Among other things, Metsola discussed the Grand Duchy’s important position within the EU, as well as the upcoming European elections in June. She emphasised that every vote counts in an election where so much is at stake.
RTL’s Caroline Mart sat down with the European Parliament president to ask her thoughts on Luxembourg’s democratic values, the question of immigration, and the defence of freedom in Europe.
Metsola emphasised the importance of fighting for democracy, in a year which has already been marked by widespread demonstrations. She said that if the past five years have shown us anything, with periods of instability, war, a pandemic, as right wing nationalism is gaining popularity across multiple countries, it was a lesson for politicians to fight for the political middle ground.
With the elections drawing closer on 9 June, Metsola said the worst thing European parties could do is demonstrate complacency towards the electorate, as citizens will not give their vote unless the parties can present clear, pro-European constructive arguments, with an emphasis on honesty and transparency. She suggested that highlighting Europe’s collective success in election campaigns could be useful, saying that the EU can be more united than ever after overcoming successive challenges and crises.
With the main topic occupying populists’ concerns being migration, Mart asked whether a stricter migration policy was the right answer, or whether it risked turning the EU into a fortress.
Metsola said the parliament had reached an accord at the end of December on migration, in response to citizens’ concerns, which focuses on ensuring safety and security, while managing returns and carrying out efficient border controls. Solidarity between member states is the “core pillar” for this policy, she said.
The president has previously referred to the EU as a “union of values”, but Mart asked whether this still applied to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, and whether his objections could hurt the EU’s credibility.
Metsola replied that the EU had displayed unprecedented unity in the past, for example, with the Russian sanctions as a result of the invasion of Ukraine, and that she hoped member states could find a unified solution at the next council meeting on 1 February.
As for Ukraine’s potential future in the EU, Metsola said they “have no choice”. Faced by the Russian threat, Ukraine requires military, financial and logistical support from the European Union, and therefore regards the EU as its home. On the question of becoming a potential member, Metsola said the EU needs to “fling the doors wide open”.
Finally, on the topic of the US elections in November, and the possibility of Donald Trump obtaining a second term as president, Metsola said the EU had no choice but to learn to protect itself. “We can’t depend on others,” she said. “We must be prepared and not be naive.”
Video report from RTL Luxembourg
