Economy, migration, defense and even climate. What are the main expectations of voters as the June elections approach?
“ The increasing cost of living will be one of the main concerns of voters when they go to the polls in June. We carried out a survey across Europe and two thirds of respondents said tackling price rises should be a priority for the EU. Energy prices have increased by 40%. One in three Europeans said they would not be able to pay an unexpected bill. Europeans are really feeling the effects of the crisis. When the European Union considers its energy policy and its policy to combat climate change, it will therefore have to take into account the impact that this will have on citizens’ wallets.”notes Jack Schickler, financial correspondent.
Will the Migration Pact mark a new departure for EU asylum policy?
“ The migration has been a hot topic for around ten years. Since the Lampedusa tragedy in 2013. Today we finally have a pact on migration. It took years to get to this starting point. He is perfectly imperfect. Nobody loves her. For the left, he is too right. For the right, he is too far left. But it’s a starting point. And of course, the next term will be largely occupied with looking at how Member States transpose this into law and how it works on the ground. We need immigration. We need managed migration. Europe is aging very quickly. Many people point out, in the case of Ukraine, that we can handle asylum seekers very well, those who need protection.” underlines Méabh McMahon, correspondent for European affairs.
What will be the EU’s position on defense?
“ Defense will certainly be one of the issues that will be at the heart of the mandate of the next European Commission and the next Parliament, not least because of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. We realize that this war will continue for the foreseeable future. Indeed, for several months, Ukraine has been in retreat on a military level. And for the first time in many years, there is a war on the European continent. But there is also recognition that Ukraine may not be the only conflict the world will face in the years to come. The EU and Europe feel that they must be autonomous in matters of defense and security, and not always rely on the United States. “, says Shona Murray, Europe correspondent.
Can the Green Deal survive a victory for the far right?
” The objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by the end of the decade. Which essentially means that this must be done during the term of office of the new Commission and the new Parliament. This is a huge task and it will be even bigger when they adopt the new climate goals. As the elections approach, we have right-wing parties who rely on a platform of support for farmers, who are putting the brakes on this whole Green Deal. So, yes, the momentum is definitely there, but the question is whether it will continue after the election,” asks environment and energy correspondent Robert Hodgson.