Manfred Weber, the newly elected EPP Chair, sets out a bold and positive plan for a decidedly pro-European policy in the years to come.

With a new Chair, will the EPP be steered on a new course?

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/11817436/n003-0294-enx.srt

Manfred Weber, it is said you're now  the most powerful German in the EP,

in any case in the European People's Party.  What's actually going to change with you?

We will initially continue our course  and not proclaim a revolution,

because the European People's Party  has been the driving force of reforms.

Especially in times of crisis we were  the ones responsible for austerity plans,

we were the ones who enforced the Stability  Pact in the Council and the Parliament.

This reform agenda,  whose aim is to make Europe competitive,

will also dominate our political course  in the next five years.

That's why for now  it's all about continuity.

What's important to me  is that the European Parliament is the place

to which citizens have sent their deputies.

That's why the Parliament  has to be the place

where the future of Europe  is decided centrally.

Democracy happens here. It's clear that  the EP has become more heterogeneous.

There are many extremists  who now also want to have a say here.

Will a great coalition clearly decide  what's going to happen here?

Unfortunately we have many extremists  in the European Parliament.

Unfortunately that's what the voters wanted.  We have to face it.

But it's clear for us democrats  in the European Parliament 

that we won't collaborate  with the far right or far left.

We want to create a positive future  for Europe.

This can't be the right way.  That's our main message.

It's also important  to have stable majorities for good policies.

People expect answers,  solutions to today's challenges.

Considering the proportions in the EP,  we're aiming to collaborate with the S&D.

Both the EPP and the S&D  are very willing to cooperate

and people can be sure  that we're working on solutions.

You said that big challenges  are waiting for you.

Does that include a reform that could  take place in the form of a convention?

We will certainly discuss  a modification of the Treaty.

But Europe should first solve its problems  on the basis of the current Treaty.

We mustn't postpone finding solutions to  challenges because of treaty discussions.

We have to get started now. The Lisbon  Treaty gives us the possibility

to find solutions to many of the challenges.  That's our main goal now.

Now the main question is: Who will be  the next Commission President?

You clearly said  you support Jean-Claude Juncker.

What about the EPP? Does it unanimously  support Jean-Claude Juncker?

And what do you think about  what's happening in the European Council,

about the way  Jean-Claude Juncker is being treated?

Jean-Claude Juncker was appointed as  presidential candidate of the EPP in Dublin.

That's why it's clear for us  here in the Parliament

that he'll be our candidate  on the 15th of July.

We unanimously support  Jean-Claude Juncker

This means there will be no other candidate  from the EPP

I can't imagine that there will be  more candidates. On the contrary:

that criticises the way  the candidates are appointed,

but there's a risk that Europe  will end up in an institutional crisis.

Herman Van Rompuy and I  absolutely agree

that we will confidently work together  in the next four weeks

to avoid a crisis and bring about recovery,  a reform agenda and a strong Europe.

Did you actually expect  Herman Van Rompuy

to ask the governments which Commission  presidential candidate they support?

We've entered new territory as this concept  has been implemented for the first time.

The steps we are taking  are new for us.

Compared to many democratic processes  at the national level,

which have been developed over decades,  this is a new process in Europe.

But I think it works well and trustfully.  We're on the right track together.

Do you feel that Great Britain  doesn't take this process seriously

when they say they don't want to work  with Jean-Claude Juncker

and this would actually be a reason  for Great Britain to leave the EU?

Those who are questioning Jean-Claude  Juncker's democratic legitimacy

should answer the question: Which  candidate has more democratic legitimacy?

would have received clearly less support  from the citizens than Juncker.

That's why this is a first step towards  the democratisation of Europe,

Manfred Weber,  thank you for this interview.