Belgian liberal MEP Philippe De Backer optimistic about Europe’s future, despite atmosphere of crisis

“People realise that only a stronger European Union can solve the problems we face today”

Philippe De Backer, 37, is one of the younger members of the European Parliament (MEP). As a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), the group led by Guy Verhofstadt, De Backer is a part of the most pro-European integration party in the Parliament. Europe HOpes on 8 December had a talk with the Belgian MEP in his office in the Altiero Spinelli building of the European Parliament in Brussels. A conversation about frustrations, hopes and a Christmas wish for the European Parliament.

Interview by Rick Van Assel

It does not happen very often that a PhD in biotechnology ends up being a member of the European Parliament (MEP). However, for Philippe De Backer this is the case. Fascinated by science, he started his academic career studying biotechnology at Ghent University in Belgium, while at the same time he became politically active. De Backer was a student’s representative at Ghent University and during his PhD he became president of the youth wing of Open VLD, a Belgian liberal political party known for its pro-European integration stance. Thus, a biotechnologist in the European Parliament (EP) does not seem so strange after all. “As a scientist, I was in contact with universities from different European countries when I was participating in a European research project. So I was aware of the scientific and economic opportunities that the European Union could offer. At the same time, I saw the political difficulties of the EU, that was in the process of its first big enlargement round. Those two factors combined have made me want to become politically active on a European level”, Philippe De Backer reveals. After completing his PhD, he started working for an investment fund specialized in health care for a few years. But in 2011, De Backer’s life drastically changed when he entered the European Parliament, replacing an Open VLD MEP that retired. Four years later, a combative and resolute De Backer has high hopes for the European Union’s (EU) future. “The EU is in crisis. Things are going bad on more than one issue. But at the same time I am optimistic. A big part of the European population realises that a strong European Union is necessary to tackle problems such as climate change, terror and migration. You do not think that a region as Flanders, or large countries as Germany and France, can solve these issues on their own? However, therefore the European Union needs to be given the instruments, so that we can implement strong policies.”

The turnout for the European elections has been decreasing ever since the first election. In 1979 62% of European citizens showed up, whereas in 2014 a small 43% turned to vote. At the same time the European Parliament has become an important co-legislator. How do you explain this paradoxical evolution?PHILIPPE DE BACKER: “I think that people are disappointed, because they expected more from the European integration project. We have promised economic stability and growth, but the EU has not delivered on these fronts. There are many explanations for these problems, but the main reason lies in the fact that the EU is an unfinished project. Europe lacks the necessary instruments to achieve such ambitious goals. It is still too dependent on the goodwill of the member states. So I do understand the disillusion of people. However, people do not see the advantages of the European Union anymore either. They do not realise how easy it is to cross boarders without passports or to be able to pay with a single currency.”

Education might also play an important role. Do you remember if you had any classes on European integration during your time in secondary school?

European Left Parties against the rise of extreme right

Author: Giulia Semeghini


The time in which the speeches of the Nazi and Fascist parties were given publicly or in parliaments is historically far. However, more and more often it is now possible to hear some ideas that have very much in common to the ones declared during that time, even in some parliamentary events.

In fact, as recently shown by the rise of Marine Le Pen and the National Front in France, political parties belonging to the extreme right are experiencing a new period of growth by gaining ground on the fears and problems emerging in Europe from the ongoing refugee crisis and the latest terrorist attacks.

A confirmation of this trend can be found also in the fact that after the European elections in 2014, 9 parties affiliated to extreme right have found a seat in the European Parliament. Among them, there are the Nation Democratic Party (Germany), the Golden Dawn (Greece), the Finns Party (Finland), the Danish People's Party, the Party for Freedom (Netherlands), Jobbik (Hungary), the Freedom Party of Austria, Lega Nord (Italy) and, of course, the National Front (France).

In view of this considerations, on the 8th of December 2015 the Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) organized a conference to discuss about possible strategies against the rise of extreme right in Europe. The conference was held at the European Parliament and various politics and representatives of European left parties and other organizations were invited to come up with new ideas and propositions on the topic.

