On German standards. Why can’t Merkel and Yanukovych meet

First Youth Kyiv Security Forum has recently finished in the capital of Ukraine. The event initiated by the Arsenii Yatseniuk Foundation “Open Ukraine” gathered 40 young experts from over a dozen countries to discuss the topic “Will ‘human security’ make the world better.” On the one hand, the participants had a chance to listen to experienced specialists from Japan, Germany, USA, Switzerland, the Netherlands, as well as representatives of international organizations in Ukraine (UN, NATO, EU, and others). On the other hand, young people had an opportunity to show in the format of “world cafe” exactly what scares people in different countries, and in a format of role-plays in groups they could discuss issues related to human security. After they completed those activities they could finally suggest their plan for development of “human security” in their country.

Member of German Parliament Barbel Kofler spoke at one of the sessions called “Foreign Policy for People: Social Meaning of Human Security.” In an exclusive interview for The Day Ms. Kofler told why she decided to participate in the Youth Security Forum and also explained under what conditions the meeting between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych can be possible.

“First of all, if I get the possibility to work with young people I always like to do so. It’s not only that I can tell something to them, most of the time I also learn from them. So, for me this is really important. I also get to know what young people discuss there, what their intentions and plans for the future are and, on the other hand, I like the topic because I think question about what’s called human security in the program – I will discuss a little bit more social security, a little bit more narrowed probably prospective – is one of the key issues if it’s come to develop general standards on human dignity and how they can live life in dignity and then also get the chance on the base ‘if I don’t have to worry about surviving the next day,’ the base ‘how I can participate in societies and really can stand up for myself or for my society.’”

What can you say about the human security in Germany? Does this kind of problem exist in your country?

“I think this topic is never resolved because society is always developing, changing, and the questions of social security, human security to every generation are to be answered newly, and we have now different necessities. If we look also at the European crisis, we are going in the discussion what can we finance, who should pay for it, but also who in the social security is able to support people, and if I look at Spain, they have youth unemployment to 50 percent in some regions.

“We have a lot of points to discuss in Germany. One of them is our pension system, because we have a gap connected with the demographic factor, which means that the younger have to pay for the older people and that’s a gap, a period of one or two generations we have to overcome somehow. So, we are discussing what a fair share is, who should pay more, who should pay less. Medical progress needs of course more effort also on a financial base in the social security system, and how to finance is one of the topics of highest priority in Germany.”

I would like to hear your opinion concerning the EU budget summit, which was unsuccessful, in spite of Germany’s efforts to offer a compromise concerning the reduction of the European community expenditures?

“Well, anyway we have to find some solution and that really will be I’m sure next round where probably all the participants get together and really come up with a solution because we need a new plan (because it is a new financing period in the European Union) for the next seven years, from 2014 till 2020. One of the big issues is that Great Britain is insisting on great reduction.”

So, British Premier David Cameron’s position is quite rigid. But in your opinion, is not Cameron right saying that the EU budget cannot be increased while the majority of the countries of the European community, the same Britain, has to implement harsh austerity measures in order to ride out the crisis?

“That’s a good question, actually. I don’t think we do so many austerity measures in Germany as our chancellor is promoting abroad, I’m personally not fond of those measures because in the time of crisis, economically said, you can’t run with a program of austerity, you have to stimulate the economy.

“I’m Social Democrat, maybe that’s the difference. I am not from the opposition, I am not sharing the governmental position on that. I’m not for spending money like that, you know. It’s of course important to keep an eye on what things you are spending money. But in a time of crisis, you see, if you look at Greece, if you look at other countries, their debts were increasing dramatically because economy totally broke down, so for me austerity is not the answer to debt crisis.

“In Germany we have a lot of programs stimulating our national industry and economy, especially our coal industry, but also other important fields, energy sector, construction sector, things like that, and I think that was right that we did it so. We should not tell others to do something different.”

Recently the European Parliament supported further enlargement of the EU. Can this decision influence the German parliament and government in the sense of giving Ukraine membership prospects?

“The European Union is currently experiencing a very crucial moment and we have to really overcome the financial crisis at a certain point, because otherwise it’s hard to get our own people in favor of a new enlargement. I think that is really something important at the moment. I know there are discussions about new countries, Croatia, for example, is on the run, which I think is really positive because I think it basically will strengthen the European thought and the European Union. As for Ukraine, it will not come up as soon as Croatia, for example, and you know we have this Association Agreement, which is paraphied, but not signed. But to pass that in the national parliaments in Europe and the European Parliament a few crucial reforms have to be undertaken in Ukraine. I think one is the question about separating politics and judiciary system, the Criminal Code questions on the base of all democratic rights, to put it that way and we are telling that also to the Ukrainian politicians.”

It is known that the EU, the US, and Ukraine have found themselves in a dead end because of the Tymoshenko case. And one of Ukrainian high-ranking officials, who visited Brussels before the elections, said at the meeting with experts in a non-recording format that Europe asked Ukraine to help to get out of this dead end. What is your vision, what can be the way out from this situation?

“I think there have been some real signs in Ukraine that you’re going ahead with the reforms. Because one thing is quite clear, the European Union is not only about economy, or financial-monetary questions. The European Union is also on certain stand that’s formulated in our key communique, which has to do with the independence of courts, with certain rights of the press, democratic rights, the independence of courts, democratic questions, the rights of both sides in court. We know that not everything can be done in one day, but there have to be steps in that direction I think, which will help also the European Union maybe look newly at the question of Ukraine.”

In your opinion, can Chancellor Merkel meet with President Yanukovych? Does this possibility depend on Tymoshenko’s release?

“I think at the moment the case is so prominent in the media that there must be some solution on that case. But in general I think it’s not only the case of Tymoshenko, but it’s the general way where the democratic system is going, where the principles of how this democratic society organized are going, that is more important than – don’t get me wrong – the case of Yulia Tymoshenko, which is only a demonstration that something is wrong in Ukraine, and this case is not the only problem.”