# Renew Europe

Renew Europe (or simply Renew) is a liberal, centrist, pro-European political group of the European Parliament founded for the ninth European Parliament term. The group is the successor to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group which existed during the sixth, seventh and eighth terms from 2004 to 2019, and under a variety of other names in earlier Parliaments. Renew Europe in the European Committee of the Regions is the sister group of Renew Europe.

## History

In May 2019, speaking at a debate leading up to the 2019 European Parliament election, Guy Verhofstadt, president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group, announced that, following the election, the ALDE Group intended to dissolve and form a new alliance with French President Emmanuel Macron's "Renaissance" electoral list. During and following the European elections, the group temporarily styled itself "ALDE plus Renaissance plus USR PLUS".
The new group announced the adoption of its name on 12 June 2019 after it formed an alliance with La République En Marche!. En Marche wanted to avoid the word liberal in the name, though the group continues to also be referred to as the Liberal Group outside of France.
On 19 June 2019, it was announced that Dacian Cioloș, former Prime Minister of Romania and European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, had been chosen as the group's inaugural chairman, defeating Sophie in 't Veld by 64 votes to 42 and thus becoming the first Romanian to become the leader of a European Parliamentary group. In October 2021, Cioloș resigned to return to domestic politics in Romania.
Following the resignation of Dacian Cioloş, Stéphane Séjourné announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament and, as he ran unopposed, he was elected by acclamation on 19 October 2021. On 11 January 2024, Séjourné was appointed minister of Europe and foreign affairs in Gabriel Attal's government and therefore resigned from his position as chair of the Renew group.
On 25 January 2024, Valérie Hayer from French Renaissance party was elected by acclamation as leader of Renew Europe parliament group, as she ran unopposed.
In March 2024, 'New Europeans' was founded as an association under French law, bringing together Macron's Renaissance party and other French, Romanian, Slovenian, Polish and Danish parties that are inside Renew Europe, but that are not affiliated with a European party (ALDE or EDP), for a total of 22 MEPs.
Renew Europe presented three lead candidates for the 2024 European Parliament election, one for each of the three factions that form the joint group: ALDE (Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann), EDP (Sandro Gozi) and L'Europe Ensemble (Valérie Hayer).

## MEPs
### 10th European Parliament

| State | National party | European party | European party | MEPs |
| Austria | NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum NEOS – Das Neue Österreich und Liberales Forum (NEOS) | | ALDE | 2 / 20 |
| Belgium | Reformist Movement Mouvement Réformateur (MR) | | ALDE | 3 / 22 |
| Belgium | Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (Open VLD) | | ALDE | 1 / 22 |
| Belgium | The Committed Ones Les Engagés (LE) | | EDP | 1 / 22 |
| Bulgaria | Alliance for Rights and Freedoms Alians za prava i svobodi (APS) | | ALDE | 1 / 17 |
| Bulgaria | We Continue the Change Prodalzhavame promyanata (PP) | | None | 2 / 17 |
| Denmark | Venstre, Denmark's Liberal Party Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti (V) | | ALDE | 2 / 15 |
| Denmark | Danish Social Liberal Party Radikale Venstre (B) | | ALDE | 1 / 15 |
| Denmark | Moderates Moderaterne (M) | | None | 1 / 15 |
| Estonia | Estonian Reform Party Eesti Reformierakond (RE) | | ALDE | 1 / 7 |
| Estonia | Estonian Centre Party Eesti Keskerakond (K) | | None | 1 / 7 |
| Finland | Centre Party Suomen Keskusta (Kesk) Centern i Finland (Centern) | | ALDE | 2 / 15 |
| Finland | Swedish People's Party Svenska folkpartiet i Finland (SFP) Suomen ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (RKP) | | ALDE | 1 / 15 |
| France | Renaissance Renaissance (RE) | | None | 5 / 81 |
| France | Democratic Movement Mouvement démocrate (MoDem) | | EDP | 4 / 81 |
| France | Horizons Horizons | | None | 2 / 81 |
| France | Union of Democrats and Independents Union des démocrates et indépendants (UDI) | | ALDE | 1 / 81 |
| France | Independent Bernard Guetta | | Independent | 1 / 81 |
| Germany | Free Democratic Party Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP) | | ALDE | 5 / 96 |
| Germany | Free Voters Freie Wähler (FW) | | EDP | 3 / 96 |
| Ireland | Fianna Fáil (FF) | | ALDE | 4 / 14 |
| Ireland | Independent Ireland (II) | | EDP | 1 / 14 |
| Ireland | Independent Michael McNamara | | Independent | 1 / 14 |
| Latvia | For Latvia's Development Latvijas attīstībai (LA) | | ALDE | 1 / 9 |
| Lithuania | Liberals' Movement Lietuvos Respublikos Liberalų sąjūdis (LRLS) | | ALDE | 1 / 11 |
| Lithuania | Freedom Party Laisvės partija (LP) | | ALDE | 1 / 11 |
| Luxembourg | Democratic Party Demokratesch Partei (DP) Parti Démocratique (PD) Demokratische Partei (DP) | | ALDE | 1 / 6 |
| Netherlands | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD) | | ALDE | 4 / 31 |
| Netherlands | Democrats 66 Democraten 66 (D66) | | ALDE | 3 / 31 |
| Poland | Poland 2050 Polska 2050 (PL2050) | | None | 1 / 53 |
| Portugal | Liberal Initiative Iniciativa Liberal (IL) | | ALDE | 2 / 21 |
| Romania | Save Romania Union Uniunea Salvați România (USR) | | ALDE | 2 / 33 |
| Romania | People's Movement Party Partidul Mișcarea Populară (PMP) | | EPP | 1 / 33 |
| Slovakia | Progressive Slovakia Progresívne Slovensko (PS) | | ALDE | 6 / 15 |
| Slovenia | Freedom Movement Gibanje Svoboda (GS) | | None | 2 / 9 |
| Spain | Basque Nationalist Party Euzko Alderdi Jeltzalea (EAJ) Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV) Parti national basque (PNB) | | EDP | 1 / 61 |
| Sweden | Centre Party Centerpartiet (C) | | ALDE | 2 / 21 |
| Sweden | Liberals Liberalerna (L) | | ALDE | 1 / 21 |
| European Union | Total | Total | Total | 75 / 720 |

