The European People`s Party also includes governments from EU accession countries and countries that belong to the Council of Europe. The EPP currently has 5 heads of state and government from non-EU countries and they participate as guests at the EPP Summit.

In recent years, the EPP has also begun to develop its international profile in the global political arena. In view of the EU’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. Thus, the EPP’s international relations have a dual aim: to advance both its political principles and values beyond the EU, and to promote EU interests around the world.

In order to maximize the impact of our international activity, the EPP works closely with the Delegations of the External Service of the European Commission. Always having as our primary goal the promotion of EU interests in the countries of EPP engagement, our cooperation with the respective EU Delegations and their Ambassadors has proven to be particularly successful. With Lisbon Treaty now in force, the EPP looks forward to working with the new EU External Action Service, which will function under the High Representative for Foreign Affairs.