Newly elected German Green MEP Werner Schulz is a veteran of the late GDR�s citizens� rights movement and of German politics after reunification. In our interview, he explains why the GDR was doomed and why he now is happy to be in Brussels.

History sometimes takes a sharp turn

You were one of the first defenders   of civil rights in the GDR.

A colleague from your group,   Elisabeth Schroedter, told us

that the events of 9 November 1989 took   the civil rights movement by surprise

and that they put an end to your   plans to reform the GDR. Do you agree?

I think these events surprised the entire   world. They weren't foreseen.

The progress of history isn't linear and   sometimes takes very unexpected turns.

It was a magical moment for everyone,   including the civil rights defenders.

It was a revolution for freedom,   and freedom won the day.

It was the self-liberation   of an active generation.

When the Wall fell, the GDR   did not cease to exist overnight.

Why did a reformed GDR   never see the light of day?

What would become of the GDR   without the Wall? It was the people's will.

The Germans wanted reunification.   They wanted to live in a society

that could offer them freedom,   justice and prosperity.

Many thought we wouldn't be able to   get there by ourselves quickly enough.

Finally, it resembled a collective   voyage out of the country.

To finish, let's talk about Europe   and the European perspective.

The EP celebrates the democratic   revolution of Eastern Europe.

What does this mean for you   given your recent election to the EP?

At the time, for me, it meant a return to   Europe. From the early 80s

I no longer had the right to leave the GDR   to go to the West or the East.

It was part of intimidation measures   to keep us subdued.

So for me it was a big step   towards Europe.

Our slogan for   the elections in 1990 was

'Not to the right or the left,   but straight towards Europe'.

It took longer than expected,   but I'm happy to be here in Brussels,

and to experience   a unified Europe of 27 countries.

We took part in the construction   of the European project.

EU enlargement to the east was   an epoch-making process.