"Our peaceful and united Europe is being tested like never before. By populists, by nationalists, by demagogues. Whether on the far right or the far left."
This is what European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her speech at the party congress in Bucharest.
"These people want to trample on our values and they want to destroy our Europe. And we, the EPP, will never allow that to happen", stressed Von der Leyen, who today expects to get the support of her fellow party members to be nominated for a second term at the head of the Commission.
Von der Leyen insisted that while we continue to fulfil our "international obligations", it is we Europeans who decide who comes to Europe and under what circumstances, not organised crime, smugglers and traffickers".
The support of the EPP will be key for the 65-year-old German, who must then get the approval of the EU Parliament to be reappointed to her post.
The result of the secret ballot in the Romanian capital should be announced in the coming hours. /BGNES
