What qualities are needed to be a good MEP?
You must first be interested in the general European interest and not confine yourself to those of your country of origin. It is difficult, because an MP is at the confluence of three currents: member of a party whose ideas he must advance, he must serve his country and Europe. You must then take an interest in the legislative workings and become fully involved in them. European legislation is by definition very complex; it requires a significant investment to master its workings. An MP must develop expertise in at least one or two areas and be recognized for this in his own party and beyond.
Does a European MP do the same job as a national MP?
He votes for the law, but the context is different. Unlike a national parliament, the European Parliament is not a parliament of opposition and majority, it is a parliament with changing majorities. The MEP must always try to be part of the majority to advance his political vision of things.
National election for a European mandate. Is there a risk that national issues will take precedence over European issues?
The risk exists. In the absence of European media or media spaces, campaigns are often swallowed up by national agendas. This is less true in Luxembourg, a small country which needs Europe and where the Luxembourg general interest is generally confused with the European general interest.
In Luxembourg, do people elect MEPs or Luxembourg MPs for Europe?
We should ask voters that. But my experience tells me that Luxembourg voters like people who they have the impression of weighing on things in Europe. Either by influencing legislation or by making geopolitics and the complexity of power relations in Europe understandable to citizens. I believe that these are the two core activities of the MEP.
What does the Qatargate scandal inspire you?
This shows that countries outside Europe understand European democracy. They know that it is in the European Parliament that a large part of the decisions are made. Qatargate shows that in the age of social networks, we must be vigilant regarding external interference.
Do we need even more transparency in Parliament and other European institutions?
Yes. I believe that democracy has everything to gain from transparency. One of the files of which I am most proud is the transparency register that I negotiated with other parliamentarians and which was the first step to regulate industrial lobbies. And this is surely an area in which we must continue to perfect things. Today IThere is a risk of seeing fossil fuel lobbies allying in the shadows with the far right to push Europe back on an essential policy.
This article was written for the magazine edition of Paperjam , published on May 22, 2024. The content of the magazine is produced exclusively for the magazine. It is published on the site to contribute to the complete Paperjam archives.
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