For Terry Reintke, the ecological transition is essential for the future of Europe

In an exclusive interview, Terry Reintke discusses the future of the European Green Deal, the need to make Europe independent in the energy sector, the Greens’ position on the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East , and gives us his opinion on Ursula von der Leyen’s record at the head of the European Commission.

Green deal and ecological transition

For Terry Reintke, the Greens are the only ones to offer a real roadmap for the ecological transition in Europe. According to her, maintaining the course of European carbon neutrality is in everyone’s interest.

“We are already seeing the dire consequences of the climate crisis today, particularly in Europe, because it is the fastest warming continent in the world”she explains.

“We must do what is necessary to shape a just and social transition because, of course, green social justice is at the center of our political agenda. We want to ensure that climate measures will be accompanied by support for citizens in this transition “.

According to Terry Reintke, the European Green Deal is not responsible for the problems farmers are currently experiencing.

“These problems are essentially linked to the agricultural model that we have today and to the agricultural policies of the European Union, as well as to the way in which subsidies are distributed at the moment”.

“We must reform the European Union’s agricultural policy to ensure that farmers, and in particular small farmers, receive the support they need to ensure food security, participate in change on environmental protection and the climate, but also, and this is very important, to be able to make a living from what they do”specifies the Green candidate, herself from a family of farmers.

According to her, it is imperative to overhaul the process of awarding subsidies, which are currently awarded based on the size of the farm, without taking into account sustainability, ecological or social aspects.

“We would like to impose conditions on ecological and social standards (…), and cap agricultural subsidies to give the remaining money – the funds which are not granted to large agricultural industries – to small farmers and in particular to family farming”she explains.

Boosting jobs and investments in ecology in Europe

For Terry Reintke, we are still at the beginning of the ecological transition in Europe, but the positive impact on jobs is already being felt.

“We see that jobs are already being created today (…) particularly in the field of renewable energies”explains the candidate who considers that it is essential for the European Union to “support technologysustainable hydrogento invest in green technologies, in batteries, but also to build the necessary infrastructure to really allow Europe, as a continent, to prepare for the energy transition, for the transition of industry”.

She adds : “For this we will need a stronger Europe, not a weaker one, because we have seen that Member States often do not act in a coordinated way when it comes to industrial policy. And I believe that it is only with investments at European level that we will be able to meet this great challenge that awaits us.”.

The Greens’ program provides an investment fund of 200 billion euros per year for the EU’s ecological transitiona “sufficient” sum according to Terry Reintke, who emphasizes the potential of this public investment to attract private investors in the future.

“It is only with a European strategy, only with the European model that we will be able to compete with China and the United States. But for this, it is essential to have a massive investment program at the level which encourages Member States to embark on this path and which also facilitates certain planning processes”.

“Many private investors are very interested, but they need to see that we are ready to build the infrastructure necessary for industrial companies, ready to make, for example, green steel to build, among other things, chips electronics in Europe I firmly believe that if we make the right decisions now, we can really start a trend.”says the candidate.

According to her, these investments will also be crucial to making Europe more independent in the energy sector.

“This transition, in the long term, will make our lives cheaper. Wind and solar energy will not only make our energy production more sustainable, but they will also make us less dependent on autocrats”.

“So we have every interest in doing so. A period of austerity would be very damaging in Europe, because it would not leave us enough room to maneuver to make these investments. And that would be exactly the wrong path to follow.”.

How to respond to the war in Ukraine?

For Terry Reintke, security issues and climate transition are intrinsically linked.

“In Europe, and Germany in particular, our dependence on Russian fuel imports has made us extremely vulnerable. This is why the Green Deal, wind and solar energy, the sustainable and circular economy, as well as raw materials essential resources and other resources, are the way forward for a more self-reliant industry and economy.”.

The candidate states that The Green Deal will provide Europe with more independent energy sources, as part of a comprehensive security strategy for the continent.

