| European Conservatives and Reformists Group | |
|---|---|
| European Parliament group | |
.svg){kind=logo} | |
| English abbr. | ECR Group[1] ECR |
| French abbr. | CRE |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | |
| European parties | European Conservatives and Reformists Party European Free Alliance (N-VA) European Christian Political Party (SGP,PNCR) |
| Associated organisations | New Direction |
| From | 22 June 2009[15] |
| Preceded by | Movement for European Reform |
| Chaired by | Nicola Procaccini Patryk Jaki |
| MEP(s) | 79 / 720 |
| Website | ecrgroup |
TheEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR Group or simplyECR) is anational conservative,[16]soft Eurosceptic,[22] and anti-federalist[24]political group of the European Parliament. The ECR is the parliamentary group of theEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR Party)European political party, but also includesMEPs from other European parties and MEPs without European party affiliation.
Ideologically, the group is broadlyeurosceptic, anti-federalist and right-wing, with far-right factions. The stated objective of the ECR is to oppose unchecked European integration, enlargement and potential evolution of theEuropean Union (EU) into a federal European superstate on the basis ofEurorealism, and to ensure the EU does not heavily encroach on matters of state and domestic and regional decision making within EU member countries.[25] It also advocates for stricter controls on immigration. The ECR contains factions ofsocially conservative,right-wing populist,liberal conservative,Christian democratic,far-right, andnational conservative parties who all subscribe to an anti-federalist and a eurorealist or euro-critical stance.
The ECR promotessoft Euroscepticism, as opposed to a total rejection of the existence of the EU characterised by anti-EU-ism orhard euroscepticism, by calling for democratic reform of the EU, more transparency, changes to theEurozone and EU migration/asylum policies, and the curbing some of the EU's powers and bureaucracy whilst maintaining unrestricted free trade and cooperation between nations.[26][27] Other parties and individual MEPs within the group support complete withdrawal from the block, referendums on EU membership and opposition to the Eurozone.[28]
The ECR was founded around theMovement for European Reform following the2009 European elections at the behest ofBritish Conservative Party leaderDavid Cameron.
During the tenth European Parliament, the largest party in the group by number of MEPs isBrothers of Italy (FdI), followed by PolishLaw and Justice (PiS).
In 2005, theBritish Conservative Party held aleadership contest. During thesixth term of the European Parliament, Conservative Party MEPs sat in theEuropean Democrats (ED), a subgroup of theEuropean People's Party–European Democrats (EPP-ED) group, which is dominated by theEuropean People's Party (EPP). Leadership contenderDavid Cameron argued for withdrawal of the Conservatives from EPP-ED and the formation of a new group. Upon taking office as Conservative leader in December 2005, Cameron indicated that the launch of a new group would be undertaken immediately.[29] The motives for forming this group was the EPP-ED was toofederalist, while the Conservatives opposed stronger European integration.[30]
In June 2006, Cameron orderedShadow Foreign SecretaryWilliam Hague to ensure the new group was created by 13 July 2006.[29] However, when that date arrived, it was announced that the launch of the new European Parliament group was delayed until after the 2009 elections.[31]
In the interim, a pan-European alliance, called theMovement for European Reform (MER), was founded and functioned outside of the European Parliament.[32] The same day, theLaw and Justice andCivic Platform parties of Poland were identified as potential members of the new group: However, Civic Platform stated that it would not leave the EPP, and the Law and Justice stated that it planned to stay aligned to UEN.[33] The next day,Sir Reg Empey, the leader of theUlster Unionist Party (UUP), suggested that the UUP could join the new group after the 2009 election.[34] In the event of the election, the UUP ran under the banner of theUlster Conservatives and Unionists, anelectoral alliance between the Conservative Party and the Ulster Unionists.
