Looking back at the last legislative term, what were the most significant achievements or challenges you faced as a young member of the European Parliament?
Every election, every new parliamentary term, is usually described as being of greater historical significance than before. When you consider that in the last four years we have witnessed the tragedies of Brexit, Covid-19 and the Russian-Ukrainian war, it is no exaggeration to say that this term has been different from the others.
Of course, as a young politician in my first term in the European Parliament, I have faced many challenges in addition to these. I came to the EP with the ambition to forge Europe into an even stronger, more united community, one that is able to look after its citizens, one that is able to defend European values, European wealth, and one that is able to protect the people of Europe, even against their own governments. We have done a lot of work in the various committees to meet these challenges, and during this time, I have been responsible for many important issues. I believe that — often in a tough political struggle — a compromise could have been reached that is forward-looking for Europe and, in most of the cases, acceptable to all.
I know a young MEP who says that there is no climate change, that it is all a hoax. However, I also know an experienced, older ‘young MEP’ who is very strongly committed to … environmental protection.
How do you think your age and generational perspective have influenced your work and decision-making in the European Parliament? Can you provide examples of issues where your perspective differed from older colleagues?
Of course, there can be differences due to our age, but this is not only the case in politics. I worked as a salesman during university and later as an IT professional, and only after that I became a politician. I have experience in the private sector and now I know the parliamentary atmosphere. I think it is okay for a young, new player to have more momentum, more enthusiasm, and therefore a little more impatience, but I also think that we can make really effective and good decisions if we have more experienced, wiser colleagues to help us.
More important than age is good intentions and smart, considered decision-making. Remember, age is not a merit, it is an aptitude. This is certainly true for older colleagues as well as younger ones.
Have you encountered any obstacles or biases in the European Parliament based on your age?
Never. I am working to ensure that no form of discrimination occurs. The European Parliament is making serious efforts in this area. I hope that we will get to a point where there is for example no gender discrimination, or in extreme cases harassment, neither in the European institutions nor outside our institutions in Europe's everyday life. I would like to see serious progress in the area of women's rights and their opportunities. We must set an example in this area, and we must lead the way in this work as MEPs.
What are your expectations and priorities for the upcoming legislative term in the European Parliament? Are there specific issues or policies that you believe require urgent attention, especially from a youth perspective?
The climate threats, the fight against climate change, will certainly be very important issues, as they also were in the beginning of this parliamentary term. The European Green Deal was a very ambitious and good proposal. We have never seen before such a strong political will to tackle climate change. Unfortunately, the momentum of this programme has been taken away by the Covid-19 crisis, and the war has also had a bad affect.
Both of these factors were unexpected for Europe, so there has been a split, a distraction from the original project. However, in the EP, particularly in the environment committee, we continue to devote a huge amount of our energy to environmental protection. There will be important political debates in this area, in which S&D will continue to fight steadfastly for what is best for our environment, while many, especially conservative political groups, are becoming less and less [cooperative] partners. In addition to environmental issues, social and health issues are very important as well.
Europe can only be truly strong and united if it is able to provide its citizens with nearly equal conditions, for example in hospital care or income opportunities. Effective, socially-sensitive answers to these issues must be given as soon as possible.
In light of recent youth-led movements and activism across Europe, such as climate strikes and social justice movements, how do you see the role of young MEPs in amplifying these concerns and translating them into policy actions at the European level?
As young MEPs, we have a great responsibility in that, as many of us are activists and have close links to the organisations that initiate and keep these issues and debates on the agenda. We can represent these issues well if we involve as many opinion formers and experts as possible in our parliamentary work, and if we ourselves are involved in their work. Together, through many debates and dialogues, we can find the best solutions.
I get the feeling that I am already part of the older generation, even though I am the youngest Hungarian MEP.
How do you see the overall representation of young people in the European Parliament? What reforms or changes would you advocate for to enhance the representation and voice of young MEPs in the future?
It is true that some movements are led by young people, but their aim is not exclusively youth-oriented. A typical example is the issue of climate change. Often, when I see the leaders of the movement, I get the feeling that I am already part of the older generation, even though I am the youngest Hungarian MEP. What I would like to say, while I do not want to speak against my own generation, and certainly not against young people, is that it is important to strengthen the voice of young MEPs, but it is even more important to pass on the messages of these movements and to make them heard in the European Parliament.
Let us be very clear, I know a young MEP who says that there is no climate change, that it is all a hoax. However, I also know an experienced, older ‘young MEP’ who is very strongly committed to the causes of new movements, mostly led by young people, such as environmental protection. I mentioned above that I did not experience any discrimination because of my age and I am very consistent in my efforts to ensure that no one else is discriminated against in this or any other way. We have one thing to do, whether we are old or young, male or female, socialist, conservative, green or liberal: to do everything we can to the best of our ability, to the best of our intentions, for Europe and for the environment, the health, the well-being, and the common values of all of us, of the citizens of Europe. That is what I am working for now and that is what I will continue to work for in the future.
The most important files Rónai worked on for the last legislative term 2019-2023:
