Brussels Reporter
  • Home
  • Brussels
  • Europe
    • Europe

      Jerusalem shooting: Eight Israelis injured as gunman opens…

      August 14, 2022August 14, 2022

      Europe

      Read the unsealed DOJ documents underpinning search of…

      August 14, 2022

      Europe

      Oder river: Speculation over ‘environmental disaster’ in Germany…

      August 13, 2022August 14, 2022

      Europe

      European firefighters come together to fight French wildfires

      August 13, 2022August 14, 2022

      Europe

      In pictures: France’s battle against catastrophic wildfires

      August 13, 2022August 13, 2022

  • Globe
  • Lifestyle
  • Business

Brussels Reporter

  • Home
  • Brussels
  • Europe
    • Europe

      Jerusalem shooting: Eight Israelis injured as gunman opens…

      August 14, 2022August 14, 2022

      Europe

      Read the unsealed DOJ documents underpinning search of…

      August 14, 2022

      Europe

      Oder river: Speculation over ‘environmental disaster’ in Germany…

      August 13, 2022August 14, 2022

      Europe

      European firefighters come together to fight French wildfires

      August 13, 2022August 14, 2022

      Europe

      In pictures: France’s battle against catastrophic wildfires

      August 13, 2022August 13, 2022

  • Globe
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
Home Featured Vox Populi: Brigitte Richter from Brussels, Belgium
Featured

Vox Populi: Brigitte Richter from Brussels, Belgium

by editor May 23, 2019
May 23, 2019

1. What are your expectations/hopes from these elections?

My hope is that citizens who are the silent majority will wake up and understand that if they want the European project to survive and evolve, they have to defend it. Times are gone when European elections could be considered as unimportant. The European Union is in danger. Populists, nationalists and certain foreign powers are all trying to weaken and even destroy our Union. They are using tools of mass manipulation, which makes them dangerous. But since the Brexit referendum in 2016, many citizens have rallied behind pro European campaigns and formed citizens’ movements. The “Pulse of Europe” is one such example. It is important that the silent pro-European majority finds its voice and speaks up. If we want to continue enjoying freedom, democracy, international cooperation, tolerance, non-discrimination as well as economic prosperity and our European social model, we need to stand up for these values.

The European elections are about two things: 1) the composition of the European Parliament and 2) the next Commission President. I think many people are not sufficiently aware of how much power the EP holds nowadays. After several Treaty reforms, the EP has become the co-legislator, on an almost equal footing with the national governments represented in the Council. Its decisions determine the conditions under which we live, work, buy things, travel, do business, have access to healthcare abroad, under which our rural areas and our regions develop, how workers are protected and how clean our environment is. Not voting in these elections is handing over power to some very destructive people.

 

Brigitte Richter

 

2. Do you/people in your member state still have faith in the EU to deliver?

I have been living in Belgium for over 20 years, although I am not Belgian. What I observe is that Belgians have a deeply rooted distrust of politics and politicians. I can see where this attitude comes from, but I also think that it is exaggerated. Faith in the EU to deliver? Well, my faith has taken a serious blow in the course of the last years. The EU with its current institutional setup is too weak to impose its own principles and laws upon recalcitrant members (rule of law, redistribution of refugees).

When decisions have to be taken in “crisis summit mode”(like in the Euro crisis), the process is slow and not efficient enough. In all of these cases, the problems are being caused by the member states, not by the Commission or the Parliament. But it is the Union who gets blamed. Personally I believe the EU needs some serious reforms. It needs to become stronger, more democratic and also more social. Too many people are being left behind in our societies. It is not surprising that they get angry.

3. Will you be voting? If so, who for (if you are willing to say)?

Of course I will. I just received a letter from my commune asking me to register. Being on the electoral roll for local elections in Belgium is not the same thing as for the European elections. I guess many people are not aware of this. The deadline for registration is February 28. Who I will vote for will depend on the election programme of the parties concerned, and also on the situation in the polls just before the elections. Because so much is at stake this time, I will vote tactically. I want a majority that stands for a stronger, more democratic, fairer and reformed Europe.

 

 

4. Tell us some very brief persona/biographical details about yourself?

I am a German national and I have been living in Brussels for over 20 years. I am working as a conference interpreter. I enjoy living in Brussels. I like its cosmopolitan side, its architectural beauty, the creative spirit of this city, the parks and Forest de Soignes and the Belgian sense of humour. We are all zinnekes!

previous post
”If you leave the pitcher in the well too long, it breaks” – Volker Stanzel on Europe’s current political malaise
next post
The smokescreen of euroscepticism | VoxEurop (English)

Related Posts

New Zealand: Supermarket attacker stayed despite immigration fraud

September 5, 2021

Then and now: A ‘megadrought’ in California

March 4, 2021

Sweden stabbing: Eight people injured after suspected terrorist...

March 3, 2021

Pipe-laying company suspends Nord Stream 2 work over...

December 21, 2019

2019 Directory of the Top EU Public Affairs...

July 5, 2019

High time for zero emissions

June 4, 2019

Catalonia Spain: Separatists set to boost majority in...

February 15, 2021

Covid: Are countries under pressure to approve a...

December 3, 2020

ECB takes baby steps toward easing as European...

September 9, 2021

Europe’s gas price surge is about to hit...

October 12, 2021
Promotion Image

Recent Posts

  • Jerusalem shooting: Eight Israelis injured as gunman opens fire on bus near holy Western Wall
  • Australia: Gunman arrested after Canberra airport shooting
  • Salman Rushdie off ventilator and able to talk
  • Read the unsealed DOJ documents underpinning search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago
  • Horrifying, ghastly: Authors condemn attack on Salman Rushdie
Promotion Image

GO!

Lifestyle

  • Scientists are using satellites to count elephants from space for the first time

  • France: Hospital workers demand more resources to fight COVID-19

  • Alexei Navalny: Millions watch jailed critic's 'Putin palace' film

  • Covid vaccine: WHO warns of ‘catastrophic moral failure’

  • Belgium looks good in white

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Greece tennis resort offers players the chance to learn from the best

    August 12, 2022
  • 2

    Ukraine war: Crimea blasts significantly hit Russian navy – UK

    August 12, 2022
  • 3

    FBI looked for ‘classified nuclear weapons documents’ at Trump home, says newspaper

    August 12, 2022

Editor’s Choices

  • Sociopath ING or a blockchain of corruption from a well-known financial group

    May 24, 2021
  • Pfizer, AstraZeneca COVID jabs ‘highly effective’ against India variant, study shows

    May 23, 2021
  • G20 leaders at Rome summit pledge more vaccines for poorer countries

    May 21, 2021

Opinions

  • Read the unsealed DOJ documents underpinning search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago

    August 14, 2022
  • World’s cartoonists on this week’s events

    August 13, 2022
  • Exhausted and abused, Belgium’s vets want a break

    August 12, 2022

@2018-2021 - Brussels Reporter (www.brusselsreporter.com). All Right Reserved.