The CzechCivic Democratic Party (ODS) was part of MER but its leader,Mirek Topolánek, did not rule out staying in EPP-ED.[35] Topolánek then attended the EPP Summit (a meeting of heads of state and government of theEuropean People's Party) of 21 June 2007, adding speculation about the fragility of the new group.[36]
Later in 2007, the relations between the EPP and the Conservative Party further deteriorated when the EPP voiced its opposition to the UK holding a referendum of theTreaty of Lisbon, something the Conservatives had campaigned for.[30]
In July 2008, the European Parliament raised the 2009 threshold for forming a group to 25 members and representing 7 member states.[37] Topolánek, after being re-elected Leader of the ODS on 7 December 2008, attended yet another EPP Summit, on 11 December 2008.[38]
As the2009 European elections approached, Cameron, Topolánek, and Conservative MEPGeoffrey Van Orden (a 'point-man' for the new group)[39] were looking for partners. The list of possible partners was kept secret.[40]
People or parties that were rumoured to be possible partners in the new group includedLaw and Justice;[41][42][43]Lega Nord;[41][44] theDanish People's Party;[41][44]For Fatherland and Freedom,[40][41]Order and Justice,[41] thePensioners' Party;[45]Order, Law and Justice;[39][46][47]Libertas;[48]Civic Union;[49]Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania,[49]ChristianUnion-SGP;[50] the independentIndrek Tarand;[49] andLijst Dedecker'sDerk Jan Eppink;[41][42] from member states such as the Czech Republic,[51][52] Poland,[51][52] Italy,[51] Sweden,[51] theBaltic andBalkan states,[51]Belgium,[52] and theNetherlands.[52] Speculation also considered the remnants of theUnion for Europe of the Nations (UEN) group, which was thought to be on the verge of collapse[according to whom?] after the decision ofFianna Fáil to join theAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)[53] and the ItalianNational Alliance merging with EPP member partyForza Italia. Lajos Bokros, elected on the list of theHungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) joined the group as the EPP did not want to accept him on pressure of the rivalFidesz.
The new group was provisionally named the European Conservatives,[43] (echoing the1970s group of the same name), which was then changed to European Conservatives and Reformists.[54] The original estimates were firmed up to 84 MEPs,[41] then to approximately 60.[52] Frictions surfaced, as the ODS wanted the new group to have as many MEPs as possible, whilst the Conservatives wanted to disbar anti-immigrant parties in the new group, including the Danish People's Party and Lega Nord.[44]
On 22 June 2009, the first official list of the new group's members was released.[23] On 24 June, the group held its inaugural meeting, in which Conservative MEPTimothy Kirkhope was named interim leader.[55]Adam Bielan of PiS andJan Zahradil of the ODS were named interim vice-chairmen.
At the first sitting of theSeventh European Parliament, on 14 July 2009, outgoing Parliament PresidentHans-Gert Pöttering announced that applications from all new and returning groups had been received and approved, including ECR. The group then became eligible for EU funding, office space, and committee places.
The first election for the group leadership was also scheduled for 14 July 2009, pitting interim leader Kirkhope against fellow BritonGeoffrey Van Orden.[56] However, both Conservative leadership candidates were forced to forfeit the leadership to prevent it from falling apart, when Conservative MEPEdward McMillan-Scott defied his party whip and stood for one of the vice-presidency posts despite pledges the previous week that Polish MEPMichał Kamiński would be backed for it. Kamiński's bid forVice-President of the European Parliament subsequently failed, and the Polish MEPs threatened to abandon the new caucus unless Kamiński was made the group leader in the parliament.[57] Kirkhope went to an emergency meeting with Polish MEPs inStrasbourg and proposed sharing the group leadership with the Kamiński; however, this was not accepted, and he had to step down as coalition leader, withdrawing in favour of Kamiński. McMillan-Scott, who alleged that the Conservative's new allies in Poland are 'racist and homophobic', had the Conservativewhip withdrawn in the European Parliament.[58][59] In March 2010, McMillan-Scott joined the BritishLiberal Democrats and the ALDE group.[60]
Group chairman Kamiński leftLaw and Justice (PiS) in November 2010, saying that the party had been taken over by the far-right. Kamiński and other Law and Justice MPs and MEPs formed a new Polish party,Poland Comes First, formed as a breakaway from Law and Justice following dissatisfaction with the direction and leadership ofJarosław Kaczyński. Kamiński initially remained chairman of the group, but other Law and Justice MEPs argued he should step down.[61] On 15 December, rumours emerged that the eleven remaining PiS MEPs might leave the ECR and join the right-wingEurope of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) group instead.[62]
In February 2011, Kamiński announced he would resign his chairmanship, effective 8 March, when a replacement would be elected. Former interim leaderTimothy Kirkhope was said to be the front runner,[63] but lost the election toJan Zahradil of theCzech Republic's ODS.[64] In late March, David Cameron invited theNew Flemish Alliance (N-VA) to join the group.[65]
The May 2011 resignation ofSilvana Koch-Mehrin, one of the fourteenVice-Presidents of the European Parliament, led to the ECR considering putting another candidate forward to take the position they were denied through McMillan-Scott's defection.[66] Conservative Party MEPGiles Chichester was nominated on 31 May, and was elected unopposed by the Parliament on 5 July 2011,[67] after the ALDE group to which Koch-Mehrin belongs failed to find a willing and suitable candidate.[68]
On 14 December 2011, a new leadership was elected, withMartin Callanan as chairman andJan Zahradil,Geoffrey Van Orden,Ryszard Legutko, andDerk Jan Eppink as Vice-Chairmen. On 26 December 2011, four members ofUnited Poland – who had split from Law and Justice in November – left the ECR to join theEurope of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) group. On 17 January 2012, CzechOldřich Vlasák replaced Chichester as the ECR's Vice-President of the Parliament.
