The EPP plays a leading role in Europe and is horizontally engaged with all major European Union institutions (officially recognized by EU Regulation No 2004/2004, OJ L297/1). The Council, for example, includes no less than 13 EPP Heads of Government.  More importantly, in preparation of every European Council meeting, the EPP holds its Statutory Summit , which includes Prime Ministers, Commissioners, and opposition party leaders.

In the 2009 European elections, the EPP was once again victorious. The impressive results secured for our EPP Group in the European Parliament, a relative majority of 265 seats. As a result of this victory, the EPP succeeded in nominating for a 2nd term former Prime Minister of Portugal, José Manuel Durão Barroso, as President of the European Commission. Moreover, the Barroso II Commission includes a total of 13 Commissioners affiliated to the EPP.

In addition, the EPP has a wide-range of political Groups and representatives in the Committee of the Regions of the EU (Group), the Council of Europe (Group), and the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE, NATO, and the WEU (representatives).