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    European Democratic Party

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 15 min
    This article is about the European party. For the Czech party, see European Democratic Party (Czech Republic). For other uses, see European Democrats (disambiguation).

    European Democratic Party
    AbbreviationEDP
    PresidentFrançois Bayrou (FR)
    Secretary-GeneralSandro Gozi (IT)
    Founded9 December 2004; 20 years ago (2004-12-09)
    Split fromEuropean People's Party
    HeadquartersRue Montoyer 25,
    1000 Brussels, Belgium
    Think tankInstitute of European Democrats
    Youth wingYoung Democrats for Europe
    Membership (26 January 2025)6
    IdeologyCentrism[5]
    Pro-Europeanism[6]
    Political positionCentre[7]
    European Parliament groupRenew Europe
    Colours  Orange
    European Parliament
    10 / 720
    European Commission
    0 / 27
    European Council
    0 / 27
    European
    Lower Houses
    64 / 6,229
    European
    Upper Houses
    29 / 1,458
    Website
    democrats.eu
    • Politics of the European Union
    • Political parties
    • Elections

    The European Democratic Party (EDP; French: Parti démocrate européen, PDE), also known as the European Democrats, is a centrist[1][2][3][4] European political party in favour of European integration. Within the European Parliament, its MEPs form the Renew Europe group, together with those of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe party and the French Renaissance party. The President is François Bayrou.

    The youth wing of the EDP is the Young Democrats for Europe (YDE).

    As of 2025, EDP members participate in the national government of three EU member states: EDP President François Bayrou leading the government in France, Les Engagés in Belgium, which participates in the government of Prime Minister Bart De Wever and, EDP individual member Marian Harkin, who participates in the government of Prime Minister Micheál Martin. Two European regions are also led by an EDP politician, with Spain's Basque Country being led by Imanol Pradales of the Basque Nationalist Party and with Spain's Canary Islands being led by Fernando Clavijo Batlle of the Canarian Coalition; EDP member Free Voters participates as a junior coalition partner in the state government of Bavaria in Germany, as does Italia Viva in Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Campania and Basilicata and Les Engagés in Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

    The European Democratic Party is also a member of the European Movement International and was a member of the World Alliance of Democrats until its dissolution in 2012.

    History

    [edit]

    The European Democratic Party was initiated on 16 April 2004 and formally founded on 9 December 2004 in Brussels.

    In 2005, the European Democratic Party, together with the United States Democratic Party and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats, co-founded the Alliance of Democrats international.[8][9]

    François Bayrou of the Union for French Democracy and later the Democratic Movement (MoDem) and Francesco Rutelli, former leader of the Democracy is Freedom and Alliance for Italy parties, served as the two co-presidents until 2019. Now, François Bayrou serves as the only president.

    The EDP was founded in reaction to the rising influence of Eurosceptic parties within European institutions. It drew pro-European centrist parties from the European People's Party (EPP) group to form a new centrist multinational bloc. Its co-founder François Bayrou described it as a party for people being neither conservative nor socialist."

    Since the beginning of the 6th European Parliament of 2004–2009, the EDP has formed a joint European parliamentary group with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party called the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group. This parliamentary group was renamed in 2019 as Renew Europe.

    The European Democratic Party is ideologically centrist and federalist.[10] Some major members and affiliated parties like EAJ-PNV, Free Voters, MoDem, MCC, Canarian Coalition and the disbanded Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy follow a Christian democratic or liberal conservative line.

    At its 20th anniversary congress in Brussels in December 2024, the party adopted a new orange brand identity and logo, taking on the short name ‘Democrats’.

    Membership

    [edit]

    Members are national and regional political parties as well as members of the European Parliament, national and regional parliaments.[11]

