Dublin, 23 October 2026 EPP launched today the EPP Trade Ministers’ Meeting, co-chaired by Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Austrian Federal Minister of Labour and Economy, and Jörgen Warborn MEP, EPP Group Coordinator in the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade. This first gathering marked an important step towards strengthening coordination within the EPP political family on trade matters, bringing together representatives of the Council and the European Parliament. Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Austrian Minister of Economy and Co-Chair of the meeting, said: "Europe has enormous economic strength. We have one of the world's largest markets, strong companies and reliable international partners. Now we must make better use of these strengths. The United States and China are actively shaping global trade. Europe must do the same. We need to open new markets, strengthen our industry and build partnerships that create opportunities for our businesses. That is why we are bringing trade ministers and the European Parliament closer together. We want to coordinate our priorities, speak with a stronger European voice and turn our economic strength into political action. Our goal is clear: A Europe that competes successfully, attracts investment and secures jobs." Jörgen Warborn, EPP Coordinator for International Trade in the European Parliament and Co-Chair of the meeting, said: "International trade remains a foundation of European prosperity and it is in the EU’s strategic interest to continue expanding its network of trade agreements and economic partnerships. The short-term goal for the EPP is to quickly ratify the new free trade agreements with Australia, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines through the legislative process, and to ambitiously deepen cooperation with Canada. At the same time, we need to act with a sense of urgency in defending EU companies against unfair subsidy-driven Chinese competition. In the longer term, it’s about nurturing the EU’s partnerships and simplifying trade with further like-minded countries, in a way that makes us less dependent on others."