MEP and CDS-PP leader Nuno Melo defended this Friday, in a debate organized by Lusa, that right-wing and left-wing extremism could jeopardize the European project in the next elections in June 2024.
“The extreme right and the extreme left, I’m talking about “extreme”, want to destroy the European project. In some cases because of Soviet nostalgia, and in other cases because of stupid nationalism,” said Nuno Melo, considering it “very important.”
The CDS-PP leader, together with MEPs Isabel Carvalier from PS and Claudia Monteiro de Aguiar from PSD, took part in the debate as part of the European Parliament’s training program for young journalists.
The three MPs discussed issues related to European Union enlargement, migration, asylum, defense and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East at the agency’s headquarters in Lisbon, as part of a debate on the “role of the media in elections such as the European Union.” those” .
For Nuno Melo, the expansion of the European bloc will be one of the central issues of the next elections, namely the issue of Ukraine.
“We are currently faced with a worrying opportunity related to EU enlargement, and along the way we have had Brexit. The expansion now carries many risks and could affect the polls,” Nuno Melo said.
The CDS-PP leader also recalled the 2005 referendum in France and the Netherlands on the European Constitution, which was rejected by both countries, emphasizing that at the moment “under the pretext of enlargement” “much of what people have already failed” before.
According to MEP Isabelle Carvalier, Ukraine can help the EU become a larger bloc, but this process must be carried out very consciously, since political expectations cannot be created without fulfilling promises.
The socialist warned that the future of the European project cannot be jeopardized in vital areas such as agriculture.
“Ukraine puts France in the pocket from an agricultural point of view. France and Germany are European agricultural colossi (…) and therefore it is necessary to speak clearly to people about the future consequences, and not sell illusions, adjustments, (such as the Copenhagen criteria). Ukraine cannot be imagined without other Balkan countries or Macedonia and Moldova, and the exclusion of these countries would not be a good solution, since it could lead to extremism and radicalism,” defended Isabelle Carvalier.
For the PSD MEP, Europe is a project under constant construction and “all the pillars of building the union are part of the accession criteria that must be met and which will force the EU to also expand democracy.”
“There are budgetary issues that need to be rethought, but it makes sense to me to go through this complex and lengthy expansion process. other issues related to the healthcare sector.
Regarding the war between Israel and Hamas, Isabelle Carvalier said that “pluralism of thought” in the EU in the face of the war that began on October 7 “is part of any society.”
“It’s not dramatic, especially because Europe has a history of taking positions in the Middle East that it didn’t have during the war in Ukraine,” the Socialist MEP said.
According to Nuno Melo, it is necessary to discuss the entry of foreigners into the European space, establishing “legal differences” between migrants and asylum seekers, but he argued that there is no equality between Ukrainian citizens and Palestinian citizens under the law.
“Politics in a rule-of-law state is made up of rules, and legislation relating to asylum differs from laws for migrants. As long as the requirements are met and the risk of life is at stake, the question is not about being Ukrainian, but about being Ukrainian. Palestinian. When it comes to asylum, the EU doesn’t owe anyone anything,” he said.
The debaters agreed that European issues should be at the center of political debate in every country, especially because “70% of EU legislation affects the lives of citizens of the European bloc.”
Asked about the possible impact of the QatarGate case (which involves European Parliament Vice-President Eva Kiley) on the June elections, three speakers advocated for greater transparency.
“No topic is off limits and we need to do more and better in the area of new rules of conduct and transparency (…) Politicians are under scrutiny today, but let’s be aware that not everyone is the same, because otherwise we give the petition extreme right and populism,” said socialist Isabelle Carvalier.
The debate, which took place this Friday in Lisbon, was expected to be attended by Left Bloc MEP José Gusmão and PCP MEP João Pimenta, who were unable to attend for reasons.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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