Europe’s future lies in its cities and regions. As President of the EPP-CoR Group, I will dedicate myself to amplifying your voices, addressing the challenges you face, and building a Europe that reflects the aspirations of its citizens. Together, we can make the EPP-CoR Group a more powerful force for positive change.
EPP family
All delegations of the EPP-CoR Group are fundamental, however small or big. We all belong to the EPP family, we share values and we are stronger together. Yet, being the largest group in the CoR is not enough to lead the way for our Committee. The contributions and experience of every member are invaluable assets to our success. Participation, dialogue, enthusiasm, new energy, and new common horizons are needed in the EPP. We can be even stronger as a cohesive team if we strive to involve even more members, representing regions and cities facing different realities. This is why I’m committed to listening and supporting members from all delegations, recognizing their specificities, their needs and the unique impact each can bring to our work in the next CoR mandate.
Every member matters
Transparency, communication, and participation will be the pillars of my leadership. I will ensure that as many members as possible have the chance to actively contribute to the CoR’s work—whether as rapporteurs, debate speakers, or organizers and participants in external events. Strengthening EPP representation in commissions and other CoR political bodies will be a priority, including facilitating the involvement of alternate members in our political and legislative activities. Membership in these bodies will not be imposed from above but decided together, transparently and with respect for everyone’s aspirations. Every member will be consulted and heard when organizing EPP external events, group meetings, or seminars. Finally, I will further strengthen and support the Local Dialogue tool, so that more members can directly connect with citizens and communicate about Europe and their work at the CoR in their own cities and regions..
Group meetings
Our Group meetings are invaluable opportunities to strengthen our political identity, share projects, make decisions, and engage on the issues that matter most. We must energize political debates at European, national, regional, and local levels by inviting prominent guest speakers from the European Institutions and sharing insights on politically pressing issues in our countries, regions, and cities. Group meetings are also key to collectively shaping EPP contributions to Plenary debates and refining our positions on opinions. By reforming Group meetings to encourage open dialogue and dynamic exchanges, we can inspire greater participation and create a vibrant, stimulating space for collaboration, mutual understanding, and shared momentum.
Co-operation and focus on legislative work
Under my leadership, legislative work will once again be at the heart of the EPP Group's agenda. It’s essential to recognize and reward the dedication of our Rapporteurs, Chairs, and political coordinators. To amplify the voice of our EPP family and champion our values, ideas, and vision, we must foster dialogue, build consensus, and strategically decide on positions or amendments to shape opinions and resolutions. Our exceptional EPP Rapporteurs will ensure that our opinions not only influence but anticipate the EU legislative agenda, aligning with commission work programmes and delivering tangible results. At the same time, our Group must strengthen its ties with the European Commission, leveraging our members’ networks and the expertise of our committed and dynamic staff.
At the same time, we must strengthen and redefine our cooperation with the EPP Group in the European Parliament. This partnership must be built from the ground up, through consistent and structured engagement with EPP Chairs and political coordinators in the European Parliament;s committees. The CoR and the European Parliament are not competitors, nor are they identical: they have distinct roles and identities that must be recognized and respected. By showcasing the quality and dignity of our work at the CoR, and amplifying our impact on reports and policies involving cities and regions, we can establish a genuine, lasting relationship with the European Parliament and its EPP leadership. This foundation will allow us to build mutual trust, develop shared positions, and collaborate on communication, events, and citizen outreach.
Today, thanks to our collective efforts, we have reached an unprecedented level of cooperation with the EPP Party. If elected, I will not only build on this success but also amplify the voice of cities and regions within the EPP's decision-making bodies. Achieving this requires a shared commitment to informing our national Parties about our work at the CoR and securing their backing for our political and legislative priorities. In the next mandate, We will work intensively to ensure greater participation of national Party leaders in our meetings. This will strengthen our political influence, boost our credibility within EPP bodies, and enhance our negotiating power on key legislative files.
Starting with the next mandate, we must truly empower our Vice-Presidents and give them a central role. Leadership of the Group should not rest solely with the President but with a motivated, dynamic team of Vice-Presidents, each ready to advance our priorities across key areas. This includes - to make some examples - the EPP Party Working Groups, communication strategy, budget oversight, negotiations with Political Groups, and staff relations. In a spirit of full collaboration, I will engage with the future Vice-Presidents - both individually and as a team - to define the best strategies for bringing this new, dynamic structure to life, driven by their commitment, aspiration, and goodwill.
Inclusive Representation Across Europe
I will visit at least one region, city, or village in every EU member state, ensuring that the voices of all local and regional communities are represented in our work. The aim is to communicate the realities on the ground.
Strengthening Our Secretariat
The Secretariat is the backbone of our group. I will prioritize empowering our dedicated team to fully harness their expertise and potential, driving impactful results.
Nobody can do everything but everybody can do something. We are strong together.