Populists and extremists are EPP's main competitors, Manfred Weber tells Euronews

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Populists and extremists are EPP's main competitors, Manfred Weber tells Euronews  In an interview with Euronews, EPP President Manfred Weber warned of an authoritarian wave in Europe, pledging never to cooperate with far-right parties like France's National Rally or Germany’s AfD, whom he accused of threatening European unity and democratic values.  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/04/29/populists-and-extremists-are-epps-main-competitors-manfred-weber-tells-euronews  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:01European People's Party sees populism and extremism as their main competitors.

00:06In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Party President Manfred Weber warned of an authoritarian wave arriving in Europe,

00:14explained that he will never establish a structured cooperation with the extremists.

00:20The EPP has started a two-day congress in Valencia, Spain, where delegates will approve the new direction.

00:26Well, I, as party leader, defined a clear red line to the extremists.

00:31We will never work together with those who are not respecting my three pros,

00:35so pro-Ukraine, pro-rule of law and pro-Europe.

00:39They are fundamental things for us.

00:41So you can name them. It's Le Pen in France. It's AFD in Germany.

00:45There will never be a structured cooperation with them for us as EPP.

00:50So we are ready to include the serious conservative parties in Europe.

00:54For example, Giorgio Meloni showed in Italy, together with Antonio Tajani, that they are credible, that they are center-based.

01:00When it comes to the relationship with the United States,

01:03he still thinks that an agreement on tariffs is possible with a balanced approach.

01:08But he is more critical when it comes to Vice President J.D. Vance's approach to freedom of speech.

01:13We don't follow the Vance or Vice President Vance concentration that everything is allowed.

01:18No, in Europe, not everything is allowed.

01:20You cannot lie. You cannot do hate speeches there.

01:22You cannot be anti-Semitic in today's world, in Europe.

01:25Not everything is allowed.

01:26And this implementation of our rules is making us self-confident,

01:30that we believe in the European way of life,

01:33not following the American, the Chinese or the Russian approach.

01:37At the Valencia Congress, Weber is also set for re-election as head of the party.

01:42The German Christian Democrat is the only candidate for the post.

01:46See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

01:50See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

01:52See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

01:54See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

01:55See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

01:56See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

01:57See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

01:58See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

01:59See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

02:00See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

02:01See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

02:02See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

02:03See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

02:04See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

02:06See the full interview on Friday in the Europe Conversation.

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