On 15 May 2019, the lead candidates for the presidency of the European Commission take part in a live Eurovision debate at the Parliament in Brussels. Frans TIMMERMANS, lead candidate of the Party of European Socialists (PES), Manfred WEBER, lead candidate of the European People’s Party (EPP), Ska KELLER, lead candidate of the European Greens (Greens), Nico CUÉ, lead candidate of the European Left (EL), Margrethe VESTAGER, lead candidate of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) as member of Team Europe, and Jan ZAHRADIL, lead candidate of the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE) debate international trade and role of the EU in the world.

Brussels

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

TIMMERMANS, Frans (NL, EC)

KELLER, Ska (Greens/EFA, DE)

VESTAGER, Margrethe (DK, CE)

ZAHRADIL, Jan (ECR, CZ)

Eurovision debate between candidates for the Presidency of the European Commission (T)

2019 European elections (T)

CUÉ, Nico (BE)

Presidency of the European Commission / Eurovision Debate - Topic 5: International trade / role of the EU in the world

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER, Greens lead candidate, talking about the role of the European Union as a force of peace in the world but not being coherent by sending weapons to dictators.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, PES lead candidate, talking about the need to create unity among member states to defend European interests in the world and stand firm against Trump and Putin.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER, EPP lead candidate, talking about the need to be strict and clear with the American president. Suggests a deal on industrial goods but on a partnership basis. Need towards majority decision making process to make Europe string and united.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nico CU&#201;, EL lead candidate, talking about how free trade agreements weaken Europe if we can not make our partners follow social standards. Need to ensure that European living standards are accepted and not put into hand of private interest that can overrule states.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jan ZAHRADIL, ACRE lead candidate, talking about how trade is the major engine of growth for Europe so trade agreements should be done irrespectively of who is in the White House. Need to be a pioneer in free trade agreements especially in Asia.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, ALDE lead candidate as member of Team Europe, talking about how Europe should be a stronger negotiator because it is a huge market. Need to trade in a value-based way that also created positive input and jobs.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nico CU&#201;, EL lead candidate, challenging Frans Timmermans if free trade agreements can provide for democratic decisions when there are private arbitral tribunals.

SOUNDBITE (French), Frans TIMMERMANS, PES lead candidate, responding to Nico Cu&eacute; that processes got more public.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER, EPP lead candidate, talking about how jobs are dependent on trade and how the left and greens won't agree on using trade issue on better future.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nico CU&#201;, EL lead candidate, talking about a reduction of social standards because of trade agreements and standard of living for Europeans can not be kept up by international treatments.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER, Greens lead candidate, talking about how trade can be used as a tool but with care and public services should not all be privatised and need to differentiate between trade deals.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jan ZAHRADIL, ACRE lead candidate, challenging Manfred Weber on qualified majority votes on foreign trade.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER, EPP lead candidate, responding that the European Union decision making process is too slow.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, ALDE lead candidate as member of Team Europe, talking about the potential of exportable innovation in the context of trade.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER, Greens lead candidate, responding to Margrethe Vestager, saying that trade needs to take into account climate change and put Paris agreements into trade agreements.