The2014 European elections were held on 22–25 May 2014. In the weeks following the election, several parties joined the ECR, including theDanish People's Party and theFinns Party (both of which switched from the EFD group),Alternative for Germany, theFamily Party of Germany,Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO) andNew Majority (NOVA) from Slovakia, theIndependent Greeks,Bulgaria Without Censorship, the DutchReformed Political Party, and the BelgianNew Flemish Alliance (N-VA) (previously attached to theGreens/EFA group).[69][70][71][72][73] As a result of these additions, the ECR overtook ALDE to become the third biggest group in the European parliament,[74] assuming the role of "kingmakers" in the new parliament.[75]
On 23 June, IrishFianna Fáil MEPBrian Crowley joined from theALDE group, but without the permission of his party or its leaderMicheál Martin, who removed Crowley's party whip the following day.[76][77] On the same day,IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement joined,[78][non-primary source needed] taking the group to 70 MEPs.
The ECR's unanimous decision to admit the Danish People's Party and Finns Party as members was criticised because one MEP from each party has a criminal conviction.[79][80]Morten Messerschmidt, lead candidate for the Danish People's Party, was convicted in 2002 for publishing material that appeared to suggest that there is a link between a multiethnic society and rape, violence and forced marriages.[81]Jussi Halla-aho, a Finns Party MEP, was convicted in 2012 after writing a 2008 blog entry which claimed that Islam "reveres paedophilia".[81] However,Syed Kamall, the ECR's chairman, who is a practising Muslim, defended the new members.[81]
Following the election, British Conservative MEPSajjad Karim was the group's candidate forPresident of the European Parliament.[82]
On 8 March 2016, the bureau of the ECR Group began motions to exclude the two remaining MEPs of theAlternative for Germany (AfD) from their group due to the AfD's links with the far-rightFreedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) and controversial remarks about immigration, inviting the MEPs to voluntarily leave the group by 31 March, with a motion of exclusion to be tabled on 12 April otherwise.[83][84]
Prior to the 2019 elections, theSweden Democrats (SD) andBrothers of Italy joined the ECR group,[93] whileForum for Democracy (FvD) andDebout la France pledged to do so after the elections should they win seats.[94]
Two ECR member parties, theDanish People's Party and theFinns Party, announced their intention to form a new group called theEuropean Alliance for People and Nations withAlternative for Germany and Italy'sLeague following the 2019 elections which was subsequently namedIdentity and Democracy.[95]
During the 2019 elections, the BritishConservative Party sustained losses, including that of former ECR chairmanSyed Kamall. The ECR also saw its total number of MEPs reduced to 62 MEPs and was overtaken in number byIdentity and Democracy, the other predominant eurosceptic grouping. However, the FvD and the new SpanishVox party gained seats for the first time and were formally admitted into the group.
Following the election, the group namedRaffaele Fitto andRyszard Legutko as new joint chairmen.
The DutchChristian Union (CU) quit the group following the 2019 elections and switched to theEuropean People's Party Group with the CU's sole MEPPeter van Dalen protesting that the ECR was moving too far to the right with the inclusion of parties likeForum for Democracy,Vox and theSweden Democrats.[citation needed] The fellow DutchReformed Political Party opted to remain in the group, signalling the end ofan alliance the CU and Reformed party had during European elections.
