European Conservatives and Reformists Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | ECR Party ECR |
| President | Mateusz Morawiecki (PL) |
| Secretary-General | Antonio Giordano (IT) |
| Founded | 1 October 2009; 16 years ago (2009-10-01) |
| Split from | European People's Party Union for Europe of the Nations |
| Preceded by | Movement for European Reform[1] |
| Headquarters | Rue du Trône 4, 1000Brussels,Belgium |
| Think tank | New Direction |
| Youth wing | European Young Conservatives |
| Membership(26 January 2025) | 18 |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Right-wing[13] tofar-right[17] |
| European Parliament group | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| International affiliation | International Democracy Union |
| Colours | Blue |
| European Parliament | 68 / 720 |
| European Commission | 1 / 27 |
| European Council | 2 / 27 |
| European Lower Houses | 528 / 6,229 |
| European Upper Houses | 151 / 1,458 |
| Website | |
| ecrparty.eu | |
^ A: The party has historically also been described ascentre-right. However, following the global rise ofradical right politics after 2019, the inclusion of newfar-right parties led analysts to discontinue this classification.[18] | |
TheEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR Party or simplyECR), formerly known asAlliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR, 2009–2016) andAlliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE, 2016–2019), is aconservative,[19]soft Eurosceptic[20]European political party with a main focus on reforming theEuropean Union (EU) on the basis ofEurorealism,[21] as opposed to total rejection of the EU (anti-EU-ism).[22][23]
The political movement was founded on 1 October 2009,[24] after the creation of theEuropean Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)political group of the European Parliament. It was officially recognised by theEuropean Parliament in January 2010.
ECR Party is governed by a board of directors who are elected by the Council, which represents all ECR member parties.[25] The executive board is composed of the PresidentMateusz Morawiecki (Polish member of the Parliament and former Prime Minister of Poland), VicepresidentsCarlo Fidanza (Italian MEP),Marion Maréchal (French MEP) andGeorge Simion (Romanian member of the Parliament), and Secretary GeneralAntonio Giordano (Italian member of the Parliament).[26]
The party is affiliated with theEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament, the pan-European think tankNew Direction – The Foundation for European Reform, and the youth organisation theEuropean Young Conservatives. It is also formally associated with the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in theCommittee of the Regions, in theCongress of the Council of Europe, and in theNATO Parliamentary Assembly.[27] In theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the ECR Party forms theEuropean Conservatives Group and Democratic Alliance with theIdentity and Democracy Party.
The European Conservatives and Reformists Party was founded as theAlliance of European Conservatives and Reformists on 1 October 2009,[citation needed] after theECRpolitical group was founded in the wake of the2009 European Parliament election, and was officially recognised by the European Parliament in January 2010. Amongst ACRE's eight founding members, the largest were theUK Conservative Party, the PolishPiS and the CzechODS.
ECR Party was formally constituted under the chairmanship of Belgian MEPDerk Jan Eppink, who was succeeded by Czech MEPJan Zahradil. ACRE's first congress took place inWarsaw on 8 June 2010, attended by its founding members, including UK Conservative Party Chairman and Czech Prime MinisterMirek Topolanek. On 25 March 2011, theCivic Conservative Party from Slovakia joined; Iceland'sIndependence Party in November 2011 (the party's first member from outside the European Union); Georgia'sChristian-Democratic Movement in August 2012; Italy'sConservatives and Social Reformers in October 2012; theConservative Party of Canada became the ACRE's first associate member (later renamed 'regional partners') in November 2012;Turkey's rulingJustice and Development Party in November 2013; and theFaroe Islands'People's Party, andRomania'sNew Republic; and in July 2014,Prosperous Armenia.[28] TheConservative Party of Georgia andNew Majority joined on 1 November 2014. At the same time, the ACRE formally affiliated to theEuropean Conservatives Group in theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.[29] In November 2015, theConservatives and Reformists of Italy were admitted as ECR Party members,[30] followed by theAlliance for Progress and Renewal (ALFA) of Germany andM10 party of Romania in March 2016.[31] TheLiberal Party of Australia,Istiqlal Party of Morocco,National Party of New Zealand, andRepublican Party of the United States joined as further regional partners in 2014, followed byAfek Tounes andLikud Movement in 2015 and 2016.
