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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Lili Bayer

Europe live: Ursula von der Leyen accused of watering down green deal for farmers in European Commission presidential debate – as it happened

Summary of the debate

  • Eight politicians debated in Maastricht ahead of the June European elections.

  • While nearly all major political parties were represented, the European Commission president and lead candidate for the European People’s party, Ursula von der Leyen, was the only high-profile leader on stage.

  • Bas Eickhout, for the European Green Party, accused von der Leyen of “lowering and really watering down the Green Deal for our farmers.”

  • Asked about whether she would work with the European Conservatives and Reformists group, von der Leyen said: “It depends very much on how the composition of the parliament is and who is in what group.”

  • Asked about EU policy toward Israel, von der Leyen said: “We need a cease-fire now. And we need the release of the hostages now. And we need to sit down and work on a two-state solution because this is the only solution that will bring peace to the region.”

  • Asked if an invasion of Rafah would be a red line, von der Leyen said she’s never drawing red lines but that it would be completely unacceptable if Netanyahu would invade Rafah.

  • Nicolas Schmit, for the Party
of European Socialists, said we need to give Europeans the feeling of security.

  • Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe party, said there’s now a chance to build a Europe that keeps us safe.

  • Anders Vistisen, for the far-right Identity and Democracy Party, said Brussels is a swamp and that his party would want to start by firing bureaucrats.

  • During the debate, Vistisen clashed with other candidates several times over a range of issues, including allegations of Russian and Chinese influence.

  • Walter Baier, for the Party of the European Left, focused on housing costs and the difficulties faced by young people.

Key event

Volt has raised concerns about not being able to participate in today’s debate.

“Values and rights cannot be divided due to a political agenda,” Europe’s socialists argued during the debate.

The Greens, who are behind in the EU-wide polls, enjoyed the support of young people in the audience.

The Maastricht debate has ended.

Valeriu Ghilețchi for the European Christian Political Movement said that he grew up in the Soviet Union, and that in his wildest dreams he couldn’t have imagined he’d be at this free debate.

Updated

Walter Baier for the Party of the European Left said his party is choosing the disadvantaged.

“We think that all these people and you deserve better,” he said.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party, said that security was key, and prosperity and well-being depend upon it.

“Europe needs courageous solutions,” said Nicolas Schmit for the Party
of European Socialists.

“We need to be bold on industry, we need to be bold on defence, we need to be bold on fighting climate change – but also we need to be bold on social justice,” he said.

Updated

Ursula von der Leyen, in her conclusion, said that being a mother and grandmother has shaped how she sees the future.

“Europe has brought us so much: peace, freedom, prosperity – but today, what I’m really worried about is that these values are under attack, from within and from outside.”

“And therefore, I advocate that we, we who love Europe, stand united and stand proud, for a strong Europe, that we know that we want to build a majority for a strong Europe, and I want to build this majority with you, with my experience, with solutions, and with all my passion I have for Europe, and for that, I ask you for support.”

Updated

Anders Vistisen, for the far-right Identity and Democracy Party, said in his closing statement that only the ID group is in opposition – if you want more mass migration, vote for them, if you want tight migration laws vote for us, he said. If you want to be a free European citizen, vote for us, he said.

Updated

Bas Eickhout, for the European Green Party, said that he is aware there is cynicism, but that it’s because of young people that Europe acted on the Green Deal.

We are at a crossroads of continuing the Green Deal or going back, for a strong Europe or divided Europe, he said, arguing that this election matters. Choose courage, he told the audience.

Maylis Roßberg, for the European Free Alliance, said in her closing statement that she needs candidates to remember they are deciding the future of the young generation.

Von der Leyen says ECR cooperation 'depends' on composition of parliament and group

Asked about whether she would work with the European Conservatives and Reformists group, Ursula von der Leyen said:

It depends very much on how the composition of the parliament is and who is in what group.

Updated

Ursula von der Leyen insisted she would not work with the AfD.

Anders Vistisen, for the far-right Identity and Democracy Party, said he has not spread misinformation and that others did not want him on stage.

