As the current legislature of the European Parliament comes towards its end, EU Today was privileged to obtain an exclusive interview with Reinhard Bütikofer, a senior member of the Parliament.

Next year’s European elections may still be a little over seven months away, but in Brussels attention is very much focussed on June 6th, when the polls will open.

In the European Parliament the current legislature has been a difficult one with Putin’s invasion of Ukraine destabilising the agenda somewhat, and causing frictions between member states.

One of the most prolific of MEPs during the last five years has been Reinhard Bütikofer, a German member of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance in the Parliament, first elected in 2009.

I asked him for his thoughts on progress made during the current (2019-24) legislature.

What has been achieved, and what is still left to do?

EP Plenary session – Joint debate – CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TEU).Implementation of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy- annual reports 2022

Mr. Bütikofer has a particular interest in trade policy, and he has excelled in ensuring the green agenda exerts strong influence on policy in these areas.

Trade agreements are very much a priority for the EU, and I asked how the landscape looks as the legislature comes towards a close.

I suggested that during both the pandemic and the Russia war a number of EU member states took it upon themselves to act unilaterally and close their borders, drawing the wrath of the European Commission. More recently border checks are being reintroduced due to rising concerns over migration.

Reinhard BUTIKOFER in the EP in Brussels

Might all these factors have contributed to a rise of the far-right in Europe?

Support for Ukraine

Mr. Bütikofer has spoken quite strongly in Parliament on the need for the EU to continue the flow of arms to Ukraine.

I asked if he felt that within the institutions there’s any kind of fatigue setting in, maybe behind the scenes?

Russia’s war of dominance

I wondered how the Russian people might see the current conflict. How do they justify the actions of their country? Are very gullible, do they perceive every other nation as being a threat, everything as a zero-sum game?

Click here for articles on Reinhard Bütikofer’s activities in the European Parliament at EU Today

Reinhard Bütikofer was first elected to the European Parliament in 2019.

In the current legislature he has served as:

• Chair of the Delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China
• Member of the Conference of Delegation Chairs
• Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Member of the Delegation for relations with the United States

Main image: Photographer: Alain ROLLAND Copyright: © European Union 2021 – Source : EP

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