Does Europe need to rearm in the face of the wars it has at its doors? Will youth participation increase in the upcoming 9N European elections? Will the extreme right gain positions in the European parliament? These and other topics were presented to MEPs in the debate ‘Generation European Union: your future and that of Europe, at stake’, organized by laSexta and broadcast live on its website and social networks.

Andere Nieva (Sumar), Mireia Borrás (Vox), Alejandro Moyano (PSOE) and Borja Giménez (PP) have exchanged analyzes on everything the EU is at stake this June 9 and how to motivate the young vote among many other questions raised by Ángel Fueyo, laSexta journalist who led the colloquium.

Precisely, and in response to a question from the public present in the debate, one of the topics on which they have shared positions has been the need to increase the electoral participation of young people, which in the previous European elections in 2019 barely exceeded 50%.

“We must not settle for an EU of reactionaries and climate deniers,” said Andere Nieva, number 5 on the European lists for Sumar, as an appeal to vote in the face of the foreseeable growth of the extreme right. For his part, Moyano, in 22nd place on the socialist candidacy, has claimed that his generation must “honor the democracy” that others achieved “by giving their all.”

Borja Giménez (19 on the PP lists), wanted to highlight that young people who were born in democracy “have to be aware of the value that this has”, and has taken the opportunity to criticize the Government of Spain for the supposed “institutional crisis” that has motivated Finally, the Vox candidate (number 4) has asked that young people vote on the 9th “even if they feel it is very far away” because “everything that happens has a direct impact on their daily lives.”

The possible rearmament of Europe and its position on Israel

As it could not be otherwise, other issues have raised more differences, such as those related to the current war that Europe is enduring at its doors in Ukraine and Gaza. Thus, PP and PSOE have supported the rearmament of Europe in the face of the Russian threat, while Sumar has assured that “the EU does not need to rearm, but rather coordinate better among the member states” to “move towards a Europe of peace.”

Vox has assured that it also supports the European position, aligned with Ukraine, although Mireia Borrás wanted to give more relevance to immigration: “It is curious that the EU focuses a lot on the Eastern barrier, and we are suffering migratory invasions from Morocco” , he pointed out.

Regarding an alleged change in European positions regarding the war between Israel and Hamas, Sumar and PSOE fear that the growth of the extreme right “could give instability” to a unanimous response. For the PP candidate, who advocates a two-state solution, the EU has to play a fundamental role and be “capable of mediating a lasting and immediate ceasefire.” Instead, Vox has said that “Israel has every right to defend itself.”

Youth issues: employment and housing

On issues that exclusively affect young people, such as unemployment (the EU has youth unemployment of 14%) and housing, young politicians have exchanged the different solutions that could be proposed at community level.

Andere Nieva (Sumar) has demanded that the EU “listen more to young people” and proposes ending unpaid scholarships and increasing spending on Erasmus scholarships, which have shown to improve the employability of young people.

For his part, Moyano has taken the opportunity to defend the socialist labor reform as an example of how youth unemployment has been reduced, despite the fact that it remains one of the highest in Europe. Moyano has also claimed the proposal of the European socialists on the “internship directive”, which he has valued as “the first stone to balance interns with workers and which can reduce youth unemployment.”

On the other hand, and in line with what Santiago Abascal’s party usually expresses, Borrás has advocated blaming the precariousness of young people in Spain on European policies such as the Green Pact and the 2030 Agenda, lines that, he has insisted, they want to “destroy.” In exchange, they propose improving industrialization and supporting the primary sector.

“The EU is dedicated to creating obstacles with green taxes, or energy efficiency directives that make housing more expensive,” he reiterated.

Regarding housing, there has also been a certain division of opinion, although PSOE, PP and Sumar have mentioned the commitment to social housing or public rental, although through different means. To achieve this, the PP believes that a tax cut is better, while the PSOE has defended the reservation of land for protected housing; Sumar has demanded to fight against speculation.