TheAlliance of European Conservatives and Reformists officially changed its name to theAlliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE) on 6 October 2016.[32]In December 2018, ACRE was ordered to repay more than half a million euros of EU funds, following an investigation into their spending. This included €250,000 for a three-day conference in Miami and €90,000 for a trade meeting inKampala. ACRE had previously been asked to return €121,000 given to theProsperous Armenia party.[33]
More recently, the ECR has seen a shift further towards the conservative right with the acceptance of theBrothers of Italy,Forum for Democracy,Vox, and theSweden Democrats as members in 2019.[34][35] On 11 April 2023, theFinns Party joined as the most recent member of theECR's European Parliament group.[36]
The ECR Party has had three Presidents:
| No. | Image | Name | Tenure | Party | Member state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | .jpg) | Jan Zahradil (born 1963) | 2009–2020 | Civic Democratic Party |  Czech Republic |
| 2 |  | Giorgia Meloni (born 1977) | 2020–2025 | Brothers of Italy |  Italy |
| 3 | .jpg) | Mateusz Morawiecki (born 1968) | 2025–present | Law and Justice |  Poland |
| Country | Party name | Abbr. | Legislature lower house seats | Legislature upper house Seats | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bulgaria | There is Such a People Има такъв народ Ima takav narod | ITN | 18 / 240 | Government | |
| IMRO – Bulgarian National Movement ВМРО – Българско Национално Движение VMRO – Balgarsko Natsionalno Dvizhenie | VMRO | 0 / 240 | Extra-parliamentary | ||
 Cyprus | National Popular Front Εθνικό Λαϊκό Μέτωπο | ELAM | 3 / 56 | Opposition | |
 Croatia | Croatian Sovereignists Hrvatski suverenisti | HS | 1 / 151 | Opposition | |
| Home and National Rally Dom i nacionalno okupljanje | DOMiNO | 3 / 151 | Opposition | ||
| The Bridge Most | Most | 7 / 151 | Opposition | ||
| Czech Republic | Civic Democratic Party Občanská demokratická strana | ODS | 34 / 200 | 23 / 81 | Government |
 France | Identity–Liberties Identité-Libertés | IDL | 3 / 577 | 0 / 348 | Opposition |
 Germany | We Citizens Wir Bürger | WB | 0 / 735 | 0 / 69 | Extra-parliamentary |
| Italy | Brothers of Italy Fratelli d'Italia | FdI | 118 / 400 | 66 / 200 | Government |
 Latvia | National Alliance Nacionālā apvienība | NA | 13 / 100 | Opposition | |
 Lithuania | Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union Lietuvos valstiečių ir žaliųjų sąjunga | LVŽS | 8 / 141 | Opposition | |
| Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance Lietuvos lenkų rinkimų akcija – Krikščioniškų šeimų sąjunga | LLRA–KŠS | 3 / 141 | Opposition | ||
 Luxembourg | Alternative Democratic Reform Party Alternativ Demokratesch Reformpartei Parti réformiste d'alternative démocratique Alternative Demokratische Reformpartei | ADR | 5 / 60 | Opposition | |
| Poland | Law and Justice Prawo i Sprawiedliwość | PiS | 190 / 460 | 34 / 100 | Opposition |
 Romania | Alliance for the Union of Romanians Alianța pentru Unirea Românilor | AUR | 63 / 331 | 28 / 134 | Opposition |
| The Right Alternative Alternativa Dreaptă | AD | 3 / 330 | 1 / 136 | Opposition | |
 Slovakia | Freedom and Solidarity Sloboda a Solidarita | SaS | 19 / 150 | Opposition | |
 Sweden | Sweden Democrats Sverigedemokraterna | SD | 73 / 349 | Confidence and supply | |
| Country | Party name | Abbr. | Legislature lower house seats | Legislature upper house Seats | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | Republican Party of Albania | PR | 2 / 140 | Opposition | |
 Belarus | BPF Party | BPF | 0 / 110 | 0 / 64 | Banned |
 Israel | Likud – National Liberal Movement | Likud | 32 / 120 | Government | |
 San Marino | Domani Motus Liberi | DML | 5 / 60 | Opposition | |
 United States | Republican Party | GOP | 220 / 435 | 53 / 100 | Government |
Armenia:Prosperous Armenia (until 2022)
Azerbaijan:Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (until 2022)
Belgium:Libertarian, Direct, Democratic (2010–14)Bulgaria:Order, Law and Justice (c. 2009)Bulgaria:Reload Bulgaria (until 2019)Croatia:Croatian Conservative Party (until 2021, dissolved)
Faroe Islands:People's Party (until 2022)
Finland:Blue Reform (until 2022)France:France Arise (2019–20)
Georgia:Conservative Party of Georgia (2014–22)
Hungary:Hungarian Democratic Forum (2009–11)
Iceland:Independence Party (2011–2021)Italy:Conservatives and Social Reformers (2012–14)Italy:Conservatives and Reformists (2015–2017)Italy:Direction Italy (2017–2022; merged into fellow ECR memberBrothers of Italy in 2019)
Kosovo:Democratic Party of Kosovo (until 2022)Latvia:For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (2009–11; merged in 2011 intoNational Alliance, which became a member in 2014)
Moldova:Șor Party (2018–22)
Morocco:Istiqlal Party (2014–18)
Montenegro:Movement for Changes (until 2022)
Netherlands:Forum for Democracy (until 2020)Netherlands:JA21 (until 2023)
Northern Cyprus:National Unity Party (until 2022)Poland:Poland Comes First (2010–13; dissolved)Romania:New Republic (2013–18)Slovakia:Civic Conservative Party (2009–22)Slovakia:New Majority (until 2021)
Spain:Vox (2019–2024)
Turkey:Justice and Development Party (2013–18)
United Kingdom:Conservative Party (2009–21)
Australia:Liberal Party (until 2022)
Canada:Conservative Party (until 2022)
Colombia:Democratic Centre (until 2022)
Kenya:Jubilee Party (until 2022)
Maldives:Progressive Party of Maldives (until 2022)
New Zealand:National Party (until 2022)
North Macedonia:VMRO – People's Party (until 2025)
Serbia:Enough is Enough (until 2025)
Tanzania:Chadema (until 2022)
Tunisia:Afek Tounes (until 2019)United Kingdom (Northern Ireland):Ulster Unionist Party (until 2025)The ECR also includes a number of individual members, although, as most other European parties, it has not sought to develop mass individual membership.[37]
Below is the evolution of individual membership of the ECR since 2019.[38]
As a registered European political party, the ECR is entitled toEuropean public funding, which it has received continuously since its first application in 2010.[39]
Below is the evolution of European public funding received by the ECR.
