On 15 May 2019, the lead candidates for the presidency of the European Commission take part in a live Eurovision debate at the Parliament in Brussels. Frans TIMMERMANS, lead candidate of the Party of European Socialists (PES), Manfred WEBER, lead candidate of the European People’s Party (EPP), Ska KELLER, lead candidate of the European Greens (Greens), Nico CUÉ, lead candidate of the European Left (EL), Margrethe VESTAGER, lead candidate of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) as member of Team Europe, and Jan ZAHRADIL, lead candidate of the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE) debate populism, democratic gap and relevance of institutions. Followed by Social Media Hub Insert 3.

Brussels

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

TIMMERMANS, Frans (NL, EC)

KELLER, Ska (Greens/EFA, DE)

fight against racism and xenophobia (T)

fight against hate speech, populism, and fake news on social media (T)

VESTAGER, Margrethe (DK, CE)

ZAHRADIL, Jan (ECR, CZ)

avoiding conflicts of interest (T)

Eurovision debate between candidates for the Presidency of the European Commission (T)

2019 European elections (T)

CUÉ, Nico (BE)

Presidency of the European Commission / Eurovision Debate - Topic 6: Populism / democratic gap / relevance of institutions. Followed by Social Media Hub Insert 3

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER, Greens lead candidate, talking about how the real problem are nationalists that are dividing Europe. Need to not pay too much attention to the and to avoid collaboration.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, PES lead candidate, talking about how the centre parties like his have lost voters to extreme partners. Situation in England is because of divisive politics but voters will come back because only centre parties can solve solutions.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nico CU&#201;, EL lead candidate, talking about how the EU is being dismantled because of austerity in southern European countries which makes them chose the extreme parties. Europe needs to chose between the market and the people.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER, EPP lead candidate, talking about the need to make Europe more democratic because people don't feel that Europe is theirs. Need for binding rule of law mechanism to combine funding and rule of law.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jan ZAHRADIL, ACRE lead candidate, talking about how ordinary Europeans are tired of continuous European integration.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, PES lead candidate, talking about how in the conflict with Poland, people still feel attached to the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jan ZAHRADIL, ACRE lead candidate, responding to Mr Timmermans that Czech people like the European Union but don't like everything that comes from the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, ALDE lead candidate as member of Team Europe, talking about the need to find better communication between the institutions and the citizens. Need to combat fake news.