MEPs from the third largest group in the European Parliament are in Rome to discuss European security and much-needed reform and decentralisation of the EU. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group is holding its ‘Autumn University’ under the invitation of the Conservatori E Riformisti party, led by Raffaele Fitto MEP.

MEPs from the third largest group in the European Parliament are in Rome to discuss European security and much-needed reform and decentralisation of the EU. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group is holding its ‘Autumn University’ under the invitation of the Conservatori E Riformisti party, led by Raffaele Fitto MEP.

The meeting brings together politicians, academics, think tanks, and other experts from Italy and across the EU to discuss current and future challenges. This year’s conference is focused on European security, both internal and external.

Opening the conference, ECR First Vice-President Ryszard Legutko MEP, said:

“Perhaps the most significant challenge today is security. Internal security and radicalisation; the impact of demographic policy on economic security; externalthreats to the East and to the South; and how we keep a strong economy that enables us to pay for our security and to maintain our influence in the world.”

The first session focused on the EU’s internal security in light of the terror threat. Sessions were also held on Europe’s demographic challenge and on how Europe counters misinformation spread by countries seeking to destabilise the continent’s political order. The meeting also discussed economic policy and the future of the eurozone, as well as reform of the EU’s common agricultural policy.

Later this week the conference will hear from ECR Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and interior minister Jan Jambon, and ECR Deputy Prime Minister and foreign minister of Finland Timo Soini. It will also hold further sessions on the military dimension to Europe’s security threats, on strengthening Europe’s economy, and on how the EU can decentralise power as a strong response to the growing rise of scepticism, especially following the British referendum.

ECR leader and British Conservative MEP, Syed Kamall, said:

“The EU needs to change, and in the ECR group we want to put new ideas for EU reform on the table. We’re meeting to have full and frank discussions with experts and think tanks to generate new ideas that are much needed in an EU that defaults to ‘More Europe’ as the answer to every question.

“The ECR is also pleased to show our support for Mr Fitto and the Conservatori E Reformisti party, which has created an exciting opportunity for Italian centre-right politics to renew and converge, and offer voters a credible alternative to socialism.”