ALDE’s Strack-Zimmermann calls for stronger European approach to security [Advocacy Lab Content]

This article is part of our special report Spitzenkandidaten and the upcoming EU elections.

European liberals have approved the nomination of Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann as ALDE’s lead candidate for the June elections. Strack-Zimmermann spoke to Euractiv’s Christoph Schwaiger following the 20 March ‘Renew Europe Now’ election campaign launch.

Campaigning alongside MEPs Valérie Hayer and Sandro Gozi, Strack-Zimmermann the Chairperson of Germany’s Defence Committee emphasized the importance of a European approach towards security and defence and that protecting Europe’s future means safeguarding against Russia’s threat.

CH: So, first of all, how are you feeling after the congress?

MASZ: Wonderful! It’s a special occasion and I’m happy to meet so many nice young people. It’s perfect. I think the atmosphere is really good.

CH: During the Renew Europe Now campaign launch the Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas told us that “Freedom is not free. We all pay for it.” What does Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann think the price should be?

MASZ: We Germans don’t have problems with our neighbours. But countries sharing a border with Russia really have problems, and the terrible thing is that they warned us and have been telling us for years. I’m the head of the Defence Committee in Germany, I have travelled a lot in this region and the countries told us that the day will come when Russia attacks them. So, the price is a commitment to collective European security.

While security is a national issue, we also have to think more European. Otherwise, our future will be different. It’s really important that Kaja Kallas said it. The Estonian view is different than the Portuguese one, for example.

CH: Today you encouraged citizens to embrace what you referred to as the concept of European unity. How do you want to redefine the way citizens think about what it means to be European in 2024?

MASZ: I think it’s very important to not only focus on ourselves. It’s important to realize that we all see the world a bit differently because of our location, and we all tend to do politics from our own geographical perspective. I think this is one reason why the EU needs a more coordinated foreign policy.

I’m European because I grew up close to the Dutch border and it was normal for us to show our passports when driving there or entering via train. The same went for going to Luxembourg and Belgium and so on. You also needed to exchange your currency.

Today, I have three children and both my sons studied in the Netherlands. They had the opportunity to travel and work in different parts of Europe. It’s such a lucky position to be in compared with the life of my parents.

I’m now a grandmother and I want my grandkids to be able to live in a free and peaceful Europe. If you look at what’s happening in Ukraine and the pressure Russia is putting on democratic states, we have big problems with hybrid warfare. So, we have to protect our European future.

CH: Even before today, many have seen you as the de facto leader among you, Sandro Gozi and Valérie Hayer. But what unique qualities do you think you bring to the table?

MASZ: My experience. As you know I’m in my sixties. I’ve just described to you what Europe was like when I was growing up. Currently, I’m a specialist for security questions and I’m the head of the German Defence Committee. Over the past seven years, I have realised that every security question requires us to find joint solutions. It’s not a question of ‘Germany and’ or ‘France and’ – it’s a question of the whole of Europe.

Even if Joe Biden wins this year’s presidential election – as I hope he will –, Europe can no longer build its hopes only on the United States, we have to find our own way. Not without the US or without a strong NATO, but we have to do more in terms of our own security. It would be great if, over the next years, we could do more together in terms of defence and security, for example, to buy all the military equipment we need.

CH: This relates to at least one of them. The key concerns of EU citizens in descending order are currently immigration, the war in Ukraine, the international situation and in fourth place is the cost of living. Does Renew have concrete solutions to these citizen issues?

MASZ: Yes. On the one hand, we need migration. We need people to come to Europe and work here. But on the other hand, we have to acknowledge that we have a problem at our borders. All member states experience illegal immigration. We have to find a solution to end it because otherwise, we will get problems in our countries.

A huge problem in Europe is the rise of the hardcore nationalist parties, right and left. They want to destroy the EU from within. The head of the Alternative for Germany party (AfD) said that she wants to lead Germany out of the EU. Can you imagine that? And if you ask other nationalists, their idea is to come into the room and then set fire to it.

CH: Okay, but what is the concrete solution to this problem?

MASZ: As I said, we do need migration in Europe to mitigate labour shortage. And we want to make it easier for people who want to come to Europe to work here. But at the same time, we need to protect our borders from illegal migration. In order to do that, we have to take notice of what happens in other countries. It’s a question of foreign policy.

Most people do not want to leave their home countries, where they speak the language, know the culture. They want to stay, but sometimes their situation is so dire, they see no other way than to move somewhere else. As Europeans, we should work with governments and civil society to alleviate their grievances.

CH: You’ve made your feelings about Ursula von der Leyen pretty clear. But thinking about the future of Europe, do you think it’s best to see if you could find some common ground with her, especially if she wins a second mandate? Or does Europe absolutely need a new leader at the Commission?

MASZ: I know her very well. She was successful in her portfolios as a minister in Germany. You know, the issue that I have with her is that she’s not running for the European Parliament. So, people can’t decide if they want her as Commission President. She would just be installed. Again.

We, on the other hand, are running for Parliament. We are up for election. We have to convince people, that we will do a good job and that we’ll fight for Europe. This makes a difference.

And two more things: In the past five years that Ursula von der Leyen has been the Commission’s President, we haven’t heard a single word about the security of Europe from her, despite Russia’s first attack on Ukraine in 2014.

If you ask German people about her, they’ll tell you she has added a lot of red tape. It’s an economic question for companies whether they want more of this kind of bureaucracy.

CH: Anything we haven’t covered today?

MASZ: No. I just think we have a lot to do over the next 80 days or so.

The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

[By Christoph Schwaiger I Edited by Brian Maguire | Euractiv’s Advocacy Lab ]