The Congress is the highest decision-making body of the Party. It is composed of delegates from EPP member and associated member parties, member associations and groups. The EPP Congress meets once every three years. It elects the EPP Presidency and decides on the main policy documents and electoral programmes, and provides a platform for the EPP Heads of Government and Party Leaders.
The EPP has organized a total of 19 Congress meetings:
1978 Congress I held in Brussels adopted the EPP’s political program.
1979 Congress II also in Brussels, decided the electoral platform for the first direct elections to the European Parliament.
1980 Congress III in Cologne discussed the overall theme “The Christian Democrats in the Eighties – securing Freedom and Peace Completing Europe”.
1982 Congress IV took place in Paris under the slogan “Preserve Peace – Create Peace – Unite Europe”.
1984 Congress V in Rome formulated the EPP Action Program
1986 Congress VI in the Hague focused on Economic Development and Environmental
Problems.
1988 Congress VII in Luxembourg prepared for another European Election and approved the document “On the Side of the Citizens”.
1990 Congress VIII in Dublin faced a new political landscape and published “A federal constitution for the European Union”.
1992 Congress IX in Athens discussed, drafted, and approved the EPP “Basic Programme“.
1993 Congress X was held in Brussels and adopted the action program, “Europe 2000: Unity in Diversity”.
1995 Congress XI in Madrid was hosted under the thematic slogan “EPP- Force of the Union“.
1997 Congress XII in Toulouse approved the document “We are all Part of One World“.
1999 Congress XIII in Brussels outlined its new vision for Europe, “On the Way to the 21st Century“. EUCD formally merged with EPP.
2001 Congress XIV in Berlin revisited its roots, and adopted the working document “A Union
of Values“.
2002 Congress XV in Estoril prepared for the Constitution process, and declared that EU needed “A Constitution for a strong Europe“. EDU formally merged with EPP.
2004 Congress XVI in Brussels where the main objective was to prepare for the European Elections. The “Action Program 2004-2009“ was approved.
2006 Congress XVII in Rome approved the “Rome Manifesto” document.
2009 Congress XVIII in Warsaw approved the “Strong for the People” EPP Election Manifesto. Endorsed Jose Manuel Barroso as its candidate for a second term as Commission President.
2009 Congress XIX in Bonn approved the document “The Social Market Economy in a Globalised World“.