“I’m not the enemy of democracy, free debate and freedom of expression, that’s you when you talk to the tech giants to limit my freedom of expression based on my political opinions,” he said.

Nicolas Schmit, for the Party
of European Socialists, said that “migration has been transformed into a toxic subject by the extreme-right.”

There is a need to fight smugglers, he said.

He also said humanity and human rights are fundamental.

Updated

Commission chief defends EU migration policies

On migration, asked about deals with third countries, Ursula von der Leyen said the EU has nothing to do with the UK’s Rwanda policy.

Europe fulfils its international obligations, she said. “We Europeans are the one who decide who comes to the European Union, and under what circumstances, and not the smugglers and traffickers,” she said.

Agreements with countries such as Tunisia and Egypt is about “investing in their economy” and creating legal, safe pathways, she said.

Updated

Bas Eickhout, for the European Green Party, criticised organisers for placing the issue of migration along with defence and security.

As long as we are not making sure we are standing up for human rights and creating solidarity, there is no European solution, he said.

Updated

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe party, said that “it’s really strange, that Viktor Orbán went to the toilet for 10 billion euro”, in a critique of current unanimous voting rules on foreign policy issues.

Updated

Von der Leyen calls for cease-fire in Gaza and return of hostages

Asked about EU policy toward Israel, Ursula von der Leyen said:

I have been in the Kibbutz Kfar Azza right after the attacks and I have seen the bodies. And I have been very clear in my interaction with the Israeli government that Israel has the right to defend itself within the limits of humanitarian law and international law.

And I have been to Rafah, the border crossing point, and I must say, to see how many innocent civilians are dying, especially children, is unbearable, and it is unacceptable.

And therefore we need a cease-fire. We need a cease-fire now. And we need the release of the hostages now. And we need to sit down and work on a two-state solution because this is the only solution that will bring peace to the region.

Asked if an invasion of Rafah would be a red line, von der Leyen said she’s never drawing red lines but that it would be completely unacceptable if Netanyahu would invade Rafah.

Updated

Anders Vistisen, for the far-right Identity and Democracy Party, accused von der Leyen of bearing responsibility for making Europe more dependent on Russian energy in her past work.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European People’s party candidate, has turned to the far-right candidate on stage and said: “when I see what your AfD colleagues, the lead candidates, have done, they are under investigation for being in the pocket of Putin, and if you look at the electoral programme, you will see that it echoes the lies and the propaganda of the Kremlin. So clean up your house before you criticise us.”

Updated

Ursula von der Leyen responds that she’s been to Ukraine seven times and seen the body bags in Bucha.

In a passionate response, she said:

“If you want to end this war, Putin just has to stop fighting, then the war is over,” she said.

Updated

Walter Baier, for the Party of the European Left, said his party is condemning Russian aggression but that it’s now time to come up with a political solution.

He also asked, “when will you put sanctions on Israel?”

Anders Vistisen, for the far-right Identity and Democracy Party, responded by raising the Qatargate controversy in the European parliament.

“If there is a criminal case against any member of the ID group, we will take it seriously,” he said, accusing others of hypocrisy.

Updated

Bas Eickhout, for the European Green Party, has raised recent allegations that have surfaced about Russia and China’s influencing members of the European far-right.

“Maybe before you are teaching everyone, clean up your own house,” the Green candidate told the Identity and Democracy candidate.

Anders Vistisen, for the far-right Identity and Democracy Party, said that the defence talk is about trying to abolish member states’ veto rights and that the Ukraine war is being used to drive European integration.

Ursula von der Leyen, for the European People’s party, said that the single market, the industry, is Commission competence – as is the defence industry. Investing in the defence industry is necessary. We need a strong Europe, we need military capabilities made in Europe – I want good jobs, and military capabilities made in Europe, she added.

The debate has moved on to foreign and security policy.

Ursula von der Leyen says that farmers and environmental groups have been invited to a dialogue.

“Like you, I think that the farmers are the solution also to fight climate change and to protect nature,” she said to the Green candidate.

