Speak for the values you’re fighting for, Kallas encourages liberal ally Strack Zimmermann [Advocacy Lab Content]

5 months ago 35

Estonian PM Kaja Kallas told Euractiv her advice for liberal ally Marie-Agnes Strack Zimmermann is “Be yourself, and speak for the values you’re fighting for,” as Strack Zimmermann, chair of Germany’s Defence Committee begins her campaign as ALDE’s lead candidate for the June elections.

Kallas commented during the EU liberals’ election campaign kickoff where their top trio composed of Strack Zimmermann (FDP), MEP Valérie Hayer (Besoin d’Europe) and MEP Sandro Gozi (EDP) shared the stage to emphasise their top priorities of European defence and security, the green and sustainable transition, and the fight against autocracy and extremism.

Alongside a tribe of European Commissioners and a brief appearance by European Council President, Charles Michel, Kallas was one of the star guests of the 20 March event. She drew some of the warmest applause and proved popular with attendees who took selfies with her throughout the evening.

Despite hope from some quarters that she would be ALDE’s spitzenkandidat, Kallas had put the issue to rest in early March. During the ‘Renew Europe Now’ election campaign launch, Kallas stuck to her position. “I can’t do it while being Prime Minister,” she told Euractiv.

Strack Zimmermann told delegates that Renew’s message must be loud and clear. She said in these challenging times Europe needs a strong liberal voice and promised that she will give the campaign her every effort.

Defence and Europe’s own security

European defence and security were recurring themes throughout the night. Gozi said strength doesn’t come from wishful thinking but from a hard look at reality. “We cannot say, ‘We support Ukraine… But.’ There can be no but. Because Putin only hears the “but”. Instead, we must support Ukraine. Full stop.” “Putin will not stop in Ukraine,” Gozi warned, urging Europeans to remain the masters of their own destiny.

Strack Zimmermann also stressed the importance of Europe’s autonomy when it comes to the region’s security: “Europe can no longer build its hopes only on the United States, we have to find our own way. Not without the US, or without a strong NATO, but we have to do more in terms of our own security,” Strack Zimmermann told Euractiv.

On defence, MEP Valérie Hayer said a top priority for the next years should be for Europe to ramp up its capabilities as its security is at stake and affirmed that Putin is committing war crimes and kidnapping children.

Gozi slipped Brexit into his speech, saying: “The sooner our British friends realise that their place is at the heart of union, and not in the Brexit cold out there, the better.”

Renew’s project to protect the continent

Strack Zimmermann, Gozi, and Hayer all made sure to emphasise criticism of the EPP, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen specifically. Von der Leyen recently expressed her willingness to collaborate with political forces from the national-conservative ECR group in the European Parliament.

“I hear the EPP wants an alliance with ECR. Today ECR is made of Vox, Law and Justice, and soon Viktor Orbán. This is not our project. Our project is to protect our continent,” Hayer said. She added that she wants a Europe that speaks in one voice. Euractiv had previously reported that Hayer is expected to oppose any type of collaboration with ECR forces.

Gozi commented on von der Leyen’s relationship with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni (Fratelli d’Italia) and said he’d advise the former German defence minister to go a bit less often to Rome.

“This time the road to Rome won’t bring Ursula very far. One thing is for sure. The road to Meloni and the road to the extreme right is a dead end, and we don’t want to end up there,” he said. According to Gozi, European solutions are needed for European problems. The starting point, he said, must be Europe’s fundamental values.

Zimmermann, Hayer, and Gozi faced questions from the press about what their precise political ambitions were. Will they be tackling the far right or von der Leyen? Are they expecting to lead one of the institutions? If it won’t be one of them, then who will it be?

“We are not campaigning for top jobs here. We are campaigning for European people. Ursula von der Leyen and Nicolas Schmit are campaigning for themselves. For jobs,” Hayer said.

[By Christoph Schwaiger I Edited by Brian Maguire | Euractiv’s Advocacy Lab ]

This article is part of our special report Spitzenkandidaten and the upcoming EU elections.