As Ms Angelilli, Ms Parmová, Mr Rosenberg and Mr Sammartino join, the ECR Group in the CoR grows to 62 members from 10 countries.

Ms Roberta Angelilli is the Vice-President of Italy's Lazio Region. She also served as the Vice-President of the European Parliament from 2009-2014.

The Mayor of České Budějovice, Ms Dagmar Škodová Parmová joins the ECR Group from the Czech Republic. She is also the dean of the University of South Bohemia's faculty of economics.

Mr Michael Rosenberg is a Municipal Councillor and the group leader for the Sweden Democrats in the Municipality of Helsingborg. He is also the first ECR CoR member from Sweden.

Mr Luca Rosario Luigi Sammartino, joining the ECR Group from Italy, is the Vice-President of the Region of Sicily.

The new members were welcomed to the Group in the ECR Group meeting ahead of the CoR July plenary.