“So we have to find a system, that together with them and the environmental groups that are working in this dialogue, that we are able to meet the climate goals also in the farming sector.”

Updated

Von der Leyen accused of 'watering down' green deal for farmers

Bas Eickhout, for the European Green Party, responds:

“Unfortunately, Madam von der Leyen, what we have seen is that you are lowering and really watering down the Green Deal for our farmers.”

He added: “If you really want to help the farmers, you need to do something about our market model.”

Updated

Ursula von der Leyen says that the Green Deal is the “solution” for European competitiveness.

“If you want to get the energy prices down, you have to invest in renewable energy,” she said.

As the debate continues, watch parties are ongoing

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe party, stressed that farmers are not the enemy of climate action.

Many farmers, she said, want to do the climate transition but want support, and we must be on their side. There is unnecessary red tape for farmers, and reporting must be simpler, she said.

Updated

Responding to Baier, Ursula von der Leyen said public money is not enough, and private money is also needed for the European Green Deal. The market is asking for green activity, and the capital markets union must be completed, she said.

Walter Baier, for the Party of the European Left, said more funding is needed for the ecological transition.

Nicolas Schmit, for the Party
of European Socialists, said there’s a need to reflect on the future of agriculture policy and make farmers actors in the area of implementation of the Green Deal.

Ursula von der Leyen, for the European People’s party, highlighted the EU’s current investments in the Green Deal.

Speaking about Ukraine and farmers, she stressed the need to help Ukrainians. She said farmers are feeling pressure, and what we have to do is make sure there’s a licensing system and that Ukrainian grain goes out to the global south.

We are able to find this balance, she said.

Valeriu Ghilețchi, for the European Christian Political Movement, said his party believes in the single market but also that some competences belong to the member states. We believe in a balanced approach, he said.

Bas Eickhout, for the European Green Party, said that Europe will have a lot of investments it needs to be ready for, and that the Green group is clear on need for a fund for investment in the economy, the transition of the economy, and in the social welfare state.

“Europe needs investments,” he said.

Updated

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president and centre-right European People’s party candidate, said the European Green Deal was designed as a growth strategy. We can show there’s progress, she said.

“In my view, climate protection, economic competitiveness and social fairness can go hand in hand,” she said.

She said that the whole world is looking into developing green technologies, and for Europe it must be clear that this is the road to go. “This is the economy of the future,” she said, calling for Europe to be bold.

“It is for me, also a question of the competitiveness of the European Union to go clean and to be decarbonised,” von der Leyen said.

Updated

Nicolas Schmit, for the Party
of European Socialists, said it would be a big mistake to slow down the fight against climate change.

We have to be bold on what we decided, he stressed. Climate policy must be socially fair and just, and that means financing in a fair and just way, he added.

Asked about climate challenges, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe party, said that if nothing changes, there will be war all over the world. She also said work needs to be done with farmers.

The debate is now moving to the issue of climate change.

Maylis Roßberg, for the European Free Alliance, said she realised nothing can be taken for granted, and that it’s time to raise voices for democracy, minorities and the climate. A more democratic and diverse Europe is possible, she added. I believe in a Europe where every voice is heard, she said.

Bas Eickhout, for the European Green Party, garnered cheers from the audience.

The challenges are very clear, he said, stressing the climate emergency has not lost urgency, pointing also to attacks on democracy. We are going to deliver on climate policies, we are going to reduce cost of living, we will not bow to pressure of populists, he told the audience.

Anders Vistisen, for the far-right Identity and Democracy Party, said Brussels is a swamp and that his party would want to start by firing bureaucrats. He criticised von der Leyen directly, telling her she would be the first person fired after the elections.

Ursula von der Leyen, for the European People’s party, said her children are more or less the age of the people in the audience. You were a huge motivation for me, she told the young people watching the debate. Going forward, I want a strong Europe, she said, calling for unity. The election is about democracy, she stressed, telling the young people their vote counts.

