In recent years, the EPP has developed its international profile in the global arena. In view of the European Union’s expanding relations with many countries around the world, the EPP is actively assisting in the promotion of these relations on a political level, whilst influencing Europe’s foreign policy priorities.

In 2007, the EPP inaugurated a new political process with the gathering of EPP Foreign Affairs Ministers, which has continued successfully to this day. The purpose of the Foreign Ministers` meeting is to discuss, in a private and informal setting, the EU’s wide-range of foreign policy priorities. These types of meetings have proven to be particularly successful since the EPP Foreign Ministers now convene on a regular basis and discuss issues such as the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership, Mediterranean Union, Middle East, Iran, and Afghanistan.

The same political process was launched in 2009 with the EPP Defence Ministers who met for the first time in November 2009.


Transatlantic Relations

Transatlantic relations are the cornerstone of the EPP’s external policy. The EPP continues to develop and strengthen these deeply rooted relations on a political level. It aims to co-operate on the basis of a constructive and mutually beneficial dialogue with North American politicians and organisations for the promotion of common goals and values. In the United States, the EPP continues to strengthen its relationship with the International Republican Institute (IRI). Since 2008, a number of high-level political delegations from the EPP and the IRI have met in Washington and Brussels, and there has been regular cooperation on many issues of common interest, including the fight for freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law and the rules of the market economy.

In October 2009, President Wilfried MARTENS led a successful EPP delegation to Washington. The purpose of the EPP’s visit was to strengthen relations with the Republican party, to get a first-hand insight into the new foreign and security policy of the Obama administration (meetings at the White house, State Department and Pentagon), and to discuss prospects for both global economic recovery and the future of the global financial architecture with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and relevant experts.