The UfE group was a fusion of the groups European Democratic Alliance (EDA) and Forza Europa (FE). While the first one was oriented more conservatively, the latter was made up and dominated by straight right-wing Forza Italia and later joined by the an MEP of still regionalistly oriented Lega Nord. After one year only, FE merged with the more moderate group EDA and formed the new group Union for Europe (5.7.1995). Since then Forza Italia was heading clearly towards a long-term cooperation with the European People’s Party to whoses parliamentary group the majority of the FI MEPs finally defected in June 1998.

ideological orientations: social conservatism, ecconomic neoliberalism

extra-parliamentary alliance/party: none