In the conclusion, Klaus Welle reflects on the EPP’s strategic rise over three decades—from a fragmented centre–right to the EU’s dominant political force—and outlines the challenges that now threaten this legacy. Drawing on his experience shaping the EPP’s electoral and institutional successes alongside leaders such as Helmut Kohl and Wilfried Martens, Welle assesses the opportunities presented by the 2024 elections, while warning against complacency. He identifies the rise of populism as a systemic threat rooted in economic stagnation, social insecurity and cultural backlash, and argues that the EPP must both defend democratic values and deliver tangible results for citizens. His call to action: strengthen competitiveness, manage migration, engage the economically vulnerable and remain open to partnerships with the constructive right. Only through pragmatic leadership and inclusive politics, Welle concludes, can the EPP preserve Europe’s democratic centre and shape its future.