EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KATALIN CSEH European interview n°103 « There is an extraordinarily strong th 15 December 2020 pro-European voice in Hungary » Interview with Katalin Cseh, MEP (RE, HU) At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, you takes better care of its citizens’ health and is better volunteered to help the hospital services. Why equipped for future challenges. did you choose to do this? Do you think that Europeans will be better At the time I was working at home in Budapest, prepared for any future health crises? waiting for the European Parliament to resume its usual activities. The hospital system was already operating It will really depend on our ability to learn from this beyond capacity and, as a doctor, I felt compelled to pandemic. When countries take care of critically ill patients volunteer to join the healthcare staff. In such times of from another Member State, these are very good examples distress, everyone has to close ranks and help their of solidarity. But, more often than not, this is not part of a country, especially politicians, who very often ask their systemic process. Due to a lack of coordination, the RescEU fellow citizens to make sacrifices. As an elected official, strategic reserve, set up in response to the Covid-19 crisis, I had to take responsibility. That is why I worked for has on more than one occasion, been short of emergency a few months in the emergency department of the medical equipment, medicines and ventilators. RescEU Budapest hospital. is an excellent initiative, and I welcome the stocks that have been built up, but such a reserve must be part of Has this experience been useful to you in your our future capabilities. We also need to strengthen the work as an MEP? European Union’s presence in certain strategic industries and to be more autonomous regarding our essential needs. It’s very interesting to have to face issues head-on It is dangerous that we are also dependent on the rest of that are being debated at the political level. For a long the world; if something happens with China or the United time, we have wondered whether Europe should do States, we Europeans will suffer because we are unable to more in the field of healthcare. And the governments produce enough medicines to meet our needs. that criticise the European Union for not doing enough in response to the pandemic are, in many cases, the Do you think Member States are preparing well most reluctant to give it more competence in this area. for the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines? Will the But the lack of coordination between Member States, the Commission’s recent proposals, in particular for shortfalls in our healthcare systems - all of this increases a new pharmaceutical strategy, contribute to inequality and reduces the opportunities for Europeans to building a European Health Union? receive proper care. I was also struck by the difficulties in supplying medicines and medical equipment. Many Joining forces to purchase vaccines is already a major step of my colleagues did not have the necessary protective forward. Imagine a world where smaller, less developed equipment, because we do not produce these things in Member States like mine are forced to fend for themselves Europe. So, it was there, in the hospital, that I measured - without the European Union (which is the world’s largest the impact of the policies we are implementing. And that market) at the negotiating table, pooling their forces to is why I am campaigning for a stronger Europe, which buy hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine. Whether FONDATION ROBERT SCHUMAN / EUROPEAN INTERVIEW N°103 / 15TH DECEMBER 2020 « There is an extraordinarily strong pro-European voice in Hungary » all Member States are prepared for the distribution and in terms of trade, monetary policy and financing. We administration phases is a more difficult question. There need to strengthen the Union to be able to protect all are huge inequalities in terms of health infrastructure our citizens. Some countries like mine are working for a 02 - I’m thinking, for example, of very demanding cold weaker Europe that is not a player on the world stage. chains to keep vaccines at extremely low temperatures. I believe, on the contrary, that it is in our fundamental The Commission has made some proposals to use its interest to join forces and fight for prosperity, power, (unfortunately limited) capacity to help Member States. and security. But this shows once again why we need to continue working to strengthen the Union’s healthcare capacity. In your view, the «status quo» is not enough. What changes do you see as priorities? You were first elected to the European Parliament in 2019, on the list of the Momentum Movement, We really need to rethink how the Union works and find the centrist party you co-founded in 2017. Why the most effective way to do this. I sincerely hope that the did you choose a European mandate? Conference on the Future of Europe will help to create a Union that is more in tune with future challenges. Let me Working for the European Union has always been my give you some examples. Unanimity in the Council is an dream. I believe that in the 21st century we need a obstacle to the adoption of certain fundamental reforms. stronger Europe, we need more coordination, we need Look at all the legislative proposals that are shelved for more tolerance. Unfortunately, the Hungarian government years because a few States block their adoption: this is going in the opposite direction. It wants to weaken is political blackmail! When it comes to foreign policy, if Europe and harm our historic transatlantic relations, it is Europe is not able to speak with one voice, its power on being fiercely open with countries that are strategic rivals the international stage is diminished. This has to change. of Europe, such as Russia and China. And anything V. Another thing that seems necessary to my mind is Orban does against the Union can do real damage to to give more power to the citizens and, therefore, to the future of European integration. I wanted to be- strengthen the European Parliament, which is the only come an MEP to show that not all Hungarians are like directly elected body. The European Parliament must their Prime Minister. There is an extraordinarily strong be given the right of legislative initiative; it should also pro-European voice in my country, which believes that have the possibility, through the Spitzenkandidaten Europe is the natural way for Hungary. I also wanted process or some other mechanism, of directly electing to promote ideas within the Union that are close to my the President of the Commission. Finally, we need to heart and that can only be implemented at this level: assess whether the Union’s current competences are more cohesion and solidarity, more transfers for those really appropriate for the future. Health is a national living in poverty. Finally, I wanted to participate in competence and the current framework severely limits the fight against climate change and for better human what it can and cannot do. But we see that pandemics rights for all. have no borders! When you first spoke in Strasbourg, you said Democracies are weakened by disinformation that Europe must remain «united, prosperous and fake news. What response should be given and secure». Do you think it is possible to at the European level? achieve these goals? Platforms should be held responsible for the content pu- We must, first and foremost, work for a Europe that creates blished on their pages. We should move towards a safer more wealth and more opportunities for every citizen. European digital space, which is not a vehicle for disinfor- Europe must also be more powerful, on the international mation. I hope that the legislation currently being draf- stage as well as within its borders, it must have more ted will provide citizens with greater protection. We also self-confidence, it must make better use of its powers, need to improve coordination between European and FONDATION ROBERT SCHUMAN / EUROPEAN INTERVIEW N°103 / 15TH DECEMBER 2020 « There is an extraordinarily strong pro-European voice in Hungary » national intelligence and cyber-intelligence agencies, govern in this way, without free media, without checks creating a common framework within the Union in which and balances, than to be criticised on a daily basis by we can better protect our democracies. Disinformation journalists. This is something that appeals to a number is a problem in all Member States: we certainly cannot of leaders, especially in view of the economic and health 03 create uniform mechanisms, but without a stronger crisis. It is certainly an opportunity for populism to be and more powerful European umbrella under which the stronger. The disillusionment, fear and sadness of the platforms should obey in each State, it will be very difficult population can fuel the vote in favour of extremes. And to tackle it. so I sincerely hope that the recovery plan can provide a solution. If they feel that the Union is not there for them, You once said: «the European project is what people will seek alternatives and those alternatives will we make of it, it can strengthen Europe, or it can be the extremes. So, we must ensure that the Union help the anti-European populists». What do you works, that the Union acts, that the Union protects. propose to fight populism? We are witnessing many breaches of the rule Populism, and the democratic backsliding that often of law in Poland and Hungary, but the Article results from it, is a real danger for the future of 7 procedure is not progressing.