In line with the Regulation on European political parties and European political foundations, the ECR also raisesprivate 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.[a]
Below is the evolution of contributions and donations received by the ECR.[40][41]
| Organisation | Institution | Number of seats |
|---|---|---|
 European Union | European Parliament | 68 / 720 (9%) [42] |
| European Commission | 1 / 27 (4%) [43] | |
| European Council (Heads of Government) | 2 / 27 (7%) [44] | |
| Council of the European Union (Participation in Government) | ||
| Committee of the Regions | 26 / 329 (8%) [45] | |
| Council of Europe (as part of ECPA) | Parliamentary Assembly | 101 / 612 (17%) [46] |
| Member State | Title | Representative | Political party | Member of the Council since | Portrait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Republic | Prime Minister | Petr Fiala | ODS | 17 December 2021 | .jpg) |
| Italy | Prime Minister | Giorgia Meloni | FdI | 22 October 2022 | .jpg) |
| Member State | Portfolio | European Commissioner | Political party | Portrait |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms | Raffaele Fitto | FdI | .jpg) |
The ACRE is formally affiliated to groupings in theEuropean Parliament and theCommittee of the Regions of the European Union, theCongress of the Council of Europe and theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and theNATO Parliamentary Assembly.
The ECR group is the sixth-largest group in the European Parliament. Founded in 2009, the ECR brings together 64 MEPs from 15 countries.[47] The ECR currently is led by two co-chairmen,Ryszard Legutko of the PolishLaw and Justice party and Nicola Procaccini of theBrothers of Italy party.[48]
In the current European Commission, the ECR has one Commissioner.
| Portfolio | Commissioner | State | Political party | Photo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vice-President; European Commissioner for Cohesion Policy, Regional Development, and Cities | Raffaele Fitto | FdI | | ||
Of the 27 heads of state and government that are members of theEuropean Council, two are from the ECR.
| Member State | Representative | Title | Political party | Member of the Council since | Photo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Republic | Petr Fiala |  Prime Minister | ODS | 17 December 2021 | | |
| Italy | Giorgia Meloni |  Prime Minister | FdI | 22 October 2022 | | |
Through its global partners, the ECR has two heads of state or government in non-EU countries.
| Member State | Representative | Title | Political party | In power since | Photo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Israel | Benjamin Netanyahu |  Prime Minister | Likud | 29 December 2022 | .jpg) | |
| United States | Donald Trump |  President | Republican Party | 20 January 2025 | .jpg) | |
Following the creation of the ECR Group in the European Parliament in 2009, and the creation of the ACRE in 2010, the ECR Group in the Committee of the Regions was formed on 10 April 2013 under the leadership of Gordon Keymer CBE and with the support of the ACRE. The Group was officially announced during the 11–12 April 100th Committee of the Regions plenary session.
The ECR Group was the first Group to be formed in the Committee of the Regions during the course of a mandate and was the first ECR Group to be formed outside of the European Parliament.