### 9th European Parliament

| State | National party | European party | European party | MEPs |
| Austria | NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum NEOS – Das Neue Österreich und Liberales Forum (NEOS) | | ALDE | 1 / 19 |
| Belgium | Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (Open VLD) | | ALDE | 2 / 21 |
| Belgium | Reformist Movement Mouvement Réformateur (MR) | | ALDE | 2 / 21 |
| Bulgaria | Movement for Rights and Freedoms Dviženie za prava i svobodi (DPS) Dvizhenie za prava i svobodi (DPS) | | ALDE | 3 / 17 |
| Croatia | Istrian Democratic Assembly Istarski demokratski sabor (IDS) | | ALDE | 1 / 12 |
| Czech Republic | ANO 2011 ANO 2011 (ANO) | | ALDE | 5 / 21 |
| Denmark | Venstre, Denmark's Liberal Party Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti (V) | | ALDE | 3 / 14 |
| Denmark | Danish Social Liberal Party Radikale Venstre (B) | | ALDE | 1 / 14 |
| Denmark | Moderates Moderaterne (M) | | None | 1 / 14 |
| Denmark | Independent Karen Melchior | | Independent | 1 / 14 |
| Estonia | Estonian Reform Party Eesti Reformierakond (RE) | | ALDE | 2 / 7 |
| Estonia | Estonian Centre Party Eesti Keskerakond (K) | | ALDE | 1 / 7 |
| Finland | Centre Party Suomen Keskusta (Kesk) Centern i Finland (Centern) | | ALDE | 2 / 14 |
| Finland | Swedish People's Party Svenska folkpartiet i Finland (SFP) Suomen ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (RKP) | | ALDE | 1 / 14 |
| France | Renaissance Renaissance (RE) | | None | 13 / 79 |
| France | Democratic Movement Mouvement démocrate (MoDem) | | EDP | 6 / 79 |
| France | Republican, Radical and Radical-Socialist Party Parti républicain, radical et radical-socialiste (PR) | | ALDE | 1 / 79 |
| France | Horizons Horizons | | None | 1 / 79 |
| France | Cap Ecology Cap écologie (CE) | | None | 1 / 79 |
| France | Independent Jérémy Decerle | | Independent | 1 / 79 |
| Germany | Free Democratic Party Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP) | | ALDE | 5 / 96 |
| Germany | Free Voters Freie Wähler (FW) | | EDP | 2 / 96 |
| Greece | Independent Giorgos Kyrtsos | | Independent | 1 / 21 |
| Hungary | Momentum Movement Momentum Mozgalom (Momentum) | | ALDE | 2 / 21 |
| Ireland | Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach (FF) | | ALDE | 2 / 13 |
| Italy | Action Azione | | ALDE | 2 / 76 |
| Italy | Italia Viva Italia Viva | | EDP | 1 / 76 |
| Italy | Independent Marco Zullo | | Independent | 1 / 76 |
| Latvia | Development/For! Attīstībai/Par! (AP!) | | ALDE | 1 / 8 |
| Lithuania | Liberals' Movement Lietuvos Respublikos Liberalų sąjūdis (LRLS) | | ALDE | 1 / 11 |
| Luxembourg | Democratic Party Demokratesch Partei (DP) Parti Démocratique (PD) Demokratische Partei (DP) | | ALDE | 1 / 6 |
| Luxembourg | Independent Monica Semedo | | Independent | 1 / 6 |
| Netherlands | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD) | | ALDE | 5 / 29 |
| Netherlands | Democrats 66 Democraten 66 (D66) | | ALDE | 1 / 29 |
| Netherlands | Volt Netherlands Volt Nederland (Volt) | | Volt Europa | 1 / 29 |
| Poland | Szymon Hołownia's Poland 2050 Polska 2050 Szymona Hołowni (PL2050) | | None | 1 / 51 |
| Romania | Renewing Romania's European Project Reînnoim Proiectul European al României (REPER) | | None | 5 / 33 |
| Romania | Save Romania Union Uniunea Salvați România (USR) | | ALDE | 2 / 33 |
| Slovakia | Progressive Slovakia Progresívne Slovensko (PS) | | ALDE | 3 / 14 |
| Slovakia | Apple Jablko | | None | 1 / 14 |
| Slovenia | Freedom Movement Gibanje Svoboda (GS) | | None | 1 / 8 |
| Slovenia | Greens of Slovenia Zeleni Slovenije (ZS) | | None | 1 / 8 |
| Spain | Citizens Ciudadanos (Cs) | | ALDE | 7 / 59 |
| Spain | Basque Nationalist Party Euzko Alderdi Jeltzalea (EAJ) Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV) Parti national basque (PNB) | | EDP | 1 / 59 |
| Spain | Independent Javier Nart | | Independent | 1 / 59 |
| Sweden | Centre Party Centerpartiet (C) | | ALDE | 2 / 20 |
| Sweden | Liberals Liberalerna (L) | | ALDE | 1 / 20 |
| European Union | Total | Total | Total | 102 / 705 |

