12 June 2024
The European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament has welcomed new MEPs in the Group's first meeting after the European elections.
From Croatia, Mr Stjepo Bartulica of the Homeland Movement (Domovinski Pokret); from Cyprus, Mr Geadis Geadi of the National Popular Front (Ethniko Laiko Metopo, ELAM); and from Latvia, Mr Reinis Poznaks of the United List (Apvienotais Saraksts, AS) will join the ranks of the ECR. In addition, with Mr Fernand Kartheiser from the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (Alternativ Demokratesch Reformpartei, ADR), the Conservatives will also have a delegate from Luxembourg for the first time. From Finland, the newly elected Sebastian Tynkkynen of the Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset) was also welcomed into the Group.
At this stage, the ECR has a total of 77 confirmed seats in the next European Parliament. However, more delegations are expected to join in the next rounds of admissions. The final composition of the Group will be decided on 26 June when its Bureau will be elected. The European Parliament will hold its first session in Strasbourg in mid-July.
Current ECR Co-President Nicola Procaccini commented:
“I warmly welcome our new members to our ECR family. Our steady growth shows that our political project, advocating for a middle way that seeks to better balance competences between Brussels and national capitals, is credible and attractive.”
“At the ECR Group, we expect to be an important part of a new centre-right majority in the next European Parliament and will contribute constructively to making the EU a thriving place for citizens, rather than a haven for activists and bureaucrats. The ECR does not want an EU that bans, censors, fines, and engages in social engineering, but one that inspires, protects, and thrives culturally and economically.”