Achi news desk-
Key events
Anders Vissenon behalf of the extreme right-wing Identity and Democracy Party, which has not spread false information and which others did not want on stage.
“I’m not an 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 views,” he said.
Nicolas Schmitton behalf of the Party of European Socialists, that “migration has been transformed into a toxic topic by the extreme right.”
It is necessary to fight against smugglers, he said.
He also said that humanity and human rights are fundamental.
In terms of migration, deals with third countries were sought, Ursula von der Leyen He said the EU has nothing to do with the UK’s Rwanda policy.
Europe is fulfilling its international obligations, he said. “We Europeans are the ones who decide who comes to the European Union, and under what circumstances, and not the smugglers and traders,” he said.
Agreements with countries such as Tunisia and Egypt are about “investing in their economy” and creating legal, safe routes, he said.
Bass Eickhouton behalf of the European Green Party, criticizing organizers for placing the issue of migration together with defense and security.
As long as we do not make sure that we stand up for human rights and create solidarity, there is no European solution, he said.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermannfor the party of the League of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, “it is very strange, that Viktor Orbán went to the toilet for 10 billion euros”, in a criticism of the current unanimous voting rules on foreign policy issues.
Asked about EU policy towards Israel, Ursula von der Leyen He 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 dealings 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 die, especially children, is intolerable, and it is unacceptable.
And so we need a truce. We need a truce now. And the hostages need to be released 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.
When asked if an invasion of Rafah would be a red line, von der Leyen said that she never draws red lines but that it would be completely unacceptable if Netanyahu invaded Rafah.
Anders Vissen, for the far right Identity and Democracy Party, accused von der Leyen of taking responsibility for making Europe more dependent on Russian energy in her work in the past.
Ursula von der Leyen, candidate of the European People’s party, turned to the far-right candidate on stage and said: “when I see what your AfD colleagues, the main candidates, have done, they are under investigation for being in Putin’s pocket, and if you look at the election programme, you will see that it echoes the Kremlin’s lies and propaganda. So clean your house before you judge us.”
Ursula von der Leyen responds that she has been to Ukraine seven times and has seen the body bags in Bucha.
In an impassioned response, he said:
“If you want to end this war, Putin has to stop fighting, then the war is over,” he said.
Walter Baier, on behalf of the European Left Party, he said that his party condemned Russian aggression but that it was now time to find a political solution.
He also asked, “When will you impose sanctions on Israel?”
Anders Vissen, for the far-right Identity and Democracy Party, responded by raising the Qatargate debate 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.
Bass Eickhouton behalf of the Green Party of Europe, has raised recent allegations that have come to the surface about the influential members of Russia and China from the extreme south of Europe.
“Maybe before you teach everyone, clean your own house,” the Green candidate told the Identity and Democracy candidate.
Anders Vissen, on behalf of the far-right Identity and Democracy Party, that the defense conversation is about trying to remove the veto rights of member states and that the Ukraine war is being used to stimulate European integration.
Ursula von der Leyen, on behalf of the European People’s Party, that the single market, the industry, is the competence of the Commission – as is the defense industry. Investment is needed in the defense industry. We need a strong Europe, we need military capabilities in Europe – I want good jobs, and military capabilities are made in Europe, he 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 dialogue.
“Like you, I think that the farmers are also the answer to fight against climate change and to protect nature,” he said to the Green candidate.
“So we have to find a system, together with them and the environmental groups that work in this dialogue, that we can achieve the climate goals also in the farming sector.”
