In 2007, the EPP inaugurated a new political process with the its first EPP Foreign Affairs Ministers’ meeting. These meetings continued in 2008 and 2009 under the leadership of Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Franco FRATTINI and German MEP, Elmar BROK. The purpose of this meeting was - and still is - to discuss, in a private and informal setting, the wide-range of foreign policy priorities on the EU Ministers’ agenda, such as the Western Balkans, the Middle East peace process, the enlargement process and many other crisis situations world-wide.

Following these particularly successful meetings, and on the eve of the financial and economic crisis which hit the United States and subsequently the EU, the EPP decided to launch informal meetings with the EPP EcoFin Ministers in February 2008 under the Chairmanship of EPP Vice President Jyrki KATAINEN. This political initiative by the EPP quickly became a very valuable coordination mechanism for its Ministers especially in the midst of the financial crisis. The topics for discussion included the reform of the international financial architecture, the bailing out of European banks and ultimately the reform of the European banking system.

In 2010, the EPP further enlarged the Ministerial meetings, since they provide a useful coordination platform for the EPP’s political family in view of the different Council meetings. For example, the Transport Ministers meetings are now co-chaired by EPP Vice President and European Commission Vice President, Antonio Tajani, and by Dutch Transport Minister, Camiel Eurlings, while the Energy Ministers meeting is chaired by EPP Vice President Jacek Saryusz-Wolski. Moreover EPP Vice President Enda Kenny and Italian Labour Minister Maurizio Sacconi chair the Employment Ministers Meeting.

Here is the complete list of EPP Ministerial Meetings: