EPP's group leader, Hans Gert Poettering, visits Bucharest

(Initially published in http://www.romania-report.ro/ - June 3, 2005)


Bucharest, June 3 – Leaders of EPP (the European People's Party, Christian-Democrats) visited Bucharest in order to assess local parties' possible bid for EPP membership.

Yesterday, while in Bucharest, Hans Gert Poettering, leader of the EPP group in the Parliament of Europe, opened the session of the EPP Political Bureau and of the European Democrats in the Parliament of Europe. Local PPCD (Christian Democrat Popular Party) and UDMR participated as associate members of EPP.

There were present, among others, EPP president Wilfried Martens, PPCD (Romania's Popular Christian-Democrat Party) leaders Gheorghe Ciuhandu, Ion Diaconescu, Serban Bubenek, Marian Milut, Cosmin Alexandru, Ion Caramitru, UDMR (the Democrat Union of Hungarians in Romania) leaders Marko Bela, Marton Arpad, Konya Hamar Sandor, PD (Romania's Democrat Party) leaders Emil Boc, Gheorghe Seculici, Sorin Frunzaverde. PC leaders Dan Voiculescu, Daniela Popa, Silvia Ciornei were also present.

The EPP representatives had invited PD and PC leaders to attend the debate focused on two main points: the present state of the Romanian political framework and the EU integration.

PD (Democrat Party), PC (Conservatory Party), PPRM (The Popular "Greater Romania" Party) and more non-parliamentary groups are bidding for EPP accession.

EPP has opened gates for the Democrat Party (PD), the now ruling party in Romania. During its next congress by the end of the month, PD is going to decide a doctrine change to fit Popular movement.

On another hand, EPP delegation sources expressed certain concern regarding Dan Voiculescu's Conservatory Party prospects. Sources also said that, provided PD chooses the 'Popular way', EPP would prefer the fusion of PD and PPCD, which would somehow simplify the accession of PD to EPP.

However, at least for now, the former Christian-Democrats (PPCD) disagrees to such a solution. PPCD leader Gheorghe Ciuhandu pleaded for the founding of the Popular front, likely to bring together PPCD, PNL (the National Liberal Party) and PD. During the EPP meeting all leaders present outlined the wish of Romania and of the Romanian government to carry out the requirements of the EU accession roadmap, so that Romania would join the EU in January 1st 2007 – process which was not to be influenced by the referendums in France and the Netherlands.

MARTENS ENDORSES ROMANIA'S 'DEMOCRAT PARTY' (PD) BID FOR EPP

EPP president Wilfried Martens mentioned that PPCD and UDMR (associate members of the EPP) would become full right members of the EPP when Romania becomes a EU member.

As PD leaders expressed intention to assume the Popular doctrine, Martens explained he already had talks on issues requirements regarding PD accession to the EPP.

The EPP president outlined that the EPP had never made decisions on grounds of compromise or out of political pragmatism, but on principles only.



Romania Report