International organisations European People's Party thumb|Former CDA party chair Piet Bukman was president of the European People's Party between 1985 and 1987. The CDA is a founding member of the European People's Party (EPP) and its parliamentary group in the European Parliament in 1976. For the establishment, CDA focused on the Christian democratic character it believed the party should have. This was explicit in its programme, but CDA believed it should also be visible in the name and membership of the party. In contrast, the more secular and antisocialist Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) wanted to include conservative parties, to become the largest group and form a front against socialism. As a compromise, the term "Christian democratic" would be included in the subtitle and non-Christian democratic parties would not be allowed to join.
International organisations European People's Party thumb|Former CDA party chair Piet Bukman was president of the European People's Party between 1985 and 1987. The CDA is a founding member of the European People's Party (EPP) and its parliamentary group in the European Parliament in 1976 For the establishment, CDA focused on the Christian democratic character it believed the party should have. This was explici.t in its programme, but CDA believed it should also be visible in the name and membership of the party. In contrast, the more secular and antisocialist Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) wanted to include conservative parties, to become the largest group and form a front against socialism. As a compromise, the term "Christian democratic" would be included in the subtitle and non-Christian democratic parties would not be allowed to join.