The Group of the European Conservatives and Reformists in the European Parliament has welcomed formerly independent Italian MEP Elisabetta De Blasis into its ranks.

De Blasis is a cardiologist and former medical director of the hospital in L’Aquila, where she was also councillor for social and cultural policy. A member of the European Parliament since 2022, she has focused on regional policy and young people. De Blasis was warmly welcomed by the two co-chairmen of the ECR Group.

Nicola Procaccini (Fratelli d’Italia) said: “I am delighted to welcome Elisabetta De Blasis to the ECR Group. With De Blasis, we gain a high-profile personality who will strengthen our conservative European movement, not only quantitatively, but also in terms of the quality of our parliamentary action.”

Polish Co-Chair Prof Ryszard Legutko (PiS) said: “We are very pleased that Mrs De Blasis is joining us. The ECR Group is the true home of all those who reject ideological politics and want to deliver results for citizens. Our conservative family continues to grow and we look to the future with great confidence.”

New ECR member Elisabetta De Blasis said: “Because of the new challenges that Europe is facing, I believe it is essential to support pragmatic and balanced policies. That is why I have decided to join the Group of the European Conservatives and Reformists in the European Parliament. I would like to thank them warmly for their welcome.”

The ECR Group now has 67 seats in the European Parliament. Situated on the centre-right of the spectrum, the ECR Group defends the idea of a Europe of nations that “does less but does it better”, while respecting the competences established by the Treaties. The ECR Group wants to rebuild the EU as a community of sovereign European states, characterised by mutual respect, cooperation and solidarity between Member States.