In a special debate, four European affairs journalists give us their stance and predictions on the upcoming elections and on the rise of the far right.

A view from the media kaleidoscope

Hello and welcome to this latest  edition of the Forum from EuroparlTV

on the eve of the start  of the European elections.

We'll be looking at the issues  for Europe's 400 million eligible voters

through the media kaleidoscope, covering  events here in the Eurobubble in Brussels.

How do journalists extract themselves  from this bubble?

And what has our panel made  of the advances and setbacks

of the seventh parliamentary term  that's just ended?

Let's go first of all to our panel  and introduce them.

Firstly, Alain Franco, correspondent for the  French RTL network and Le Point,

a reporter for Spain's La Vanguardia,  welcome also.

George Syriopoulos  from DT Greek television

and lastly, Christoph Schult, correspondent  for Der Spiegel magazine in Germany.

Let's start off, just to get this going,  with a quick round robin, right to left,

30 seconds each to answer this question:

What are people in your countries,  in your country Spain,

talking about  when they think about the EU elections?

I think they may be thinking mainly  about jobs and growth and the economy.

Spain's economic situation is quite difficult,  they know the EU has a role to play

because the EU had a role to play  in the very difficult economic decisions

that have been taken over recent years.  So I think this is a very important issue.

From the point of view of La Vanguardia,  where our main audience is Catalonia,

there when they vote,  many people will also be thinking

of the possibility of Catalonia  becoming an independent state

since remaining in the European Union  is a big aspiration for many people.

Big expectations there. George how does  it look from your country's point of view?

I think that Greece's situation  is a bit more complicated, for two reasons.

First, we are under a programme  managed by the Troika,

so people would like to be done  with these ongoing controls.

And another complicating factor is that  there'll be three elections on the same day:

the European elections,  regional elections and municipal elections.

This is creating confusion  amongst the Greek electorate I think.

We'll see how that turns out.  Alain, how does it look in France's view?

In my country the debate is currently  centred around, monopolised almost,

and could well be the leading party  and thus winner of these elections.

We are witnessing a phenomenon  whereby far-right ideas,

or rather themes expounded by the far right,  dominating the electoral campaign.

What are these themes?  They are social and economic themes

as well as the issue  of France's sovereignty.

I've come from Paris  where there are posters all over:

'No to Brussels,  yes to France', that just about sums it up.

Over the border, Christoph,  different but maybe not so different issues?

I think that many German voters,  if not most,

are not even aware that there are  going to be European elections on 25 May.

If asked about Europe,  they probably have the general feeling

that Europe is meddling too much  in their personal issues

But they wouldn't have  a concrete reason to blame the EU

they just have this sense  that Europe is coming too close to them.

Very interesting, we'll develop those  themes, but let's hold those thoughts

and take a look a look at some of the  highlights of the last full year of this term

and the issues that a random  but balanced selection

of MEPs and officials  have picked out themselves.

Today, we are up against  the biggest challenge

our Union has faced  in its entire history, I believe.

Here we have a choice between defending  public health and consumers

What we must do today for Europe  is to convince citizens.

those who succumb to populist  fear-mongering, who yell...

Britain is going to make the great escape.

Then there's all the other citizens,  greater in number, who say:

‘We expect a lot from Europe, but Europe  isn't convincing us through its actions.'

The European Union  is not a doormat for people to walk all over,

but a common home which we are building  up together, Mr Viktor Orbán.

no long period of recuperation  is going to save ACTA.

What need for Europe is not  a federation of nation states

but a federal union of European citizens.

I don’t know if you heard  President Obama’s statement:

'Don’t worry we are not  spying on US citizens,

So that is us. That is European citizens.  What kind of special relationship is that?

I've been smoking for nearly 20 years now.  It is my hobby.

If the EU builds up a fortress around itself,

it's no surprise people  seek illegal means to enter.

Let me start off again with a round robin

asking each of you  how you will cover these elections.

What are the key issues that you will  focus on in order to be the bridge

between this controversial and complex  set of institutions here in Brussels

and the needs and interests of your people?  Let me start with you Beatriz.

I think it's fair to say that sometimes  we call these elections EU elections

but I don't think that they develop  and take place with a European angle.

Actually, they take place in a national way,  the campaigns are national.

So for us, we will be dividing our information  on the international pages,

there we'll report  about the challenges ahead -

for the political integration of Europe,  social and economic issues -

and then we will have some coverage,  which we have started,

on the national political pages  covering the campaign.

Do you feel that when you look  at this big agenda of European stuff

that people are actually that interested in it?

They may not be interested in big debates  but in things that have real consequences

and people sometimes find out  a little bit late about the reasons why.

Are people much more  connected to policy