Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann emphasised the central importance of the EU as a peace project and economic community at the annual FDP Congress.
In her intervention to the crowd in Berlin, the ALDE Party and FDP lead candidate for the European elections claimed the current European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen is neglecting Europe's economy and security.
"The last few years have been lost years for our security and our competitiveness,” she warned.
Die Europäische Union ist das größte Friedensprojekt, aufgebaut auf den Trümmern des 2. Weltkriegs. Deshalb müssen die Demokratien dieser Erde zusammenstehen, Resilienz aufbauen, den Despoten der Erde die rote Karte zeigen & für die Sicherheit ihrer Bürgerinnen & Bürger sorgen. pic.twitter.com/zWAAvEYALF
— Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (@MAStrackZi) April 29, 2024
“Preserving peace, freedom, security and facing challenges such as digitalisation, climate protection and the protection of natural resources is only possible with a strong economic basis. Without a functioning economy, Europe will not be able to guarantee its security,” she warned.
In a keynote speech, FDP leader and Germany’s Minister of Finance Christian Lindner provided a wake-up call for Germany's competitiveness, arguing the country should not allow its potential to be downplayed.
“We have no time to lose, not for our economic growth and not for climate protection. The economic turnaround is not a project of the Free Democrats, the economic turnaround must be a project of our country,” he said.
Eindrücke vom ersten Tag unseres #bpt24. #Wachstun pic.twitter.com/ghDWRbDwWj
— FDP (@fdp) April 28, 2024
“It is all the more important for each and every one of us to make it clear that we have not given up any of our convictions, but that we continue to be the only force for freedom in Germany.”
Strack-Zimmermann also explained FDP’s European election programme contains key proposals to reduce bureaucracy, public debt and state subsidies, and to complete the Capital Markets Union.
"We are returning to the core idea of the European Union, that the single market with its freedoms and the trust that people bring about prosperity every day with their inventiveness, flexibility and willingness to take risks,” she said.
"It is about our country, about Germany, embedded in our Europe. Only we have it in our own hands. Because we are the Free Democrats and we are fierce in Europe."
You can rewatch Strack-Zimmermann’s speech below (in German, with auto-translation available).
The European elections in Germany will take place on 9 June, as citizens will head to the polls to elect 96 MEPs.
Photo: FDP