“Need for responsibility in the EU”

He’s the young, “combative” face of the People’s Party in Europe. Manfred Weber, born in 1972, in the German region of Bavaria, a graduate at Munich’s Politechnics, is one of the most prominent member of CSU, the Christian-Social Union, a solid partner of Chancellor Merkel’s CDU. At a very delicate phase for Europe, caught in the grips of the economic crisis and the war in Ukraine, in the midst of a refugee crisis and terrorist threats, the political leader, interviewed by Gianni Borsa for SIR Europe, drew an outline of the situation in clear terms, whether the topic is Tsipras, nationalism or the protection of the family. The Eurogroup has reached an agreement with Greece enabling the Tsipras government to plan the reforms required to restore financial security and prompt growth in the country. The media have often portrayed the negotiations as a tug of war between Berlin and Athens. What’s your view on this question? “The EPP Group welcomes the agreement that was found last week between the Eurogroup and the Greek government. It is not a blank cheque given to the new Greek government, but it is a clear signal that when partners are open to discussion and ready to negotiate, a solution can be found. During the electoral campaign, Syriza and its leader, Mr Tsipras, promised Greek voters things that they knew they would not be able to do. It is their responsibility. But two things needed to be made very clear”. What are they? “Firstly, Greek voters did not elect a new State. They elected a new government. This means that previous agreements that were signed in the name of the country should be respected. This is always the case, in every country, when a new government is elected. This was very important to us, the EPP Group, and to Greece’s European partners in general. It was the precondition for any discussion, for any compromise. Secondly, European taxpayers are not going to pay for Mr Tsipras’ electoral promises. It is good news that Mr Tsipras and his government have started to understand this. I am confident that there will be constructive work in the next four months to find solutions to the questions that remain open and that Greece will be able to remain a Member of the Eurozone, which is our wish”. Nationalism and populism are constantly rising across Europe, as evidenced in the outcome of May 2014 elections. But the next elections in France and in the UK could deliver equally unexpected results in this same direction. Is there a way to counter this trend? “The rise of populist movements is a very worrying general movement everywhere in Europe. But this rise is due to national politics, not European politics. In Southern European countries it takes the form of the radical left, whereas in Northern European countries, and in France for example, it is rather the far-right that is on the rise. In some countries, like Italy, populists of different extractions are on the rise.But to me these populist parties, whether from the far-left or from the far-right, are the same: they share the same taste for simplistic solutions to complicated problems. They share the same will to destroy European cooperation and solidarity, which has brought peace and economic welfare to the European continent for more than sixty years and which is part of the solution to the challenges of the century, much more than the problem. In my opinion, the only way to counter this is to prove to EU citizens that we are the ones with the real solutions, to unemployment, to problems related to migration, to security issues and terrorist threats. The worst thing to do would be to try to copy populist parties, to run after them. We need to stick to our values and to deliver. This is what the EPP is focusing on”. The Catholic Church, that supports the European integration process, is often cautious of the EU, in particular as regards the possibility of measures against the family or the dignity of human life. Does this risk exist? “Family values are the backbone of our Christian-democratic beliefs. We value family and dignity of human life very much and we are happy that the Charter of Fundamental Rights makes clear that human rights and human dignity are core values of the European Union. However, when it comes to more precise questions related to family law and reproductive rights, our opinion is that these questions should remain a question of subsidiarity, a competence of the Member States. European countries are united in diversity and the situation varies a lot in the different Member States. Not every question in Europe – even if it’s an important one – is a question for Europe”. In your opinion, what is the greatest lesson that should be drawn from Pope Francis’ speeches in Strasbourg last November? “Pope Francis’ address to the European Parliament will remain one of the most touching moments I have experienced since I was elected to the European Parliament. The most important message I took from his speech is the call to all Europeans to show solidarity, amongst themselves, but also towards the rest of the world and especially all the refugees that risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea. He underlined that we cannot, that we should not allow the Mediterranean Sea to become Europe’s graveyard. This is really an area where only a common European policy can be efficient. Pope Francis also called on Europeans to focus on the challenges of the future. He insisted on the need for us to be open to change – that Europe should not be a fragile grandmother, but a young and strong player in the world of tomorrow. In general his speech was very powerful and inspiring”.