EPP Group to discuss the future of the EU in Prague

On Thursday and Friday, the EPP Group will gather in the heart of Europe, Prague, to discuss the future of the EU and how to increase the efficiency of EU budgeting.

EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber will lead the debates on the EU's future together with Pavel Bělobrádek, Czech Deputy Prime Minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s Finance Minister, Mario Monti, former Prime Minister of Italy, Jean-Claude Trichet, former head of the European Central Bank, and European Commission Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva.

The Group will debate which directions Europe should take in face of the current crisis; how to respond to the current migration crisis, how to tackle terrorism at European level and how to preserve the European Union as we know it today.

Another major topic on the agenda is the EU budget; how to get better value for taxpayers' money so that investments truly bring us jobs and growth as the EU has prioritised. The Group line will be drawn up in a policy paper 'Performance-Based Budgeting'.

The MEPs will also debate on how to respond to demands set out by British Prime Minister David Cameron and how to reconcile the British affinity with the European Union so as to find a mutually-agreeable solution.