Former EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker defends European values and warns centrist parties not to “ape right-wing extremist sayings”.
For decades he was one of the great figures in European politics: As President of the EU Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker shaped an association of states that, on the one hand, agreed on certain values, but which are no longer shared by all members, as Juncker said in an interview IPPEN.MEDIA says – especially in one question.
Mr Juncker, according to a survey, eight out of ten Europeans are of the opinion that elections are becoming increasingly important. What gives you hope that all these people will go to the European elections in June?
Europeans have developed a sensitivity to the fact that we need a united and stronger European Union. Because of the geopolitical turmoil we are currently experiencing, this survey result will also be reflected in voter turnout. I'm quite sure of that.
In view of all the wars and crises, do you feel a certain numbing effect among the population?
The danger existed. But I hope that we are beyond this phase. In any case, the survey you cite gives reason to hope that people in Europe understand what the hour has come. The danger from the right must be stopped. We've now gotten to the point where established European party families are parroting the crude ideas the extreme right comes up with. As Europeans, we must oppose this resolutely.
In Germany, the democratic center parties hold each other responsible for the rise of the AfD. Given the Europe-wide shift to the right, do the European elections have any greater significance than previous elections?
It is one of the usual sayings of politicians to say that the next election is the most important. But this time it's really true. The extreme forces must be contained. I do not believe that our fundamental European values such as freedom and the rule of law will be washed away with an election. However, I would warn against aping right-wing extremist sayings.
Who do you have in mind?
Well, I especially remember Viktor Orbán (Prime Minister of Hungary, editor's note) saying: “We must occupy Brussels” in order to change the European Union.
Juncker on Hungary's head of government: "We warned Orbán again and again"
Like NATO, the EU sees itself as a “community of values”. Are the relevant European values shared by all members?
I have some doubts, especially when it comes to Hungary. But in general, the Europeans know what to do with the concept of defensive democracy - and will not strengthen the margins.
Do you think that as President of the European Commission you have always dealt with Orbán appropriately?
We were always patient and repeatedly approached Hungary in controversial negotiations. At the same time, we have repeatedly warned Orbán that he should not overdo his populism. We often disagreed with his stance on issues that go to the core of our European values.
One of the biggest points of criticism from even moderate heads of government is migration policy. What has the EU missed here?
It is not the EU that has missed something. In 2015, my commission put forward far-reaching proposals to straighten out migration in order to bring order to it. However, these decisions were not implemented by some member states. The heads of state and government have made big mistakes in the migration crisis.
“Merkel’s welcoming culture was shared without exception in the EU Commission”
Who exactly made which mistakes?
I mean the Member States that were not prepared to act in solidarity. The fundamental error lay in the incorrect analysis that the migration problem only affected some countries and not the entire European Union. I was impressed by the German attitude during this time. In the EU Commission, the welcoming culture and Angela Merkel's statement “We can do it” were shared without exception.
Over the years there have been a number of moves away from the CDU.
I can't see any serious mistakes in the migration crisis. I still consider what the Germans decided in 2015 and 2016 to be goal-oriented and morally justified. I admired the German attitude. I will never forget how German civil society acted in solidarity in the face of increasing refugee movements.
In view of the still high migration numbers, it is often argued that we cannot help everyone. What do you do with a sentence like that?
I think he's right. I cannot subscribe to the idea that Europe could solve all the world's suffering on a humanitarian basis. There are good reasons to look for happiness elsewhere. But we cannot accept all economic refugees in Europe. We will not be able to do it. However, Europe must not become a fortress either. Europe must remain a refuge for those politically persecuted.