Union for Europe

The Union for Europe (UFE) was a conservative political group that operated in the European Parliament from 1995 to 1999. At its height in May 1999, it had 34 MEPs and it only existed during the European Parliament's 4th term.^[4]

Union for Europe
European Parliament group
Name	Union for Europe
English abbr.	UFE
French abbr.	UPE
Formal name	Group Union for Europe[1]
Ideology	Conservatism[2][3]
Political position	Centre-right
From	6 July 1995
To	20 July 1999
Preceded by	Forza Europa European Democratic Alliance
Succeeded by	Union for Europe of the Nations
Chaired by	Jean-Claude Pasty Giancarlo Ligabue (1995–96) Claudio Azzolini (1996–98)
MEP(s)	34 (5 May 1999)

UFE was formed as a merger of two political groups, the European Democratic Alliance and Forza Europa.^[5][6] Its members were the Forza Italia (FI) of Silvio Berlusconi, French Rally for the Republic (RPR), Irish Fianna Fáil, Portuguese CDS – People's Party, and Greek Political Spring. After the 1999 European Parliament election, UFE expanded into the Union for Europe of the Nations group.^[7] However, parties such as FI and RPR opted to join the European People's Party.^[5]

Members

Country	Name			Ideology	MEPs
Italy		Forza Italia	FI	Liberal conservatism Populism	25 / 87
France		Rally for the Republic	RPR	Gaullism Liberal conservatism	14 / 87
Ireland		Fianna Fáil	FF	Irish republicanism Conservatism	7 / 15
Portugal		CDS – People's Party	CDS–PP	Christian democracy Right-wing populism	3 / 25
Greece		Political Spring	PA	National conservatism Populism	2 / 25