    Current members

    [edit]
    Country or Region Party Leader MEPs[a] National lower houses National upper houses Position in national legislature
    Austria Citizens' Forum Austria
    Bürgerforum Österreich (FRITZ)     		Andrea Haselwanter-Schneider - - - Extra-parliamentary
    Belgium Les Engagés
    Les Engagés (LE)     		Yvan Verougstraete
    1 / 8
    14 / 150
    5 / 60
    		 Government
    Marie-Christine Marghem
    (MR and MCC; Individual member)     		- -
    1 / 150
    		 - Government
    Croatia People's Party – Reformists
    Narodna stranka – Reformisti (NS-R)     		Radimir Čačić - - - Extra-parliamentary
    Cyprus Pavlos Mylonas
    (DIKO; individual member)     		- -
    1 / 56
    [12]     		- Opposition
    Czech Republic SEN 21
    SEN 21     		Václav Láska -
    0 / 200
    4 / 81
    		 Opposition
    France Democratic Movement
    Mouvement démocrate (MoDem)     		François Bayrou
    3 / 81
    48 / 577
    4 / 348
    		 Government
    Sandro Gozi
    (MoDem / IV; individual member)     		-
    1 / 81
    		 - - —
    Germany Free Voters
    Freie Wähler (FW)     		Hubert Aiwanger
    3 / 96
    0 / 735
    2 / 69
    		 Extra-parliamentary
    Greece Movement for Democracy
    Κίνημα Δημοκρατίας     		Stefanos Kasselakis -
    6 / 300
    [b]     		- Opposition
    Hungary New Start
    Új Kezdet (UK)     		Krisztina Hohn - - - Extra-parliamentary
    Italy Italia Viva
    Italia Viva (IV)     		Matteo Renzi -
    7 / 400
    8 / 200
    		 Opposition
    New Times – United Populars[13]
    Tempi Nuovi – Popolari Uniti     		Giuseppe Fioroni - - - Extra-parliamentary
    Ireland Independent Ireland (II) Michael Collins
    1 / 14
    4 / 174
    0 / 174
    		 Opposition
    Marian Harkin (Independent; Individual member) - -
    1 / 174
    		 - Government
    Malta Momentum (M) Arnold Cassola - - - Extra-parliamentary
    Netherlands 50PLUS (50+) Martin van Rooijen -
    0 / 150
    1 / 75
    		 Opposition
    Poland Alliance of Democrats
    Stronnictwo Demokratyczne     		Paweł Piskorski - - - Extra-parliamentary
    Portugal Together for the People
    Juntos pelo Povo (JPP)     		Élvio Sousa -
    1 / 230
    		 - Opposition
    San Marino Future Republic
    Repubblica Futura (RF)     		Mario Venturini Not in EU
    6 / 60
    		 - Opposition
    Slovenia Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia
    Demokratična stranka upokojencev Slovenije (DeSUS)     		Ljubo Jasnič - - - Extra-parliamentary
    Spain
    		 Basque Nationalist Party
    Euzko Alderdi Jeltzalea (EAJ)
    Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV)     		Andoni Ortuzar
    1 / 61
    6 / 350
    10 / 265
    		 Confidence and supply
    Canarian Coalition
    Coalición Canaria (CC)     		Fernando Clavijo Batlle -
    1 / 350
    1 / 265
    		 Confidence and supply
    Commitment to Galicia
    Compromiso por Galicia (CxG)     		Juan Carlos Piñeiro - - - Extra-parliamentary

    Former members

    [edit]
    •  Croatia : National Forum (Nacionalni forum), joined EDP in 2014, disbanded in 2015
    •  Cyprus:
      • European Party
      • Citizens' Alliance
    •  Czech Republic:
      • Party for the Open Society
      • Way to Change, founding member of EDP, disbanded in 2009
    •  France:
      • Union for French Democracy, founding member of EDP, disbanded in 2007, succeeded by MoDem
      • Union of Democrats and Independents joined the ALDE party on 2 December 2016
    •  Italy:
      • Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy, founding member of EDP, merged into the Democratic Party in 2007, MEPs Mario Pirillo, Silvia Costa and Vittorio Prodi stayed as individual members until 2014, now member of PES
      • Alliance for Italy, party disbanded by the end of 2016
      • European Democratic Party Italy (Partito Democratico Europeo Italia) disbanded in 2021.
      • Action, left in September 2023
      • L'Italia c'è, left in 2025
    •  Lithuania: Labour Party, left in 2012 to join the ALDE party
    •  Portugal
      • Democratic Republican Party, joined EDP in 2015, succeeded by National Democratic Alternative in 2021
      • National Democratic Alternative, left EDP in 2022, due to ideological divergencies regarding the LGBT community[14]
    •  Romania
      • PRO Romania (PRO România), left in 2022 to join Party of European Socialists[15]
      • Association of Italians of Romania, left in 2022
    •  Slovakia:
      • People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, joined EDP in 2009, disbanded in 2014, succeeded by Democratic Slovakia Party
      • Democratic Slovakia Party ('Strana Demokratického Slovenska') and European Democratic Party (Europska Demokraticka Strana) in 2019
      • Alena Bašistová[16][non-primary source needed] (Independent), not reelected in 2020

    Individual members

    [edit]

    The EDP also includes a number of individual members, although, as most other European parties, it has not sought to develop mass individual membership.[17]

    Below is the evolution of individual membership of the EDP since 2019.[18] Individual membersIndividual members of European political parties345678910201920202021202220232024EDP

    Funding

    [edit]

    As a registered European political party, the EDP is entitled to European public funding, which it has received continuously since 2004.[19]

