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"We need a European Union with a heart and with a soul. We want a European Union that listens and understands. We want a European Union that decides and acts for the benefit of all its citizens, wherever they live and work, wherever they are coming from" the EPP Summit of regional and local politicians concluded in its Poznan manifesto on 25 April. Just one month ahead of the European Parliament elections, more than 700 local and regional EPP leaders from around Europe gathered in the Polish city of Poznań to share policies for boosting jobs and growth in the EU. During the unprecedented event, Jean-Claude Juncker, EPP candidate for President of the European Commission, pledged to promote the involvement of local and regional authorities in EU decision making during the next EU mandate and to fight for a strong role for the Committee of the Regions with the EPP Group: "I am very happy to be in Poland today and to meet with the EPP group in the Committee of the Regions" he said. "You have brought Brussels closer to the people and you have put the people at the centre of our decision making. As President of the Commission, I will promote regional and local authorities' involvement in decision making… Europe needs to be big on big issues – such as the economic crisis, or the worrying situation in Ukraine – and small on small issues, which can be better dealt with by regional and local authorities." Through its election manifesto, the EPP aims to combine solidarity with solidity and sustainability. Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, added that Europe must emerge stronger from the crisis and, as demonstrated by recent events in the Ukraine, it must guarantee solidarity whilst becoming more independent in terms of energy. Host of the Summit, Marek Woźniak, Marshal of Wielkopolska underlined the benefits that regional policy can bring to EU regions. "Polish regions are great examples of successful EU cohesion policy" he said. "Over the past 10 years we have taken a large stride forward. This proves that both Poland and Europe are capable of efficient management of the EU funds." The EPP believes that growth is created by private companies, by SMEs, by family businesses, by entrepreneurs in the regions and cities of Europe. As President of the EPP Group in the CoR, Michael Schneider, recalled, "Europe's economic recovery and job creation cannot be reached without a strong role for sub-national authorities. By meeting just before the European Elections in Poznan for this Summit, the EPP is giving a strong message: we believe that local and regional authorities represent added value in European integration." The event was part of the official EPP election campaign and was co-organised by the European People’s Party, the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions and Platforma Obywatelska. Other speakers included Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Vice-President of the EPP, Janusz Lewandowski, PO candidate for the European elections, Reiner Haseloff, Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt,  Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos, Secretary General of Ministry of Interior, Greek Government; Member of the Board of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece, Jan Olbrycht, MEP, Committee on Regional Development, Tadeusz Zwiefka, MEP, Valdis Dombrovskis, former Prime Minister of Latvia, Wilhelm Molterer, Vice-President of European Investment Bank and Markku Markkula, Chair of City Planning Board, Espoo, Finland. Poznań Manifesto