#### Former members

* The UK MEPs of the Liberal Democrats and the Alliance Party de facto left the group on 31 January 2020 when the UK left the EU.
* On 20 January 2021, the Renew Europe Group terminated the membership of Viktor Uspaskich, MEP of the Lithuanian Labour Party.
* In March 2021, Czech MEP Radka Maxová left the Renew Europe group because of disagreement with ANO 2011.

#### Resignation and replacement

* Fredrick Federley, MEP of the Swedish Centre Party, resigned on 11 December 2020 from all politics immediately.
* In August 2022, Søren Gade, MEP from Venstre, announced that he would stand in the upcoming general election. It was later announced that Bergur Løkke Rasmussen would replace him in the European Parliament. On 13 March 2023, he announced that he would switch his party affiliation to the Moderates.

#### New members

* In February 2020, Nicola Danti leaves the S&D group and joins Renew Europe.
* In March 2021, Marco Zullo, elected among the Five Star Movement (independent) leaves his party and joins Renew Europe.
* In May 2021, Lucia Nicholsonová, from Slovakia, then Independent at the national level but having been part of the European Conservatives and Reformists, leaves this group and joins Renew Europe.
* On 10 November 2021, Renew Europe's president Stéphane Séjourné announces that the Polish political party Poland 2050 has joined Renew Europe, leading to Róża Thun joining the group.
* On 17 November 2021, Carlo Calenda joins Renew Europe following the accession of his party, Azione. Renew Europe reaches 100 MEPs.
* On 7 December 2021, Michal Wiezik leaves the EPP and joins Renew Europe following his transfer to Progressive Slovakia.
* On 8 March 2022, Salima Yenbou, a French MEP from Europe Ecology – The Greens, leaves The Greens and joins Renew Europe after endorsing Emmanuel Macron in the run-up to the French presidential election.
* On 4 May 2022, Greek MEP Giorgos Kyrtsos leaves the EPP and joins Renew Europe.

## Leadership

* President: Valérie Hayer (France)
* First Vice-President: Billy Kelleher (Ireland)
* Vice-Presidents: Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Netherlands), João Cotrim de Figueiredo (Portugal), Irena Jovena (Slovenia), Ivars Ijabs (Latvia), Morten Løkkegaard (Denmark), Dan Barna (Romania), Anna-Maja Henriksson (Finland)
* Secretary General: Philip Drauz

## International cooperation

On 21 January 2022, representatives of Renew Europe held a meeting with the European Party of Armenia.