EU-politici in gesprek met kiezers op Facebook (en)

They both agree more Europe is needed to provide a way out of the crisis, but disagree on much else. Facebook fans had the chance to question the leaders of EP's two largest political groups during a chat on 26 March. Joseph Daul i, the French leader of the EPP group, and Hannes Swoboda i, the Austrian leader of the S&D group, talked about Cyprus, the crisis and how to get more people to vote in European elections in our first-ever double chat with EP's political leaders.

Cyprus

Both group leaders were asked about the agreement reached on Cyprus's banks earlier this week. Mr Swoboda said the whole issue should be handled with care: "While it is true that the banking sector in Cyprus is overblown, we have to reduce the sector in a gradual way to avoid any shock for the whole economy." Mr Daul said: "The agreement on Cyprus is the example of European solidarity. Without Europe, Cyprus would have gone bankrupt and have been the next Iceland, leaving hundred thousands of people without their savings."

European elections

Mr Daul and Mr Swoboda were also asked about how to get more people to vote in European elections. Mr Swoboda answered: "The crisis shows an increasing interest of citizens in discussing European issues. We have to use this crisis to construct a more accountable and more efficient Europe." Mr Daul added: "We will have to explain much more what Europe does. For example, do you know that Europe protects you when you turn on your lights in the morning, when you take your car? Here we have clear European norms that protect you and nobody says it!"

Another Facebook fan asked if they were concerned that anti-European parties might do well at the next European elections. Mr Daul said he was not worried: "I count on the common sense of our citizens and I will call on them to come out to vote." Mr Swoboda replied: "We have to take the concerns of the citizens seriously because it is not a temporary fashion. Many political measures of Europe today are disappointing our citizens and turning them away from supporting Europe. So we have to change European policies."

Single seat

The single seat of the European Parliament was another issue that was brought up as currently MEPs meet in both Strasbourg and Brussels. Mr Swoboda said the EP was currently drawing up a report on it because a majority of MEPs voted several times for one single seat, adding: "Let's discuss this issue seriously, without populist messages and let us not forget that Strasbourg was chosen because it was and continues to be a symbol for European unity and reconciliation after the Second World War." Mr Daul said: "The ruling of the European Court of Justice was very clear on this. The treaty should be respected. If we want to open the discussion on the Parliament's seat, then we should discuss the seats of all EU institutions (European Central Bank in Frankfurt, European Court of Justice in Luxembourg...)."

Crisis

Many questions also addressed the crisis, including when both leaders thought we would finally be able to get out of it. Mr Swoboda said: "We can get out of the crisis, if we change the course of our policies. The very primitive and extreme austerity policy of cutting social expenditure and investment will prolong the crisis." Mr Daul said: "The EPP believes in responsibility and our governments are responsible to their citizens and to other member states. We spend only the money that we have, not the one that we don’t have."