In this compelling introduction, Klaus Welle recounts how the European People’s Party (EPP) was transformed from a fragmented, underfunded political force into the leading party of the European Parliament. When Welle took over as secretary general in 1994, the EPP was reeling from successive electoral defeats and internal divisions. He outlines his strategic vision to broaden the EPP’s base by integrating conservative and liberal traditions, shifting from ideological rigidity to programmatic alignment. The chapter details key turning points—including the recruitment of Forza Italia and France’s RPR, the consolidation of affiliated organisations, and the merger of the European Union of Christian Democrats and European Democrat Union into the EPP—as well as institutional innovations that empowered party leadership. Combining personal anecdotes with political analysis, Welle demonstrates how the strategy of ‘merger and acquisitions’ secured six consecutive election victories and lasting dominance in European politics.