Slovenian European Parliament member Zala Tomašič has been elected vice-president of the women’s wing of the European People’s Party – the largest European political party.
The EPP Women Congress (European People’s Party – Women) was held this December 2025 in Brussels, specifically on 5 and 6 December. This is the annual gathering of the women’s wing of the largest European political group, the EPP, which focuses on strengthening the position of women in politics, promoting gender equality, and addressing key European issues.
This year’s congress was dedicated to the theme “How Can Europe Regain Its Independence?”, with an emphasis on security, innovation, and economic competitiveness. A key part of the congress was the election of the organisation’s new leadership. Mariya Gabriel, a prominent Bulgarian politician and former European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, and Education, was elected as the new president by a large majority. Gabriel, who had previously served as vice-president of EPP Women (since 2012), has significantly influenced areas such as the digital economy and Mediterranean relations in her past roles (including as vice-president of the EPP Group in the European Parliament). Her election was welcomed as a step towards greater inclusion of women in European decision-making, particularly in the context of the fight for equality and the protection of democracy.
Interests of Slovenian Women to Be Represented by Zala Tomašič
Zala Tomašič, a Slovenian MEP from the ranks of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), was also elected among the vice-presidents. Tomašič, who has been active in the European Parliament since 2024, described her election as “an immense honour and gratitude”, as it allows her to represent the interests of Slovenian women even more strongly at the European level.Her role will be important for promoting topics such as security, economic independence, and women’s rights in the region.
The congress also reviewed the report on EPP Women’s activities for the period 2022–2025 under the leadership of the previous president, Rozália Biró, who congratulated the new leadership at the end and highlighted achievements in the fight against violence against women and support for Ukrainian women. The event took place in the European Parliament and brought together representatives from all EPP member parties, including delegations from Slovenia, which supported Tomašič’s candidacy through the SDS Women’s Committee. This election is an important step for Slovenia, as it strengthens our country’s influence in European centre-right politics and opens doors for greater emphasis on national priorities, such as economic security and family policy.
C. Š.
