Valencia Congress Day One Recap: Highlights and Key Points
Hexin'n'Chill here, your ol' pal on the other side of the screen! Let's dive into the latest buzz from the European People's Party (EPP) Congress in sunny Valencia!
Manfred Weber, the EPP's sole candidate for the presidency, clinched the seat with a resounding 502 votes in favor and 61 against during the first day of the event. No surprise there, as he's leading Europe's largest political group, which holds a significant sway over EU institutions. The uncontested election kept Manfred's leadership reign going strong!
As last speaker on day one, Manfred took the floor sporting a smile. He recalled recent electoral triumphs across the EU and non-EU states like Poland and Moldova and hankered after more victories in the future. He even sent some good vibes to Spain's Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, expressing his enthusiasm for Feijoo's impending presidency!
Manfred also took a moment to acknowledge Ursula von der Leyen's re-election as the EU Commission's leader and Roberta Metsola as the President of the European Parliament. With two ladies in command at the helm of European institutions, things are looking pretty phenomenal!
Manfred spoke about the growth of EPP's group within the European Parliament. It wasn't just about successful national elections – he persuaded a few more parties to join forces with him, too. He even embarked on a special mission to Hungary to seal a cooperation deal with Peter Magyar's Tisza, now the first party in Hungarian polls.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen headlined day two of the conference, discussing global trade amid the uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump's tariff policies. She perked up everyone's spirits by pointing out that Europe's Single Market is the largest in the world, like a shining beacon in the international trade landscape!
Ursula also proposed that the EU could seize this opportunity to expand deals with India, Indonesia, the UAE, Thailand, and other countries in need of smart, reliable partners. In a nutshell, she's looking to diversify trade ties amid the geopolitical drama!
Lastly, Roberta Metsola addressed the crowd after Ursula. She tackled the 'too slow and bureaucratic Europe' narrative head-on, reminding everyone of recent simplification bills adopted by the European Parliament and reiterating the need for Europe to continue supporting Ukraine. As we all know, events in Ukraine directly impact our security. Lo and behold, "no peace negotiation without Ukraine's direct involvement," she emphasized.
So, there you have it, folks! The EPP's takeaways from the Valencia congress: economic resilience through global trade partnerships and diplomatic support for Ukraine to ensure security stability. Until next time, stay passionate, stay curious! 💥🚀
- Manfred Weber, the European People's Party (EPP)'s leader, won with an overwhelming majority in the EPP Congress in Valencia, leading Europe's largest political group.
- During the congress, Manfred Weber sent warm messages to other political figures, such as Spain's Alberto Nuñez Feijoo and highlighted the growth of EPP's group within the European Parliament through successful electoral triumphs and party alliances.
- Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission President, discussed global trade during the second day of the conference, emphasizing Europe's strong Single Market and the potential for trade expansion with countries like India, Indonesia, and the UAE to diversify ties amid geopolitical turmoil.
- Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, spoke about simplifying bureaucracy within the EU and the importance of supporting Ukraine to ensure security stability, asserting that no peace negotiations should occur without Ukraine's direct involvement.