Medium term prospects for EU dairy sector

Author: Laura Nobel

Brussels, 2 dicember - The DG Agriculture and Rural development of the European Commission held a two day conference on the first and second of December containing topics about the new developments in the agriculture sector, including a discussion on the prospects of the European dairy sector.

With the milk quota abolished spring 2015, the EU supplies production growth and wishes to gain market shares on the world market. Growth is estimated on 15 megatonne in 10 years.

The questions raised during the discussion were about export, value of the product and how to deal with volatility. The first point raised was the increase of milk production in all EU member states. Farmers are allowed to produce as much milk as they see fit, which creates more opportunity for export outside the European Union (EU). Currently, New Zealand is on top in the export market for dairy products. The United States follows closely behind. This is a great competitive world market the EU wishes to join in on. With higher production, the EU won’t be able to absorb the entire internal dairy market and therefore makes export a commodity. New Zealand has its benefits of cheap production costs, which means they are also able to sell their products easily on the world market.

The prices and costs for production of agricultural products does not have a fixed price and has many factors at play for the increase or decrease of one another. This is also called volatility. The EU has a low volatility percentage of 9%, while in the US it remains on 15% and in New Zealand 21%. When expanding trade outside of the EU, it is inevitable that the volatility of the milk price will increase. The question is whether farmers and other stakeholders in the supply chain are able to cope with it.

Peacebuilding in the MENA region and the necessity of a new EU’s leading role

author: Giulia Semeghini

A common denominator from worldwide news reports is the situation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region which appears totally un-resolved and highly problematic. The war in Syria, the last year Gaza's crisis, the threaten Tunisia's stability and the migration and refugees emergency are just few examples that demonstrate the fragility and critical situation of the region. This awareness leads to the conclusion that the European foreign policy instruments were not so effective and even failed many of their purposes. In this context the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) plays a key role.

Since its conception in 2003, this policy should have been a relevant part of the EU Foreign Policy in the Middle East and North Africa region, with the aim of improving democracy, human rights, sustainable development and economic integration with all the partner countries of the Action Plan. Due to the necessity to reformulate this European approach, on the 17th of November 2015 it took place at the European Parliament a round table to start a discussion on the EU role as a peace promoter in the MENA region.

Organized by the non-governmental actors EuroMed Non-Governmental Platform, Arab NGO Network for Development and SOLIDAR, who have monitored the implementation of the ENP during the last years, the debate was focused in particular on the consideration of a comprehensive EU approach to peacebuilding and State-building including the promotion of human rights and security. “What can the EU do to concretely promote human security?”, “How can the EU work with local, regional and international actors to advance peace in the region?”; these are just some of the questions that started this debate.

"Tutte le misure necessarie...": la risposta ONU all’ISIS

autore: Martina Lima

 

20.11.15 - Gli attentati di Parigi hanno reso evidente l'inadeguatezza della politica di Sicurezza e Difesa a livello dell'Unione e soprattutto come vi sia la necessità di un’azione congiunta da parte degli stessi.

Ma anche a livello internazionale qualche giorno fa, il Consiglio di Sicurezza delle Nazioni Unite si è riunito al palazzo di vetro di New York per decidere come affrontare il problema ISIS.

In particolare, è stato riportato dai giornali, che il Consiglio, su proposta dalla Francia, il paese che ad oggi è stato il più colpito dal terrorismo nell'ultimo anno, all’unanimità, ha deciso di accordare ai Paesi membri l’utilizzo di ogni misura necessaria per sconfiggere la minaccia dell’integralismo musulmano e dei “foreign fighters”.

L’ambasciatore francese, nel presentare la domanda, così ha dichiarato: “Quello dell’Isis è stato un atto di guerra nei confronti della Francia, lo Stato Islamico però non ha attaccato solo la Francia, ma tutto il mondo”.