New Democracy will also be first in the European elections on June 9 and the largest party in the European People’s Party, emphasized the vice-president of the Parliamentary Group of the European People’s Party (EPP) and head of the New Democracy Eurogroup, Vangelis Meimarakis, opening the proceedings of the event of the EPP and the ND in Thessaloniki, with the theme “The Road to Recovery”.

“Europe is not something far away. Even if we don’t see it that close to us, it is close to us, it has been involved in our daily life and these elections are important, because it is the first time that we will hold European elections after national elections”, said Mr. Meimarakis.

He pointed out that there is a European agenda in the European elections and asked us to stick to it.

He referred to farmers’ issues and underlined that the European People’s Party was the only one to say that from 2023 there should be a moratorium on green growth provisions for agricultural issues.

Addressing the young men and women in the room, he invited them to actively participate in the European elections and not to let others determine their future.

Z. Mouresan: On June 9, the EPP will be the biggest political force in the European Parliament

“On June 9, the European People’s Party will be the biggest political force in the European Parliament,” said the vice-president of the EPP Parliamentary Group, Siegfried Muresan, and called for participation in the European elections to ensure victory.

Regarding Greece, he said that its influence at the European level is so great that it has no precedent and this is the work of the government in the New Democracy.

He observed that in countries governed by parties that are members of the EPP, the absorption of European funds is better than in cases where there are socialist governments.

Margaritis Schinas: The recovery is our business

The recovery is a matter for the citizens and the European Union is on their side, provides solutions and is not their opponent, pointed out the vice-president of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas.

“From a Europe of crises we became a Europe of solutions”, he said and added: “We managed not only to respond to the successive challenges, but to emerge stronger. We broke down decades-old stereotypes like that of joint lending. And in this success, Greece was a protagonist, a pioneer and a co-shaper”, said Mr. Schinas and continued: “To overcome barriers, to reform, to listen to society and respond to the demands of citizens and developments, it is necessary determination, faith in right politics, principles, reforming spirit and political fortitude. These are the virtues that highlighted our leading role as a European centre-right in very difficult times!”.

Addressing the Greek farmers, he emphasized that the European Union is their biggest and strongest ally and noted that the green transition will in no way be achieved at the expense of European agriculture.

Mr. Schinas made a special mention of Thessaloniki, saying: “Since the fight for the European elections is now starting, I am particularly happy that the information campaign is passing through here as well. The Thessaloniki of extroversion, self-confidence and new horizons. This path must have only one goal. To get the message that recovery is our business, our proposal, our success. And we should feel collectively proud. The timeless values ​​that gave birth, nurtured and shaped the European People’s Party and were criticized in the past, are today basic European constants.

Thessaloniki is the de facto metropolitan center of every people in the region. From its Byzantine glory, to its Ottoman period, our city flourished economically and commercially, culturally. A toponym of cosmopolitanism, which since the Declaration of Thessaloniki in June 2003, has now been identified as a European model and perspective for our neighborhood”.

Chr. Staikouras: We achieved high, sustainable economic growth

“We succeeded in recovery, that’s why the title of the event could have been “The Road to Recovery and Sustainable Development” and essentially we have to prove that Europe helped Greece, and Greece also helped Europe so that we succeed the common goal, high and sustainable, sustainable economic growth, job creation, strengthening of social cohesion”, said the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Staikouras in his speech.

Regarding the EPP, he emphasized that it is the party of social liberalism, of the social market economy.

Regarding Thessaloniki, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport stated that in November 2024 the Metro will be operational, in April 110 electric buses will arrive in the city for the first time and in the following period new government initiatives will be announced which will respond to requests of the Self-Government.

The ND MEP addressed a greeting Manolis Kefalogianniswho expressed his belief in a new victory for New Democracy and the European People’s Party in the European elections

A. Tzitzikostas: The European Union must come closer to the citizens

“The European elections of June 9 are very important because they take place at a very critical crossroads, not only in Europe, but worldwide, and therefore a strong Europe, a strong European Parliament, a strong Commission, will allow the next day to deal much more effectively with the big challenges that we will have before us”, said in his intervention the regional governor of Central Macedonia and First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostas.

He also emphasized the need, after the European elections, for the European Union to come closer to the citizens.