“The world is increasingly uncertain, so it is essential for us Europeans to work together and build an economic system that is not only sustainable, but also makes us less dependent”.

To fight against the Russian threat, Terry Reintke considers that the priority is not to invest more in the defense industry, but to invest more efficiently.

“When we compare our defense spending compared to those of the United States, they are not only lower, but they are also invested in a very inefficient way, because there is still no coordinated approach between member states.”

“The countries of the European Union are all trying to support their own defense industry. Therefore, we are not investing in a logical way so that Europe is ready to respond in the event of an attack”explains the candidate, who advocates greater coordination on the part of Brussels.

She further considers that, if it remains fundamental to continue to provide military support to Ukraine, we must now embark on a political path for the Ukrainians.

“This war has been going on for years already. It is obvious that people need to see that it is possible for a country based on democracy and freedom to be integrated into the European Union. So, despite the fact that this war continues, I think it is absolutely crucial to move forward with Ukraine’s enlargement and accession procedure.”she says.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Regarding the situation in the Middle East, Terry Reintke welcomes stronger, more united call from the European Union for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

“We see that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly in recent months. The European Union has already provided significant humanitarian aid, but we must ensure that this aid – we are talking about food, water, emergency medical aid – actually reaches the population and I think that for this, a stronger push from the Member States, but also from the European Commission, would be crucial at this time.”.

However, according to the candidate, this conflict will not be resolved by sending humanitarian aid alone : “We need a political process that allows for a resumption of negotiations for a two-state solution. This will require both sides to be willing to sit down and make this solution a reality.”.

“The European Union will not be enough”adds Terry Reintke, “We will need Arab countries. The United States will also have to play a positive role in this area, otherwise I do not see a path towards a lasting, viable and peaceful solution”.

What future for the European migration pact?

If the Greens voted in favor of certain provisions of the migration pactTerry Reintke clearly states: “We have a different point of view. If we look at the big challenges ahead of us,I don’t think the pact as it currently exists can solve our problems“.

“It goes in the right direction, but what we need is a solidarity mechanism that really works in practice, a mechanism that allows responsibilities to be shared between Member States. And the migration pact does not not allow it”.

The candidate opposes the decision to create external camps outside the EU borders, where children and families will be detained. For her, this is not the right solution.

“It is true that the situation at the external borders of the European Union is unbearable, unacceptable. But to achieve this, we will need to have a better, more sustainable and more resilient asylum system”.

Crucial elections for the future of Europe

During the last European elections, in 2019, the Greens achieved a historic score. If, according to the latest polls, they are expected to lose 20 seats in Parliament this year, Terry Reintke remains confident.

“We can always talk about the polls, we can also talk about the realities. During the last elections, for example, until the very end of the vote, it was not obvious that we would have such success”.

“We are fully involved in the electoral campaign. We are fighting. Our watchword is: courage. And I think that is also the attitude with which we approach the elections”she adds.

According to the candidate, the Greens have shown their determination over the last five years with the Green Deal, but also with social legislation and the defense of the rule of law.

“We have shown that we are ready to make proposals, and that we have succeeded in many respects. But also that we want to take responsibility”she says.

“I am going to pull out all the stops in this campaign over the coming weeks (…), because I believe that it is crucial not only for Europe, but also for the whole world, that the EU remains a actor who fights for his values, for freedom, for democracy, inside and outside our borders”.

Finally, Terry Reintke considers that Ursula von der Leyen had a positive influence on certain European legislation – such as the Green Deal, the end of the combustion engine and the reform of the emissions trading system – but has lost ground recently.

“The European People’s Party is increasingly attacking the Green Deal, distancing itself from progressive and pro-European majorities in the European Parliament, even regarding the Nature Restoration Act”.

“So it’s clear to me that she’s done a good job, she’s moved this legislation forward, but it’s not at all certain that she’ll continue to do that. So if people want this project continues, they must vote for the Greens, because we are the only ones to have a clear strategy and we will fight to make it reality”concludes Terry Reintke.