Full Members, Associate Members, Observer Members

The EPP currently has 75 full, associate, and observer member-parties in 39 EU and non-EU countries.

Full (ordinary) member-parties are from EU member-states and have full rights in all the organs and activities of the EPP.
Associate members are usually from EU candidate countries or EFTA members, have similar rights to Full members but they do not participate in decisions involving the policies and structure of the European Union nor of its institutional system. If in a country which the Associate member-party is based becomes a member of the European Union, this party automatically becomes a Full member-party as from the date of the country’s adherence to the European Union.
Observer member-parties are usually from countries that are members of the Council of Europe, and participate in the activities of the EPP without voting rights.

Requests for membership are submitted to the Presidency and must include a statement on the adoption of the Political programme and by-laws and internal regulations of the EPP, in addition to a copy of the by-laws of the applicant party and information on the background and organization of the applicant. The Presidency will transmit the application to the Working Group on Membership which, in turn, sends its recommendation to the Political Assembly. For any national centre-right party to be considered for EPP membership it must, among others, adhere to the principles and values of the EPP and be a viable political force in its country. When a party is accepted as a member in the EPP, its elected representatives must join the EPP Group in the European Parliament, the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions  and - for Associate and Observer Members - the EPP Groups in the Council of Europe, the OSCE, NATO, etc.
 
Individual Members

All members of the EPP Group in the European Parliament elected on a list of a member party are also members ex officio of the EPP (hereinafter referred to as “Individual Members”). Other members of the European Parliament can become Individual Members of the association by decision of the Political Assembly on the proposal of the Presidency.

Supporting Members

According to Article XV of EPP’s Internal Regulations, the Presidency may also grant the title of ‘Supporting Member’ to persons or associations. Although they do not enjoy the same rights as the members, they can be invited by the President to attend meetings of certain organs or bodies of the EPP.