The European People’s Party has enjoyed a week of significant policy gains, with its influential German figures — party chair Manfred Weber and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, openly celebrating the momentum, POLITICO reported.
With Weber acting as a key powerbroker in Brussels, Merz has leveraged the EPP’s dominance across the European Commission, Parliament and Council to push through parts of the party’s agenda. These include scaling back anti-deforestation and green supply chain reporting rules, tightening migration policy through increased deportations to third countries, and reversing the EU’s de facto ban on combustion engine cars.
Having campaigned in the spring on pledges to deregulate and support business, Merz was quick to present the developments as concrete achievements at home. “It is good that the Commission is now opening up regulation in the automotive sector following the clear signal from the federal government,” he told BILD, earlier this week. Weber also welcomed the outcome, crediting late-night talks with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, herself a member of the EPP.
POLITICO noted that the alliance between Merz and Weber was reinforced at the EPP leaders’ summit in Berlin in January, where Merz showcased his links to Europe’s centre-right leadership, while Weber underlined his authority within the party by rallying EPP-aligned prime ministers.
Weber has argued that the EPP’s policy push is aimed at undercutting support for far-right parties by addressing voter concerns. However, the moves have angered liberals and centre-left groups, particularly after the Commission proposed lowering carmakers’ emissions reduction target from 100% to 90%.
Renew Europe leader Valérie Hayer criticised Weber for declaring victory before the proposal was formally adopted, warning of growing strains within the centrist coalition backing von der Leyen. POLITICO also reported that tensions are rising as the EPP increasingly relies on right-wing votes in Parliament, prompting accusations that it is advancing its agenda with tacit far-right support — a claim the party rejects.
