BRUSSELS – ANSWER. On the occasion of his meeting European People’s Party (EPP)At least 19 heads of state and party leaders from the European right center will travel to Athens tomorrow Friday and Saturday (December 2-3) for a private discussion with an eye already on the 2024 European elections.

Except for the Prime Minister of Greece. Kyriakos Mitsotakiswho will take part as the leader of the New Democracy, the participation of the President of the European Commission is expected Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Parliament Robert Metzola – high-ranking officials of the European centre-right movement. It is expected that among the heads of state will be the President of Cyprus. Nikos AnastasiadesPresident of Romania Klaus JohannesAustrian Chancellor Carl NehammerPrime Minister of Lithuania Ingrid Simonit and Prime Minister of Slovakia Edward Hagerwhile the former powerful man in the European Council will also travel to Greece for a meeting Donald Tuskwho will run for Prime Minister of Poland in 2023 as chairman of the Political Platform party.

With the European Parliament election campaign approaching, as well as a series of national elections in various European states, EPP leaders are going to seek a common approach on a number of important issues of strategic importance, as well as agree on a profile that the centre-right in Europe should support. Among the issues they will decide will be economic governance, security and defense – especially in light of the war in Ukraine – and other issues related to decision-making in the European context.

As for the centre-right profile, it is likely that the EPP’s now fixed position on cases where its members deviate from the faction’s values ​​will be re-discussed, a discussion that has re-ignited in the media due to Forza Italia’s collaboration with the government of Georgia Meloni. The EPP’s position remains firm on respecting the election results and finding common avenues of cooperation to ensure the formation of a government, but sets as three main criteria the preservation of friendly relations with the EU, support for Ukraine and respect for the authorities. law.

Since the European scene is expected to be unpredictable due to geopolitical and economic developments, it is considered important that there be convergence between the various components of the EPP in order to formulate an agenda that will ensure electoral success, rather than spending on the seats as the Europeans do. societies face pressures that are managed differently.