Manfred Weber, running as the sole candidate for the presidency, was re-elected as European People’s Party President with 502 votes in favour and 61 against during day one of the EPP Congress in Valencia.
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Manfred Weber, the only candidate to the EPP's presidency, took the floor as last speaker on day one of the annual Congress, taking place in the Spanish city of Valencia this year.
Weber recalled the recent electoral success of the EPP in several EU and non-EU countries, like Poland and Moldova, and he desired new ones: "Alberto Núñez Feijóo will soon become the new president of Spain, congratulations!", he said.
He also praised the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission and Roberta Metsola as President of the European Parliament, "two women at the helm of the European institutions".
Weber then flagged his role in enlarging the EPP group in the European Parliament. "We have grown not only because of success in national elections, but also because I convinced new parties to join us," he said recalling a mission in Hungary to strike a cooperation deal with Peter Magyar's Tisza, now the first party in Hungarian polls.
He was re-elected with 502 votes in favour and 61 against. He thanked the delegations and presented Spaniard Dolors Montserrat as candidate for next Secretary General.
Global trade
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also headlined on day one of the conference. The Commission chief spoke about global trade amid the ambiguity and uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump’s ‘reciprocal’ tariff policy.
"In every crisis there is also an opportunity," said Ursula von der Leyen referring to the tariff crisis and highlighting that Europe's Single Market is the largest in the world and "the champion in export to GDP".
"Now the world of trade is turning towards us. Since last year, we have concluded a new wave of trade deals, from Mercosur to Mexico to Switzerland," she said, recalling that the European Union has the largest network of free trade agreements, with 76 countries around the world.
"We are working with India and Indonesia, with the Emirates and Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia, and the Pacific. They all want to deal with us. Because we are fair, reliable and we play by the rules," she said.
War in Ukraine
The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola took the floor after Ursula von der Leyen.
Metsola criticised the narrative of a "too slow and bureaucratic Europe", mentioned recent simplification bills adopted by the European Parliament and reminded the room the need to keep supporting Ukraine, not out of altruism, but for Europe's security.
"Nothing on Ukraine without Ukraine," she said on peace negotiations.