On 31 January 2020, the remaining British Conservative Party MEPs resigned from the group following the completion of thewithdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
In May 2020,Cristian Terheș announced he was joining the ECR group as an MEP for the RomanianChristian Democratic National Peasants' Party (which had previously been expelled from theEuropean People's Party Group) having initially been elected for theSocial Democratic Party.[96]
In 2020, all MEPs of theForum for Democracy party resigned to sit as independents before co-founding a new party,JA21. In 2022, Forum for Democracy switched its affiliation to theIdentity and Democracy group.
In 2023, theFinns Party switched back its affiliation from theIdentity and Democracy group to the ECR group citing theRussian invasion of Ukraine and their change in policy regarding NATO membership.[97]
For the2024 European Parliament election the ECR campaigned for revisions to the European Green New Deal and for stronger border control measures. The group increased its number of MEPs to 84 and became the third largest group in the European Parliament, overtakingRenew Europe.[98] After the election, theAlternative Democratic Reform Party of Luxembourg, the CypriotNational People's Front, theHomeland Movement, theAlliance for the Union of Romanians and theRomanian National Conservative Party were formally admitted into the group along withReconquête (which had stood on a joint ticket with the Mouvement Conservateur) and theDenmark Democrats.[99]
In June 2024, four out of the five newly elected Reconquête MEPs were expelled or resigned to sit as independents within the group after lead candidate Marion Marechal called on members of the party to support the National Rally during the French legislative election. Reconquête's sole remaining MEPSarah Knafo joined the newEurope of Sovereign Nations group instead while the former members stayed with the ECR.[100]
Prior to the election, there was media speculation that Hungary'sViktor Orbán and hisFidesz party would join the group after talks withBrothers of Italy leaderGiorgia Meloni, however after the election it was alleged Fidesz was blocked from joining the ECR while other press outlets claimed that Fidesz chose not to join due to previous disagreements with the Alliance for the Union of Romanians.[101][102] After this Orbán formed thePatriots for Europe group.
On 3 July 2024 the group electedNicola Procaccini (FdI) andJoachim Brudziński (PiS) as co-chair, with 4 vice-chairs and 2 co-treasurers.[103][104]
On 3 July 2024,Jaak Madison, an independent Estonian MEP who formerly was a member of theConservative People's Party of Estonia, joined the ECR Group.[105] On 22 August, Madison joined theEstonian Centre Party. Although the Estonian Centre Party is currently part of theRenew Europe group, Madison will remain a member of the ECR Group, and the Centre Party's leader,Mihhail Kõlvart, stated that the party is considering leaving Renew Europe.[106] On 5 July, the SpanishVox, with 6 MEPs, announced its intention to leave the ECR to join the newPatriots for Europe group. In a statement onTwitter, Vox leaderSantiago Abascal expressed gratitude to the ECR group and said his party would continue to maintain strong relations with Meloni, but argued the move was a "historic opportunity to fight against a coalition of centre-right, socialist and far-left forces."[107][108]
Following Vox's departure,Se Acabó La Fiesta (SALF), with 3 MEPs, announced it would seek to join the ECR after SALF leaderAlvise Pérez suddenly withdrew from negotiations withAlternative for Germany about joining their proposedEurope of Sovereign Nations group.[109][110] The ECR stated it would make a decision in September on whether to admit SALF[111] though it ultimately declined SALF's request.[112] The ECR subsequently changed its position in December 2024 and agreed to admit two SALF MEPsDiego Solier Fernández andNora Junco García as members while Pérez remained as aNon-Inscrits.[113]
On 29 July 2024, theSweden Democrats,Denmark Democrats andFinns Party formed the 'Nordic Freedom' alliance within the ECR, due to shared positions on Russia, immigration and EU regulations.[114]
On 31 August 2024, Homeland Movement MEPStephen Nikola Bartulica left the party, making him an independent member of the ECR.[115]
In May 2025, the two SALF MEPs announced they had resigned from their party to sit as independent MEPs within the ECR citing disputes and legal controversies surrounding SALF leader Alvise Pérez.[116]
In June 2025, Following the expulsion of LuxembourgishAlternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) MEPFernand Kartheiser from theECR for visiting Russia, thePatriots for Europe group approached the ADR for talks. The ADR stated that while it was considering what group the party wanted to belong to if the whole party were fully expelled from the ECR, it was not yet actively discussing membership with any other political group.[117]
The constituent declaration of the ECR stating the principles to which each group member is expected to adhere is known as thePrague Declaration. The Prague Declaration outlines the following principles:[118]
Ideologically, the founder members of the ECR traditionally sat on the centre-right[119] to right-wing[120] of the political spectrum with aneconomically liberal and anti-federalist outlook and an initial reluctance from theConservative Party to include hardline anti-immigration and ultra-nationalist parties. Like the centre-rightEuropean People's Party (EPP), the founding members of the ECR mostly support pro-free market ideas with some of its MEPs maintaining ties to think-tanks such asThe Cobden Centre andOpen Europe,[121] as opposed to the moreeconomic nationalist and anti-globalisation approach of other euro-critical groups such as theEFDD andIdentity and Democracy. However, the EPP generally favours EU integration and enlargement whereas the ECR opposes it.