    Below is the evolution of European public funding received by the EDP. Amount (€)European public funding of European political parties0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,0001,200,0001,400,0002004200720102013201620192022Maximum amounts of public fundingAmounts of public funding actually received

    In line with the Regulation on European political parties and European political foundations, the EDP also raises private funds to co-finance its activities. As of 2025, European parties must raise at least 10% of their reimbursable expenditure from private sources, while the rest can be covered using European public funding.[c]

    Below is the evolution of contributions and donations received by the EDP. Amount (€)Contributions raised by European political parties030,00060,00090,000120,000150,000180,00020042008201220162020EDP Amount (€)Donations raised by European political parties030006000900012,00015,00020042008201220162020EDP

    Elected representatives of member parties

    [edit]

    European institutions

    [edit]
    Organisation Institution Number of seats
     European Union European Parliament
    10 / 720 (1%)
    [20][21]
    European Commission
    0 / 27 (0%)
    [22]
    European Council
    (Heads of Government)
    0 / 27 (0%)
    [23]
    Council of the European Union
    (Participation in Government)
    Committee of the Regions
    11 / 329 (3%)
    [24][25]
    Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly

    See also

    [edit]
    • European political party
    • Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations
    • European political foundation

    Notes

    [edit]
    1. ^ The number of MEPs listed below may not match the total number of MEPs of the European party, as it does not include MEPs who join as individual members.
    2. ^ Τhe party has no parliamentary group, however 6 independent members of the Greek parliament are members of the party
    3. ^ For the purpose of European party funding, "contributions" refer to financial or in-kind support provided by party members, while "donations" refer to the same but provided by non-members.

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ a b c Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "European Union". Parties and Elections in Europe.
    2. ^ a b c McCormick, John (2015). European Union Politics. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 247. ISBN 978-1-137-45340-2.
    3. ^ a b c Pehrson, Lars (12 June 2009). How Unified Is the European Union?: European Integration Between Visions and Popular Legitimacy. Springer. p. 160. ISBN 978-3-540-95855-0.
    4. ^ a b c Niedermayer, Oskar (1 May 2013). Handbuch Parteienforschung. Springer. p. 831. ISBN 978-3-531-18932-1.
    5. ^ [1][2][3][4]
    6. ^ Brack, Nathalie; Costa, Olivier (2014). How the EU Really Works. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-4724-1465-6.
    7. ^ [1][2][3][4]
    8. ^ "Presentation - EDP – European Democratic Party". 22 February 2015. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
    9. ^ "Towards a new Alliance of Democrats". 16 February 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
    10. ^ Alberto Martinelli & Alessandro Cavalli (2020). European Society. Vol. 133. Brill. p. 237. ISBN 9789004351776. The European Democratic Party (EDP) is a centrist, social-liberal, and federalist party that stands for a more democratic, integrated EU closer to its citizens. Between 2004 and now (end of 2019) the EDP has formed a joint European parliamentary group with ALDE.
    11. ^ "Our members". democrats.eu. EDP. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
    12. ^ "MYLONAS Pavlos". parliament.cy. House of Representatives (Cyprus). Retrieved 25 June 2024.
    13. ^ Merlo, Giorgio (17 October 2023). "Tempi Nuovi ha scelto il PDE per motivi di coerenza". Il Domani d'Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 18 October 2023.
    14. ^ "ADN desvincula-se do PDE/EDP devido a posições polémicas – Partido ADN". June 2022.
    15. ^ robin (15 October 2022). "PES Congress welcomes new PES leadership team and four new member parties". The Party of European Socialists. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
    16. ^ Democrats, European (30 June 2017). "Individual membership request from MP Alena #Bašistová (SK) has just been accepted by the #EDPCouncil in #Coimbra. Welcome! #EDPCoimbrapic.twitter.com/RiOAZGrfQ7". @PDE_EDP. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
    17. ^ Hertner, Isabelle (9 September 2018). "United in diversity? Europarties and their individual members' rights". Journal of European Integration. 41 (4). Routledge: 487–505. doi:10.1080/07036337.2018.1513500.
    18. ^ "Audit reports and donations". European Parliament.
    19. ^ "Funding from the European Parliament to European political parties per party and per year" (PDF). European Parliament. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
    20. ^ "Members". Retrieved 7 February 2025.
    21. ^ "European Democratic Party". Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
    22. ^ "College of Commissioners". Retrieved 7 February 2025.
    23. ^ "Members of the European Council". Retrieved 7 February 2025.
    24. ^ "European Committee of the Regions Members Page". Retrieved 6 February 2025.
    25. ^ "Members". Retrieved 10 April 2025.
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