Thread by @tepsaeu

Our joint event with @UISweden on Euroscepticism in Sweden is starting now!

Join us in Zoom eu01web.zoom.us/j/65810250185#…

Or follow along here!

/THREAD

.@UISweden's @BFagersten is currently introducing the panellists:

Gunilla Herolf (@UISweden)
@DanielssonEU (@EC_StockholmRep)
@AbirAlsahlani (MEP @Centerpartiet)
@RoderickParkes (@dgapev)

/2

"We meet in a context of a return to normality in the end of the Trump era in America and a move away from normal relations with the UK as the #Brexit transition period ends"

- @BFagersten, our moderator from @UISweden, sets the scene

/3

"In September 2018, the Sweden Democrats got 17% of the vote despite being seen as xenophobic and nationalist"

- Gunilla Herolf from @UISweden presents her chapter from "Euroscepticism and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals"

/4

"Since then, some policy platforms have changed, some have not. We will see the results of these changes to the party's success in the upcoming elections in two years"

- Gunilla Herolf from @UISweden

/5

"Schools play a very important role here: it is an urgent task to teach young people what happens to societies when populism, nationalism, and xenophobia take over"

- Gunilla Herolf from @UISweden

/6

"Teaching critical thinking and a heterodox use of news sources is also key"

- Gunilla Herolf from @UISweden

/7

"The news media must show the complexity of issues the EU deals with. A particularly destructive example is the distorted reality of the British press prior to the #Brexit vote, which prevented a serious discussion"

- Gunilla Herolf from @UISweden

/8

After Gunilla Herolf's presentation and recommendations to combat Euroscepticism, we turn to @DanielssonEU from @EC_StockholmRep for his view

/9

"I left Sweden in 1992. At this time, the view was divided. Now when I come back, the EU is as normal as any public structure and no one is actively arguing against it. That's a good thing"

- @DanielssonEU from @EC_StockholmRep

/10

"Over the course of the #COVID19 pandemic, the value of the EU has become clear: the value of working together is now obvious"

- @DanielssonEU from @EC_StockholmRep

/11

"For these big issues like #ClimateChange, it is perfectly normal in everyone's view that we work together"

- @DanielssonEU from @EC_StockholmRep

/12

We now move to @AbirAlsahlani, MEP in the @Europarl_EN for the @Centerpartiet, to give her unique view of European policy and how to combat #Euroscepticism

/13

"I want to underline that the main problem I and my party have with the Sweden Democrats is that they want to leave the EU, it is that their policies reflect fundamentally negative forces like racism"

- @AbirAlsahlani, MEP in the @Europarl_EN for the @Centerpartiet

/14

"We have some homework to do, as politicians and parties, but also on the local levels, and in the media. Coverage of European affairs is so lacking that we cannot have a true debate on the EU"

- @AbirAlsahlani, MEP in the @Europarl_EN for the @Centerpartiet

/15

"When something happens at the EU level that we don't like, politicians amplify anti-EU rhetoric, but when good things happen like environmental development, there is no mention of the EU's key role"

- @AbirAlsahlani, MEP in the @Europarl_EN for the @Centerpartiet

/16

"Compare the level of media coverage of the American elections and the European Parliament elections. You cannot compare it, where the one with much less daily impact on our lives dominates"

- @AbirAlsahlani, MEP in the @Europarl_EN for the @Centerpartiet

/17

"We only really speak about the EU during European elections. At the national elections though, we forget that we are electing representatives to go to the @EUCouncil!"

- @AbirAlsahlani, MEP in the @Europarl_EN for the @Centerpartiet

/18

"I am a co-legislator in the @Europarl_EN, but there is also an indirectly elected one in the @EUCouncil! It is therefore of key importance to discuss EU Affairs during national elections"

- @AbirAlsahlani, MEP in the @Europarl_EN for the @Centerpartiet

/19

"There is a flip side to populism: #BorisJohnson took strength from #DonaldTrump in the White House right up until he tried to negotiate a favourable trade deal with an America First President"

- @RoderickParkes from @dgapev

/20

"In Poland during my time there I saw Euro-enthusiasm under the Tusk government turn very quickly into Euroscepticism"

- @RoderickParkes from @dgapev

/21

"There was a sense as the rest of the EU fell into the Eurozone crisis, that Poland should try to influence policy. But it found itself on the back foot, and their feeling of influence within Europe went away"

- @RoderickParkes from @dgapev

/22

"Therefore, by the time we got to the Schengen crisis, Poland was ripe for the rise of Euroscepticism"

- @RoderickParkes from @dgapev

/23

"For me now sitting in Germany, it is interesting the observe the outside view of this souring of the Polish attitudes towards the EU"

- @RoderickParkes from @dgapev

/24

"To me it's not so much a question of xenophobia or values, but a backlash to a lack of ability to influence policy, resulting in attempts to influence policy in a negative way, as a spoiler state"

- @RoderickParkes from @dgapev

/25

"The budget is being held hostage by Poland and Hungary because they are scared of being held accountable for their crimes against the rule of law"

- @AbirAlsahlani, MEP in the @Europarl_EN for the @Centerpartiet

/26

"Even at the height of the pandemic, they are only interested in protecting their slide into autocracy. How do we stand on the global change if we do not champion human rights?"

- @AbirAlsahlani, MEP in the @Europarl_EN for the @Centerpartiet

/27

Our panellists first gave their presentations, then discussed between themselves their various perspectives on Euroscepticism in Sweden and the wider European situation. Now we're having our first round of questions from the audience! @UISweden

/28

After a dynamic Q&A session, our moderator @BFagersten thanks this debate's panellists for providing their expertise today

/29

On that note, thank you to @UISweden for helping to put together this discussion of "Euroscepticism and the Future of Europe", and also to our panellists: Gunilla Herolf, @DanielssonEU (@EC_StockholmRep), @AbirAlsahlani (@Centerpartiet), and @RoderickParkes (@dgapev)

/ENDS

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