In recent years, the group has come to contain a growing faction ofnationalist,anti-immigration andright-wing populist movements.[6] This shift to the right was increased following thewithdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, since theConservative Party lost its representation in theEuropean Parliament.
In a statement issued on 11 November 2021, two core political documents were cited by the Group's Co-Chairmen,Ryszard Legutko andRaffaele Fitto, to define the ECR's ideological basis when they reaffirmed the Group's "commitment to the Prague Declaration and the ECR Statement on the Reform of the European Union".[122][123]
During theRussian invasion of Ukraine, the group has come to comprise generally pro-Ukrainian and anti-Russian parties, whereas Identity and Democracy mainly consists of pro-Russian parties. In February 2023, the group's chairman Legutko stated that the group shall stand by Ukraine until Russia is defeated and beyond.[124][125][126] Following the2023 Finnish parliamentary election, theFinns Party, having previously moved to ID, rejoined ECR citing their change in policy to endorse Finnish NATO membership as the reason for the move.[127] Members of the ECR tend to be pro-NATO and supportAtlanticism, including more coordination between Europe and the United States, while taking a more critical view on the influence ofChina andRussia in Europe.[128][129][130]
| State | National party | European party | MEPs[131] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Belgium | New Flemish Alliance Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA) | EFA | 3 / 22 | |
 Bulgaria | There is Such a People Има такъв народ (ITN) | ECR | 1 / 17 | |
 Croatia | Home and National Rally Dom i nacionalno okupljanje (DOMiNO) | ECR | 1 / 12 | |
 Cyprus | National People's Front Εθνικό Λαϊκό Μέτωπο (ELAM) | ECR | 1 / 6 | |
 Czech Republic | Civic Democratic Party Občanská demokratická strana (ODS) | ECR | 3 / 21 | |
 Denmark | Denmark Democrats Danmarksdemokraterne (Æ) | None | 1 / 15 | |
 Estonia | Estonian Centre Party[a] Eesti Keskerakond (KE) | None | 1 / 7 | |
 Finland | Finns Party Perussuomalaiset (PS) | None | 1 / 15 | |
 France | Identity–Liberties Identité-Libertés (IDL) | ECR | 4 / 81 | |
 Greece | Greek Solution Ελληνική Λύση (ΕΛ) | None | 2 / 21 | |
 Italy | Brothers of Italy Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) | ECR | 24 / 76 | |
 Latvia | National Alliance Nacionālā Apvienība (NA) | ECR | 2 / 9 | |
| United List Apvienotais saraksts (AS) | None | 1 / 9 | ||
 Lithuania | Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija – Krikščioniškų šeimų sąjunga (LLRA–KŠS) Akcja Wyborcza Polaków na Litwie – Związek Chrześcijańskich Rodzin (AWPL–ZCHR) | ECR | 1 / 11 | |
| Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga (LVŽS) | ECR | 1 / 11 | ||
 Netherlands | Reformed Political Party Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP) | ECPP | 1 / 31 | |
 Poland | Law and Justice Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (PiS) | ECR | 20 / 53 | |
 Romania | Alliance for the Union of Romanians Alianța pentru Unirea Românilor (AUR) | ECR | 3 / 33 | |
| Conservative Action Acțiunea Conservatoare (ACT) | None | 2 / 33 | ||
| Romanian National Conservative Party Partidul Național Conservator Român (PNCR) | ECPP | 1 / 33 | ||
 Spain | Independent Diego Solier[b] | None | 1 / 61 | |
| Independent Nora Junco[c] | None | 1 / 61 | ||
 Sweden | Sweden Democrats Sverigedemokraterna (SD) | ECR | 3 / 21 | |
 European Union | Total | 79 / 720 | ||
| State | National party | European party | MEPs[132] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | New Flemish Alliance Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA) | EFA | 3 / 21 | |
| Bulgaria | IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement ВМРО – Българско Национално Движение (ВМРО – БНД) | ECR | 2 / 17 | |
