A short, medium and long-term strategy for the EU

From a short-term perspective, the EU’s leaders should drop the idea of forcing the relocation of asylum-seekers. This plan only creates chaos and disagreements among the member states. Instead, we need to focus on better managing the EU’s external borders and migration flows, as well on stabilising the situation in the countries of origin and supporting neighbouring states, which have to face the first waves of migration.

The medium-term strategy is quite clear. Instead of piling up more and more regulation, I’d like to see more free trade agreements concluded. This has already happened in the case of the FTA between the EU and Vietnam, which I am looking forward to steering through the legislative process in the European Parliament. Even more importantly, both from strategic and economic points of view, is a swift negotiation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

Beside these steps, the rise of radical eurosceptic parties and the growing gap between the Brussels elite and citizens clearly show that the EU needs a substantial reform. The federalist ambition must be set aside for a more realistic and responsible agenda that recognises the nation state must remain the cornerstone of the EU. The EU should act as a facilitator for common objectives, but must never become an objective in itself. Just some of the priorities for this legislature should be better scrutiny of the EU, less regulation, decentralisation of power away from Brussels, flexible labour markets, a renaissance of the Single Market and a democracy at home and abroad.