In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, political adviser to the Walloon Christian Social Party (PSC) with responsibility for international relations from 1974 to 1979, leader of the PSC from 1981 to 1996 and Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 for the European People’s Party (EPP), discusses the role and real efficacy of the meetings of the European People’s Party held before each European Summit. He mentions Helmut Kohl, German Federal Chancellor from 1982 to 1998, who gave his views during these meetings. Finally, Deprez emphasises the importance of the recognition (by the Treaty of Maastricht, which came into force on 1 November 1993) and funding (since 2003) of European parties.