The President of the Group is Cllr. Gordon Keymer CBE (Leader of Tandridge District Council) and the Vice-Presidents are Dan Jiránek (Mayor of Kladno) and Daiva Matonienė (Deputy Mayor of Šiauliai City Council). Adam Banaszak (Member of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie regional assembly), Cllr. Kay Twitchen OBE (Member of Essex County Council) and Cllr. Judith Pearce (Deputy Leader of Wychavon District Council and Executive board member for Planning, Infrastructure and Housing).
| Country | Party name | Members | Other affiliations | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full | Affiliate | European party | EU Parliament | International | ||
| Czech Republic | Civic Democratic Party | 3 | 1 | ACRE | ECR | IDU |
 Denmark | Danish People's Party | 0 | 2 | MELD | ECR | None |
| Finland | Finns Party | 1 | 1 | ACRE | ECR | None |
| Lithuania | Independent | 1 | 3 | None | None | None |
| Netherlands | Christian Union | 1 | 1 | ECPM | ECR | None |
| Poland | Law and Justice | 1 | 4 | ACRE | ECR | None |
| Slovakia | Independent politician | 1 | 0 | None | None | None |
| United Kingdom | Conservative Party | 7 | 8 | ACRE | None | IDU |
| United Kingdom | Ulster Unionist Party | 0 | 1 | ACRE | None | IDU |
TheEuropean Conservatives Group in the European Parliament, founded in 1970 and existing for most of its history as the 'European Democrat Group' became officially affiliated to the ACRE on 29 September 2014. The EC group is led by Samad Seyidov MP, of the New Azerbaijan Party.
As of 23 October 2014, the European Conservatives have the following members:[49]
| Country | Party name | Members | Other affiliations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European party | EU Parliament | International | |||||
| Armenia | Prosperous Armenia | 2 | ACRE | N/A | None | ||
| Armenia | Republican Party of Armenia[A] | 1 | None | N/A | None | ||
| Azerbaijan | New Azerbaijan Party | 4 | None | N/A | None | ||
| Azerbaijan | Independent | 1 | None | N/A | None | ||
| Czech Republic | Civic Democratic Party | 2 | ACRE | ECR | IDU | ||
| Denmark | Danish People's Party | 1 | None | ECR | None | ||
 Greece | Independent Greeks | 1 | None | ECR | None | ||
 Norway | Progress Party | 2 | None | N/A | None | ||
| Poland | Law and Justice | 7 | ECRP | ECR | None | ||
| Poland | United Poland | 1 | MELD | No MEPs | None | ||
| Turkey | Justice and Development Party[B] | 13 | ACRE | N/A | None | ||
| Turkey | Nationalist Movement Party[C] | 1 | None | N/A | None | ||
 Ukraine | Party of Regions[D] | 4 | None | N/A | None | ||
| Ukraine | Sovereign European Ukraine | 1 | None | N/A | None | ||
| Ukraine | Independent | 1 | None | N/A | None | ||
| United Kingdom | Conservative Party | 17 | ACRE | N/A | IDU | ||
| United Kingdom | Democratic Unionist Party | 1 | None | N/A | None | ||
| ^A One of the three members of the Republican Party of Armenia sit with the EC Group. The other two members sit with theEuropean People's Party. ^B Eleven of the thirteen members of the Justice and Development Party sit with the EC Group. One sits with theEuropean People's Party and one sits with theAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. ^C One of the two members of the Nationalist Movement Party sits with the EC Group. The other member sits with theSocialist Group. ^D Four of the seven members of Party of Regions sit with the EC Group. Two sit with theSocialist Group and one sits with theAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. | |||||||
The ECR group in theCongress of the Council of Europe brings together representatives in local government from across Europe. It has 31 members, 26 of whom represent parties in the ECRP.
| Country | Party name | Members | Other affiliations | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European party | EU Parliament | International | |||
| Armenia | Prosperous Armenia | 1 | ACRE | N/A | None |
| Czech Republic | Civic Democratic Party | 3 | ACRE | ECR | IDU |
| Czech Republic | Independent | 2 | None | N/A | None |
| Denmark | Danish People's Party | 1 | None | ECR | None |
| Norway | Progress Party | 2 | None | N/A | None |
| Poland | Law and Justice | 1 | ACRE | ECR | None |
| Poland | Independent | 1 | None | N/A | None |
| Turkey | Nationalist Movement Party | 5 | None | N/A | None |
| Ukraine | People's Party | 1 | None | N/A | None |
| United Kingdom | Conservative Party | 11 | ACRE | ECR | IDU |
| United Kingdom | Ulster Unionist Party | 1 | ACRE | ECR | None |
TheEuropean Young Conservatives (EYC) is the party's youth wing. It brings together youth wings of conservative political parties from across Europe. As of 2020, the group had a membership of 30 political youth organisations from 30 countries and territories. Its patron was Margaret Thatcher until her death in 2013.
ECRP adopted the Reykjavík Declaration at its Council Meeting on 21 March 2014. The declaration defines the principles that underpin ECR.[50]
The Reykjavík Declaration
European Parliament
| Year | Lead Candidate | Seats % | Seats | Status | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | None | 9.2 (#3) | 66 / 720 [b] | Opposition | [51][52] | |
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.
"The ECR group is centre-right to right-wing and a Euroskeptic party.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of August 2025 (link)
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