Leaders of the European People’s Party are gathering in Zagreb, where they will discuss the key challenges facing Europe.
photo POOL/ HINA/ Mario STRMOTIĆ/ ds
ZAGREB – A two-day informal meeting of the leaders of the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest European political group, begins today in Zagreb, where numerous presidents of states and governments and leaders of European institutions are arriving to discuss behind closed doors the key challenges facing Europe today and transatlantic relations.
The leaders of the European People’s Party (EPP) are gathering at the Westin hotel at the invitation of the president of HDZ and the Croatian government Andrej Plenković and the president of the EPP Manfred Weber.
More than 20 European leaders who are part of the EPP family of Christian Democratic parties are expected to attend the meeting under the name “EPP Leader’s Retreat”. Zagreb is also expecting several party leaders from the EPP family who are in opposition in their home countries, such as Janez Janša from the Slovenian Democratic Party.
At the informal EPP gathering, there will be discussions on Europe’s role in the world, global and geopolitical challenges, as well as the EPP’s priorities in the coming period. One of the topics will be the demographic renewal of Europe.
This is an event that the European People’s Party generally organizes once a year to bring together leaders from the EPP family, and it includes closed-door talks in order to make them more relaxed. On Friday, a joint declaration entitled Demographic Renewal: A Strategic Imperative for Europe will also be adopted, and the Saturday part of the event is dedicated to the EPP’s political priorities. (30 January 2026)