| Croatia | Croatian Sovereignists Hrvatski Suverenisti (HS) | ECR | 1 / 12 | |
| Czech Republic | Civic Democratic Party Občanská demokratická strana (ODS) | ECR | 4 / 21 | |
| Finland | Finns Party Perussuomalaiset (PS) | None | 2 / 14 | |
| France | Reconquest Reconquête! (R!) | None | 1 / 79 | |
 Germany | Alliance Germany Bündnis Deutschland (BD) | None | 1 / 96 | |
| Greece | Greek Solution Ελληνική Λύση (ΕΛ) | None | 1 / 21 | |
| Italy | Brothers of Italy Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) | ECR | 10 / 76 | |
| Latvia | National Alliance Nacionālā Apvienība (NA) | ECR | 2 / 8 | |
| Lithuania | Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija – Krikščioniškų šeimų sąjunga (LLRA–KŠS) Akcja Wyborcza Polaków na Litwie – Związek Chrześcijańskich Rodzin (AWPL–ZCHR) | ECR | 1 / 11 | |
| Netherlands | JA21 JA21 | None | 3 / 29 | |
| Reformed Political Party Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP) | ECPM | 1 / 29 | ||
| More Direct Democracy Meer Directe Democratie (MDD) | None | 1 / 29 | ||
| Poland | Law and Justice Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (PiS) | ECR | 25 / 52 | |
| Sovereign Poland Suwerenna Polska (SP) | None | 2 / 52 | ||
| Romania | Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party Partidul Național Țărănesc Creștin Democrat (PNȚ-CD) | ECPM | 1 / 33 | |
 Slovakia | Freedom and Solidarity Sloboda a Solidarita (SaS) | ECR | 1 / 14 | |
| Spain | Vox Vox | ECR | 4 / 59 | |
| Sweden | Sweden Democrats Sverigedemokraterna (SD) | ECR | 3 / 21 | |
| European Union | Total | 69 / 705 | ||
| Country | National party | European party | MEPs | Date joined | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | New Flemish Alliance Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie(N-VA) | EFA | 4 / 21 | 18 June 2014 | |
| Bulgaria | Bulgarian National Movement ВМРО – Българско Национално Движение(IMRO-BNM) | None | 1 / 17 | 24 June 2014 | |
| Reload Bulgaria Презареди България(BG) | ACRE | 1 / 17 | 12 June 2014 | ||
| Croatia | Croatian Conservative Party Hrvatska konzervativna stranka(HKS) | ACRE | 1 / 12 | 1 July 2013 | |
| Cyprus | Solidarity Movement Κίνημα Αλληλεγγύη(KA) | ACRE | 1 / 6 | 8 March 2016 | |
| Czech Republic | Civic Democratic Party Občanská demokratická strana(ODS) | ACRE | 2 / 21 | 22 June 2009 | |
| Denmark | Danish People's Party Dansk Folkeparti(DF) | EAPN | 3 / 13 | 4 June 2014 | |
| Finland | Finns Party Perussuomalaiset (PS) | EAPN | 2 / 13 | 4 June 2014 | |
| Germany | Liberal Conservative Reformers[d] Liberal-Konservative Reformer(LKR) | ACRE | 4 / 96 | 12 June 2014 | |
| Alliance C Bündnis C(AUF & PBC) | ECPM | 1 / 96 | 4 June 2014 | ||
| Independent[e] | Independent | 1 / 96 | 29 September 2018 | ||
| Greece | Independent[f] | Independent | 1 / 21 | 4 June 2014 | |
| Italy | Brothers of Italy Fratelli d'Italia(FdI) | ACRE | 2 / 73 | 17 December 2018 | |
| Direction Italy Direzione Italia(DI) | ACRE | 2 / 73 | 19 May 2015 | ||
| Latvia | National Alliance Nacionālā Apvienība(NA) | ACRE | 1 / 8 | 22 June 2009 | |
| Lithuania | Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania[g] Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija(LLRA–KŠS) | ACRE | 1 / 11 | 23 June 2009 | |
| Netherlands | Christian Union ChristenUnie(CU) | ECPM | 1 / 26 | 22 June 2009 | |
| Reformed Political Party Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij(SGP) | ECPM | 1 / 26 | 16 June 2014 | ||
| Poland | Law and Justice Prawo i Sprawiedliwość(PiS) | ACRE | 14 / 51 | 22 June 2009 | |
| Right Wing of the Republic Prawica Rzeczypospolitej (PR) | ECPM | 1 / 51 | 1 July 2014 | ||
| Independent[h] | Independent | 4 / 51 | 1 July 2014 | ||
| Romania | M10 | ACRE | 1 / 32 | 27 October 2015 | |
| Slovakia | Freedom and Solidarity Sloboda a Solidarita(SaS) | ACRE | 1 / 13 | 8 October 2014 | |
