an electric-powered tram system was introduced, a widespread network of tramways was built, one of the best in the world. The people of Strasbourg are indeed proud of their tram and with good reason. From horse power to intelligent traffic management systems, public transport in Strasbourg has come a long way. It was costly though, and could have been done more efficiently.The EU Budget is an investment budget and almost 90% of EU resources are spent in the Member States on policies that benefit citizens directly. Red tape, procedural delays and bad management are the main issues that prevent the EU Budget from truly unleashing its potential in restoring jobs and growth in the EU.EPP Group priorities regarding the future of transport are reflected by the following:Sustainability – More goods should be transported via rail and water. Electric and innovative transport means should also become more normal in day-to-day transport.

Efficiency – EU projects aimed at smarter and more interconnected transport. Transport does not stop at borders: railways, roads and ports need to be connected optimally.Safety – Advanced in-vehicle safety and driver assistance systems intervene in dangerous situations. This is a much-needed development. More than 90% of all accidents are caused by human error.But how could we do this better? We need new ways of evaluation of the implementation of the budget based on performance, indicators and measurements of the usefulness of completion of the projects for society. We need to combine a quantitative and qualitative measurement of results. Building a budget should be based on the relationship between programme funding levels and expected results.

The EU has more than4.5 million km of paved roads I 212.500 km of railway lines I 41.000 km of navigable inland waterways I 842 million airline passengers per year. We need to take a step back and think how we should spend the money even more efficiently.

The answer is Performance-based Budgeting.

Performance-based budGEtinG And trAnsPort

#EUBudget #bringingresults

We want a true energy union: MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski at an energy plant installation in Brussels

The EU’s goal is to provide EU consumers – households and citizens – with secure, competitive, affordable and sustainable energy. We want to offer the viable

delivery of energy to European citizens and companies.Monopolies often lead to abuse and blackmail. The Russian invasion in Ukraine proved that we can no longer rely on a single supplier, notably Russia, and that in order to meet the needs of citizens, energy supplies to Europe cannot be influenced by external crises or the unilateral will of the energy providers.We need to guarantee the reduction of excessive energy dependency and diversification of suppliers, sources and routes. The enforcement of the Third Energy Package rules with regard to the South Stream pipeline was a first step on the path towards reducing the EU’s energy dependence. Exactly the same symmetrical approach should be applied to the Nord Stream. The recent inauguration of the interconnections between Poland, Lithuania and Sweden ensured the flow of

electricity from Western Europe to the Baltic countries for the first time. The electricity interconnector between Malta and Italy put an end to Maltese isolation. Launched in 2014, the LNG terminal in Klaipeda ended the total gas dependency of Lithuania, whereas the LNG terminal in Poland, inaugurated in autumn 2015, will satisfy around 50% of Poland’s annual gas demands. A viable common external energy policy should permit us to speak to our partners with a single voice and to act jointly, aiming at a common European negotiating position. It should go hand-in-hand with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Further progress is needed to ensure the security of our energy supply, to decrease our dependence on Russian energy imports and to increase the EU’s resilience to external geopolitical pressures and blackmail.

We want Europe to be connected; we want a true energy union.

We want A truE EnErGy union

#energyunion #bringingresults

Published by: EPP Group in the European Parliament Press and Communications Service Publications TeamEditor: Pedro López de Pabloresponsible: Greet Gysencoordinator: Véronique De Jongherevision: Mark DunneAddress: European Parliament, 60 Rue Wiertz, B-1047 - Brussels internet: www.eppgroup.euE-mail: epp-publications@ep.europa.eucopyright: EPP Group in the European Parliament

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