New man, new policy?

Many people think that the President of the European Parliament plays a decorative role and is subordinate to the majority that he does not create. In a way it is true, however, there are two factors that need to be taken into consideration.

First, if the President of the European Parliament knows well the mechanisms that operate in this institution, he can create a majority and serve as a catalyst of some larger processes.

Second, much depends on the personality of the President. The Parliament is a place of persuasion, in which the arguments decide on the creation of majority and decisions taken.

Martin Schulz is a German social democrat who built his career on the organic work. He started with little significant functions in local government. Gradually, step by step, he arrived to the European Parliament. Within this institution, knowing very well the mechanisms of its functioning, he managed to reach the heights of power. You could say that this is the fulfilment of his career so far, though probably not his last word. Schulz knows the Parliament very well, but he is also aware of the current weaknesses of the European Union. He declared that he wants to fight for a common and effective Union, which means that he will try to persuade his colleagues in the EP, as well as other officials and politicians through participation in meetings of other bodies, to consolidate, not divide. Because this is the real dilemma that the EU is facing today.

It is worth noting that Schulz knows the Eastern Europe. Since I can remember, and I have known him for several years, he has been very interested in the new EU Member States and has always lively reacted to situations in Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the former Soviet Union. I expect that in the process of bringing Ukraine closer to the EU Schulz will be a good and active partner.

The Socialists in the Parliament will definitely support him. He can fully rely on our group, which will make his struggle a little bit easier.

There are difficult but challenging 2.5 years ahead of us. There will be the elections to the Supreme Council in Ukraine and we will observe it as the EP. We want to complete the process of signing and ratifying the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. A lot of work, but we have gained an effective and reliable ally.