Nicolas Schmit, for the Party
of European Socialists, said challenges are impacting the daily lives of Europeans and we need to give Europeans the feeling of security. What we owe you, he said, is real security – a good job, a good environment, a good living standard, and to make Europe strong in a world that has become much more dangerous.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe party, spoke of Russia’s attack on Ukraine and said there’s now a chance to build a Europe that keeps us safe. We must renew Europe now, she said.

Walter Baier, for the Party of the European Left, began by focusing on housing costs and the difficulties faced by young people.

Valeriu Ghilețchi, for the European Christian Political Movement, said in his opening statement that the movement believes a strong house needs a strong foundation. Elevate, empower, engage is our motto, he said.

The eight candidates are now being introduced.

Candidates will soon be taking the stage.

Updated

Students are protesting outside the debate venue.

The Economist’s Stanley Pignal has underscored the unusual dynamics of today’s debate.

“I cover EU politics for a living and hand-on-heart I only recognise two of the seven challengers on stage,” he wrote.

The debate is set to begin in about 20 minutes.

Stay tuned.

A protester yelled at the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, as she arrived for the debate.

View backstage

As candidates prepare for the debate, in a reminder that the real decision-making about who will become the next European Commission president is often down to key capitals, a Commission spokesperson announced that Ursula von der Leyen will be travelling to Paris soon for a high-level meeting.

'I will tell the truth about the EU’s disaster course', far-right politician says

The far-right Identity and Democracy’s representative, Anders Vistisen, wrote on social media ahead of the debate:

“The entire EU system has tried to prevent me and the right wing from participating in the EU top candidate debate tonight. They want to exclude right wing votes! They didn’t succeed - so tonight I will tell the truth about the EU’s disaster course directly to Ursula and the rest of the EU!”

Is von der Leyen committed to Green Deal, candidate asks ahead of debate

Bas Eickhout, the lead candidate for the European Greens, said ahead of this evening’s debate that “we all want to know whether Ursula Von der Leyen is committed to continuing and enforcing the Green Deal.”

“We need a true deal to ensure European competitiveness vis-à-vis China and the US. We need climate action and to make us independent from fossil fuels coming from autocrats. Or is Von der Leyen prepared to keep Europe dependent on Russian gas?” he added.

Eickhout also highlighted concerns about alleged links between some far-right politicians and Russia and China.

“Will the EPP and ALDE defend democracy in the European Union? Or will they collaborate with the far right, as they are increasingly doing at national level? Will Von der Leyen draw a clear red line so that her European People’s Party EPP stops collaborating with the far-right ECR and ID groups?” he said.

Walter Baier, the president of the Party of the European Left, said he is “looking forward to an exciting debate.”

Anaïs Berthier, head of the Brussels office at NGO ClientEarth, posed a question ahead of the debate for the candidates:

“As we are facing a climate, nature and pollution crisis, what will they prioritise to protect us and the planet?”

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann’s team in Maastricht today

The European Free Alliance is really excited about the debate.

Young people have arrived to watch tonight’s debate.

The candidate representing the Greens in tonight’s debate, Bas Eickhout, arrived by bike.

Who's debating?

This year’s debate in Maastricht, ahead of the June European parliament elections, is an unusual one. In theory, the debate is set to “feature Europe’s top candidates for Commission President, representing key party groups,” according to organisers.

But while there will be eight contenders on stage, eyes will be focused on just one: Ursula von der Leyen, the current European Commission president and lead candidate of the centre-right European People’s party.

Von der Leyen is widely considered the leading contender to be selected as Commission president (again). And while some other names have been floated, they will not be present in Maastricht, leaving von der Leyen as the only top-level political heavyweight to participate in the debate.

The other debate participants will be:

Nicolas Schmit for the Party
of European Socialists

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party

Bas Eickhout for the European Green Party

Anders Vistisen for the Identity and Democracy Party

Walter Baier for the Party of the European Left

Maylis Roßberg for the European Free Alliance

Valeriu Ghilețchi for the European Christian Political Movement

Welcome to the blog

Good evening and welcome to a special edition of the Europe blog, focused on the EU election debate in Maastricht.

Stay tuned and send your comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.

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