Correspondents of participating enr agencies questioned Terry Reintke who is an MEP and vice-president of the Greens/EFA Group on her priorities for the elections, the Green Deal, farmers’ protests and the looming spectre of right-wing extremism.
The Greens’ lead candidate is demanding written commitments from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in order to support her re-election. “I will need to see things on paper before I vote in a certain way,” she said in an interview with the European Newsroom in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
Von der Leyen, aiming for a second term as President of the European Commission after the European elections in the summer, will need a majority in the European Parliament after the election. She could be dependent on the votes of the Greens.
Reintke further said that the EU’s environmental and climate policy must be continued and expanded. Investments in infrastructure, renovation and the green transformation of companies are needed. “This will be key for us, alongside obviously with making the transition socially just,” she said.
On the subject of the ongoing farmers’ protests across Europe, the Green leader said that they require “that we listen to them and try to find answers”, the Green leader said. But there was one important restriction: their problems are not the result of the Green Deal.
Several enr agencies, including AFP, AGERPRES, dpa, EFE and TT attended the interview in person in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Other agencies such as LUSA, MIA, PAP and STA attended the interview online.
Based on the interview, the enr produced a joint Key Story which you can find here. Follow the European Newsroom on Social Media and check out the wires from the respective outlets online if you are interested in learning about each country’s specific take on the subject.