On Tuesday morning, Luxembourg MEP Charles Goerens spoke with our colleagues from RTL Radio about the recent German federal elections and the ongoing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
In the German parliamentary elections held on Sunday, the Union bloc – comprising the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) – emerged as the largest grouping. However, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the German sister party of Luxembourg’s Democratic Party (DP), failed to secure enough votes for representation in the Bundestag. In response, MEP and DP politician Charles Goerens expressed his disappointment, noting that the FDP’s inability to communicate its platform effectively contributed to its poor performance. He criticised the party’s excessive emphasis on economic liberalism, arguing that this singular focus overshadowed its broader liberal values. “Liberal parties have a much richer message”, Goerens remarked, lamenting the FDP’s failure to convey this vision to the electorate.
Goerens also voiced concern over the strong showing of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is now the second-largest force in the German parliament. He warned of threats to liberal democracy, both domestically and internationally, stating that the political centre is increasingly isolated. To ensure stability, he emphasised the need for the two leading parties in Germany to maintain unity and govern effectively, cautioning that any missteps could lead to further complications.
On Monday evening, US President Donald Trump announced during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron that an end to the war in Ukraine could be imminent. Notably, these discussions involved delegations from the United States and Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia last week – without the participation of Europe or Ukraine. Goerens expressed disappointment “that we, as the West, are no longer able to focus on a few basic objectives and agree on them”.
MEP Goerens emphasised the urgent need for Europe to unite in supporting Ukraine, framing the issue as a matter of preserving both shared values and the fundamental right to self-determination. “There is no longer any code of values”, he remarked, stressing that the responsibility now rests squarely on the shoulders of those European nations still committed to upholding the political centre. Acknowledging the daunting challenge ahead, Goerens remarked, “we can only say good luck to them”.
In critiquing US President Donald Trump’s approach to international relations, Goerens argued that Trump “only understands power relations” and tends to reduce complex issues to questions of dominance or financial interests. He warned that when faced with weaker interlocutors, Trump exploits the situation “ruthlessly”. Goerens cautioned that if Europeans fail to recognise this dynamic, “they will no longer serve as a counterbalance in a world that China, Russia, and the United States are in the process of carving up amongst themselves”.
Should the United States withdraw its military support for Ukraine, the EU would face an immense logistical and financial burden, according to estimates from the Kiel Institute for World Economics. To meet the challenge, the bloc would need to mobilise 300,000 soldiers and allocate €250 billion annually.
However, Goerens framed the debate not around whether the EU could achieve this but rather what might happen if it does not. “If we don’t do it, we’re done for”, he stated emphatically. In his view, failure to act would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to consolidate control over the portions of Ukraine he has already occupied and subsequently expand his reach across the remainder of the country.
Achieving the necessary financial commitments will require significant reforms within key member states. Goerens noted that neither France nor Germany currently possesses the resources required to fund such an endeavour. Specifically, he called on Germany to reconsider its balanced budget amendment (“Schuldenbremse”), which limits structural deficits, to enable greater spending flexibility. Additionally, he advocated for the European Investment Bank to reassess its longstanding policy against investing in armaments.
To bolster Europe’s competitiveness, Goerens urged the implementation of recommendations put forth by Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta, emphasising the role of the European internal market in driving growth.
Ultimately, he highlighted the pivotal role of social democratic parties in France and Germany, asserting that success hinges on their ability to remain steadfast. “If they hold firm, we can do this”, he concluded.
