On May 23, 2024, the EBU Eurovision Debate brought together the lead candidates for the presidency of the European Commission in a high-stakes discussion held in the European Parliament in Brussels. This debate was widely broadcast across Europe through public service media channels and online platforms, ensuring extensive reach and engagement with audiences all over the continent.
The debate featured the following candidates from major European political parties:
Walter Baier (Austria) from the European Left, Sandro Gozi (Italy) from Renew Europe Now, Ursula von der Leyen (Germany) from the European People’s Party, Terry Reintke (Germany) from the European Greens and Nicolas Schmit (Luxembourg) from the Party of European Socialists.
The debate was expertly moderated by Annelies Beck of VRT (Belgium) and Martin Řezníček of Czech TV (Czechia).
The debate covered six critical topics pivotal to the EU’s future:
- Economy and Jobs: Candidates deliberated on policies to enhance economic growth and reduce unemployment, emphasizing the need for innovation and competitive markets.
- Defence and Security: Discussions included strategies to safeguard the EU against external threats and enhance collective security measures.
- Climate and Environment: A major focus was placed on the climate crisis, with candidates highlighting their plans for sustainable development and green energy initiatives.
- Democracy and Leadership: This segment addressed the crucial aspects of governance, accountability, and democratic ideals within the EU.
- Migration and Border: Candidates presented their approaches to managing migration flows and securing the EU’s borders.
- Innovation and Technology: The role of technology in driving economic and social progress was debated, with an emphasis on digital transformation and cybersecurity.
This debate was particularly significant as it provided voters with a clear understanding of how each candidate and their party plans to address the pressing challenges facing the EU. With the European elections scheduled from June 6 to 9, 2024, the debate was a crucial opportunity for candidates to articulate their visions and policies directly to the electorate.
The Eurovision Debate underscored the diversity of opinions and policy proposals among the candidates. Ursula von der Leyen, representing the European People’s Party, emphasized stability and continuity in governance, while Sandro Gozi of Renew Europe Now advocated for bold reforms to invigorate the EU’s economic landscape. Walter Baier from the European Left called for more social justice and stronger protections for workers, whereas Terry Reintke of the European Greens focused on urgent climate action. Nicolas Schmit from the Party of European Socialists highlighted the importance of social policies and inclusive growth.
The EBU Eurovision Debate on May 23, 2024, was a landmark event in the run-up to the European elections, providing an essential platform for democratic engagement and dialogue. By bringing together the lead candidates and a wide European audience, it helped to clarify the choices facing voters and the direction they wish to see the EU take in the coming years. The debate not only highlighted the varied policy approaches but also reinforced the importance of robust democratic processes and informed electoral participation. In the end, the result of the debate was a media success and a great European resonance for the European Democratic Party, achieved thanks to the long and concerted work of the team itself, with the help of the ALDE party.
Related member(s)
Sandro
Gozi
Secretary General
France
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Sandro Gozi to Vučić: “Serbia cannot join Europe with repression and lies”
The Secretary General of the European Democratic Party and Member of the European Parliament with Renew Europe, Sandro Gozi, has published an open letter to the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, with a copy to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The initiative follows Vučić’s letter sent to Brussels on 21 August, in which he accused Serbian students and demonstrators of violence, reversing the truth and blaming the victims of repression.
In his statement, Gozi denounces the hundreds of arrests of students and peaceful citizens, the use of a sonic cannon (LRAD) during the March protest in Novi Sad, the shocking video of students forced to their knees and filmed by police, the violent arrests of women and even minors, and the attack on press freedom with intimidation against N1, documented by OCCRP/KRIK.
Gozi stresses that it is not citizens who endanger Serbia’s European path, but President Vučić and his government. By resorting to repression, false narratives and attacks on fundamental freedoms, they are undermining the credibility and the European future of the country.
Open Letter
To the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić
with a copy to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen
President Vučić,
Your letter of 21 August addressed to President von der Leyen is a masterpiece of hypocrisy. But facts, numbers and images tell another story.
In recent months, hundreds of people have been arrested in Serbia, including students and peaceful citizens. Many of them remain in prison today, facing charges that are essentially political. In practice, this undermines their freedom of expression and discourages democratic participation. It is not the citizens who are destabilising the country: it is your government, repressing the right to protest.
In March, during a commemoration in Novi Sad, a sonic cannon (LRAD) was used against demonstrators, A weapon, capable of provoking harsh pain, panic and permanent hearing damage. A practice that has nothing to do with the european standards you claim to embrace.
On 15 August, a video showed fifteen young people forced to their knees against a wall, filmed by police officers. An act of public humiliation, in total contempt for human dignity and contrary to every democratic standard.
And this was not an isolated case: in those same days, other footage and testimonies clearly showed worrying heavy-handed arrests, with students dragged to the ground, women and even minors treated without regard for their rights.
While students are beaten and arrested, citizens have witnessed violent groups apparently close to your party moving about undisturbed.
This selective tolerance raises serious concerns of rule of law.
Equally serious is the attack on freedom of information. N1, a news channel belonging to United Media (United Group), has been the target of a campaign of intimidation and pressure documented in recordings published by OCCRP/KRIK. You know perfectly well that silencing the last independent broadcaster means suffocating truth and pluralism.
President Vučić, it is not the youth, it is not the citizens, it is not the demonstrators who are jeopardising the European path of Serbia: Serbia belongs to Europe. But it is you — with your policies, your denyal your statements — which are undermining the credibility and the european path of your country.
Your accusations against Nikolina Sindjelić are embarrassing . The evidence shows that threats, unlawful arrests and violence have indeed taken place: personal attacks do not erase reality.
Your letter must therefore be sent back to the sender.
Serbian citizens deserve much better and Europe is something else: freedom, dignity, democracy.
EDP Hosts Transatlantic Dialogue on the Future of Centrist Politics
As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen international cooperation between democratic forces, the EDP recently hosted a transatlantic dinner discussion in Paris, bringing together key figures from European and American centrist politics.
Joint statement on the 30th Anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide
Thirty years ago, in Srebrenica, more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered by the Bosnian Serb army. In 2007, the International Court of Justice ruled that the atrocities constituted genocide. The wider Bosnian War saw over 100,000 killed, thousands of women raped, and more than two million people forced from their homes between 1992 and 1995. On this solemn occasion remembering one of the darkest chapters in Europe’s recent history, the ALDE Party, LIBSEEN members in the region, ALDE in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, European Democratic Party, Liberal International, LYMEC, Renew Europe in the Committee of the Regions, Renew Europe in the European Parliament, and the Young Democrats for Europe are united in honouring their memory and issue the following statement:
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