is approaching these elections in an unusual position: that of potential Luxembourg European Commissioner. He was offered the post by because of his experience in the European Parliament, where--succeeding Viviane Reding--he served from 2018 to 2023. Europe has been an important part of his career: he has worked for MEP Astrid Lulling, as an environmental attaché for Luxembourg’s Permanent Representation to the European Union, as a European affairs adviser at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, as an economic and commercial attaché at the Luxembourg embassy in Brussels, and as a member of the European Economic and Social Committee.
The CSV list is unique in that it is made up of three outgoing MEPs: Christophe Hansen, --already head of the list in 2019--and Martine Kemp. They will be joined by Mélanie Grün, local councillor in Kayl-Tétange; Guy Breden, local councillor in Kehlen; and Metty Steinmetz, international secretary of the Chrëschtlech Sozial Jugend (CSJ), the youth organisation of the CSV.
Paperjam: What are the issues at stake in the forthcoming European elections for Europe, for Luxembourg and for your party?
Christophe Hansen: Much of the legislation debated in the Chamber of Deputies comes from European texts that have to be transposed. It is therefore essential that we have representatives in Brussels who know their files well so that we can be attentive and reactive to any points of regulation that could pose a problem for the grand duchy.
Secondly, we are facing a global crisis and a war in Europe, in which we are indirectly involved. We have taken in many refugees and have supplied arms. We know that Russia is not going to stop at Ukraine, so it is essential that we focus on the proper functioning of the European Union. We must remember that one of the founding pillars of the EU is to promote peace in Europe. When I said that five years ago during the previous campaign, it made people smile. The reminder has been painful… especially as many of the current challenges we face are consequences of that conflict. One of them is the rise in energy prices. At present, prices are capped here, but this system is costly and cannot be maintained indefinitely.
And while we’re on the subject of money, the EU budget is meagre. Very meagre. It corresponds to 1% of the GDP of the member states. If we want more European defence, more cooperation or even more deployment of renewable energies, we need a bigger budget. Faced with the covid-19 crisis, Europe was not well prepared because there was no budget for a Health Union. We need to learn from crises and change the way the EU works. We know that on many issues we are blocked by the principle of unanimity. If we want to be a global player with a real foreign policy, we have to go back to the principle of unanimity.
In my view, the two big projects for the next legislature will be budget reform and reform of the decision-making rules. We’re going to have to review the treaties.
You mentioned the fact that Luxembourg’s representatives in the European Parliament need to know their files well in order to defend the country’s interests. Are Luxembourg MEPs active enough in Brussels?
They are. Every year, rankings are published for the most active MEPs and, over the last two years, three of the six Luxembourgers have been among the top 100. That’s a considerable number. And it’s why many of our colleagues in the chamber say that we’re punching above our weight.
We have the advantage of speaking several languages, and often better than others. This allows us to forge links with colleagues with whom we would normally have little contact. I speak Spanish, which allows me to interact with my Spanish counterparts, who generally speak little or no English or any other foreign language. The Germans and Austrians see us as German speakers who are almost German, the French consider us French speakers who are almost French. All this gives us an influence that is out of proportion to our size.
Are six MEPs enough to represent Luxembourg?
Our delegation is relatively small: with six MEPs, Luxembourg is--along with Cyprus and Malta--the country with the lowest absolute number of MEPs. There are a lot of dossiers to follow if we want to have a global view of the issues, and we need to be present for the votes in plenary. You can always say that there aren’t enough of us. But when I talk to my German colleagues, they point out that they have one MEP for every million inhabitants, whereas we have six for every 600,000.
That said, the fact remains that covering all the committees with six members is difficult. We have all worked together to try to cover at least the committees that are essential for Luxembourg. I had suggested that (déi Gréng) cover the transport committee, that (DP) cover agriculture, that my colleague Isabelle Wiseler cover industry and research, and that I cover the environment and health committees. These are technical committees for which it is difficult to communicate, but which I believe are essential.
And there are several of us on the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, which is very important for Luxembourg. We sit on more committees than the average MEP. Members from large countries are usually full members of just one committee and substitutes on another.
What are the CSV’s objectives for this election? Are you aiming for the third seat won in 2004 and lost in 2019?
Obviously, yes. I’d be lying if I said otherwise. But it will be all the more difficult because 13 parties are in the running and voters have only six votes to cast.
What will be decisive are the heads visible on the lists. As the CSV, we have more than last time. And all the candidates are ready to take their seats. I’m not sure that this will be the case for all the other parties.
In the European Parliament, will you remain a member of the European People's Party (EPP) and support Ursula von der Leyen's candidacy?
Yes, clearly. I think she has done a good job during a difficult period with crises on a scale that no other committee has seen. I think the EU has made enormous progress over the last three years. Progress that would not have been made without the crises that have occurred and the way they have been managed. We support Ursula von der Leyen in giving continuity to the EU’s action.
Obviously, new alliances will have to be forged with the various political groups after the elections in order to form a majority.
On 9 June, will people be voting more for European or national issues?
Clearly, they will be voting on European issues. And I think it’s a good thing that the legislative elections and the European elections are on two different dates, which wasn’t the case 10 years ago when we had a lot of well-known faces on the European list who we knew very well wouldn’t be going to Strasbourg. All the candidates should be asked whether they will take up this mandate once elected. It’s not clear to everyone… Now, I think that the parties in government will benefit from the momentum of this electoral sequence, which began last June with the local elections. This will encourage the opposition parties to focus more on national issues. That’s a shame.
Has parliament and its MEPs lost their credibility as a result of Qatargate?
The vast majority of MEPs are honest people who do their job well, and they are feeling the repercussions of this scandal. With the new transparency obligations, the administrative burden has become enormous. And it’s so complex that you can’t avoid forgetting something or even misinterpreting the texts. This does not make the life and work of honest MEPs any easier. Quite the contrary. And will all these transparency measures be effective? What’s to stop lobbyists from meeting MEPs outside Parliament?
Then, in compliance with the rules, I start from the principle that you have to meet as many people as possible to get the broadest possible picture of the problem and find solutions that work for everyone. Some MEPs have given up doing this to avoid being criticised for having received so-and-so. This is detrimental to the smooth running of the institution.
This article in Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.