| New Majority NOVA | ACRE | 1 / 13 | 4 June 2014 | ||
| Ordinary People Obyčajní Ľudia a nezávislé osobnosti (OĽaNO) | ECPM | 1 / 13 | 4 June 2014 | ||
| Sweden | Sweden Democrats Sverigedemokraterna(SD) | None | 2 / 20 | 3 July 2018 | |
 United Kingdom | Conservative Party Conservative and Unionist Party(Con) | ACRE | 8 / 73 | 22 June 2009 | |
| Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) | ACRE | 1 / 73 | 22 June 2009 | ||
| European Union | Total | 63 / 751 | |||
| Chairperson | Took office | Left office | Country (Constituency) | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Kirkhope |  | 24 June 2009 | 14 July 2009 | United Kingdom (Yorkshire and the Humber) |  Conservative |
| Michał Kamiński |  | 14 July 2009 | 8 March 2011 | Poland (Warsaw) | Law and Justice then Poland Comes First |
| Jan Zahradil |  | 8 March 2011 | 14 December 2011 | Czech Republic |  Civic Democratic Party |
| Martin Callanan |  | 14 December 2011 | 12 June 2014 | United Kingdom (North East England) | Conservative |
| Syed Kamall | .jpg) | 12 June 2014 | 2 July 2019 | United Kingdom (London) | Conservative |
| Raffaele Fitto* | .jpg) | 2 July 2019 | 12 October 2022 | Italy (Southern) | Brothers of Italy |
| Ryszard Legutko* | _(cropped).jpg) | 2 July 2019 | 3 July 2024 | Poland (Lesser Poland and Świętokrzyskie) | Law and Justice |
| Nicola Procaccini* |  | 14 February | present | Italy (Southern) | Brothers of Italy |
| Joachim Brudziński* | .jpg) | 3 July 2024 | present | Poland (Lubusz and West Pomeranian) | Law and Justice |
As of 12 July 2024:[133]
| Position | Name | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Co-President | Joachim Brudziński | Law and Justice |
| Co-President | Nicola Procaccini | Brothers of Italy |
| Vice-President | Assita Kanko | New Flemish Alliance |
| Vice-President | Charlie Weimers | Swedish Democrats |
| Vice-President | Alexandr Vondra | Civic Democratic Party |
| Co-Treasurer | Kosma Złotowski | Law and Justice |
| Co-Treasurer | Denis Nesci | Brothers of Italy |
According to calculations byVote Watch Europe, the ECR group had a cohesion rate of 86.65% in parliamentary votes during the 7th session (2009–14). This is slightly lower than in the four pro-European groups, but higher than in theEuropean United Left–Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) and far higher than in theEurope of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) groups. Internal cohesion was highest in votes on constitutional and inter-institutional affairs (94.79%), international trade, and industry, research & energy. The greatest divergence within the group was in decisions on regional development (70.53% cohesion), agriculture, and development (cooperation).[134] The parties that were most loyal to the group (meaning that they voted with the majority of ECR members the most often) were the UK Conservatives (97.51%), the Ulster Unionist Party and the Czech Civic Democratic Party. The members who deviated from the ECR majority the most often were the individual MEPs Andreasen from the UK (who had switched over from EFD group only in 2013; 61.20% loyalty), Muscardini from Italy, and Rosbach (who had crossed over from EFD in 2011).[135]
Von der Leyen says in her letters that she hopes the "snapshot" on her positions, some of which are retreads of previous proposals from the commission, will reassure her critics, although there is a risk of putting off MEPs within the more Eurosceptic andrightwing European Conservatives and Reformists group, in which Poland's Law and Justice is the largest party.
Theright-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), will decide just ahead of the vote whether to support von der Leyen, but officials say the group is divided over the issue.
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