For me, political work is about ideology and visions. The driving force in my political commitment are the Christian Democratic values. Specifically, this means that in decision-making highlighting the importance of personal freedom combined with social responsibility and solidarity with the most vulnerable.

For decades theses values have been the basis for the European community and together with the free movement of people, capital, goods and services the biggest asset of the EU cooperation.

What Europe needs is political leaders who see the profound importance of reconciliation between nations and peoples, who work for a cooperation founded on more than just economics and money. This is particularly evident when it comes to international relations; whether it comes to war in Syria, the dictatorship in Iran or the persecution of Christian minorities, the EU has the opportunity to make a difference.

I want to work for a Europe that speaks with one voice in foreign policy and that always puts human rights first. At the same time, I want to work towards a more efficient cooperation between the EU member states. Subsidiarity, the principle that political decisions should always be taken at the lowest and most appropriate level, is crucial.

Most of the work in the European Parliament takes place in the committees; I am a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Subcommittee on Human Rights and deputy member of the Committee on transport and tourism. To face the future, it is essential that the EU is stepping up its efforts to create growth through better conditions for businesses and new jobs. Meanwhile, the remaining trade barriers have to be eliminated and increased free trade with other non-members like the United States but also the poorer parts of the world.

More than ever before we need a strong and future oriented European cooperation built on the Christian values ​​of democracy and humanity. We need a Europe seeking common solutions to common problems. A cooperation between member countries that go hand in hand with respect for diversity.