Warsaw - European leaders met Wednesday in Poland for a European People's Party congress amid a push from Warsaw for the top seat in the European Parliament.

Poland's former Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek is eyeing the presidency of the European Parliament and competes against Italian candidate Mario Mauro.

Buzek's candidacy comes as Poland celebrates five years of membership in the European Union.

While most Poles say EU membership has paid off, critics point to the lack of Poles in the EU's top seats.

The congress also comes as Poland celebrates the 20th anniversary of communism's fall. Former Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, who led shipyard strikes that helped topple communism, was to speak Thursday.

EPP President Wildfried Martens spoke of Walesa's role in bringing democracy, and praised Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

"You are a great hope for a real European Poland," Martens said at the opening ceremony.

Some 3,000 participants were expected from 38 countries, an event spokesman said, in what was the official launch of the party's electoral campaign.

Those present included European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The centre-right party was also expected to adopt a manifesto during the two-day congress.

The European People's Party is the largest party in Europe with 74 member parties and 20 government heads. The party makes up the largest group in the European Parliament. (dpa)