The European People’s Party (EPP) Congress being hosted in Malta starts today, and will end on Thursday.
The EPP is the largest EU political party grouping, and PN MEPs form part of this group. Some 2,500 participants have been invited from over 40 countries. Among those invited are German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, Irish Prime Minister and former Vice-President of the EPP Enda Kenny, Romanian President Klaus Johannis, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker, EP President Antonio Tajani and European Council President Donald Tusk.
The Congress will be co-hosted by the EPP’s affiliate in Malta, the Nationalist Party, under the leadership of Simon Busuttil. In tandem with the Congress, the EPP will also be hosting its study days in Malta over the same period. Study days are sessions of debate and information exchange. The session next Wednesday and Thursday will focus on Brexit and the future of Europe.
At 9 am today, EPP Chairman Manfred Weber and PN Leader Simon Busuttil will deliver the opening of the “Study Days” speeches and the Hilton. Later in the day, an event will be held to discuss the topic called: “After Brexit: Securing Fiscal Stability and Economic Prosperity for an EU of 27.”
A joint seminar of the EPP and the EPP Group in the European Parliament will also be held, discussing the future of the southern neighbourhood. Throughout the day there will be several other events, including seminars and the official Congress session.
Towards the end of the day, according to the schedule, former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will be awarded the Schuman Medal.
Among the events set to be held on Thursday is one called “EU & Tax Good Governance: Fighting Tax Evasion and Money Laundering,” which will also see journalist Khadija Sharife, who worked on the Panama Papers, speak.
The Congress closing speech will be delivered by PN Leader Simon Busuttil, however a few events will continue throughout the day.