The former Prime Minister of Belgium, Wilfried Martens, was re-elected today for a new 3-year term as President of the European People’s Party (EPP). President Martens (73) received the overwhelming support of delegates (92 per cent) on the first day of the two-day EPP Congress, which is taking place in Bonn, Germany in the historic former Bundestag building. The Congress is hosted by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“It is a great honor to receive this widespread support from the EPP Congress delegates. The EPP has gone a long way since its foundation in 1976 and I am particularly pleased that today we are the largest political party in Europe. We won for the third time in a row the European elections earlier this year and have the largest Group in Parliament led by Joseph Daul, we have 13 EU heads of state and government, and we have 13 new Commissioners. We are leading the main institutions with Jose Manuel Barroso, Herman Van Rompuy, and Jerzy Buzek. With the Lisbon Treaty now in force and with many serious challenges ahead, it is my privilege to continue to offer leadership at this crucial moment for Europe,” stated the EPP President.

The EPP Congress will continue tomorrow with the adoption of its policy documents and resolutions, with the speeches of the EU heads of state and government and the election of the other members of the EPP Presidency.

For more details about the Congress proceedings please www.eppbonn2009.eu

For more information:

Kostas Sasmatzoglou, EPP Spokesman, Tel. +32-2-2854147

Javier Jiménez, EPP Press Officer, Tel: +32-475480446