24/06/2014 Political Affairs and Democracy
“The rise in populist parties which marked the European elections cannot be put down to rejection of Europe. Financial insecurity, mass unemployment, economic paralysis, stagnant growth and global financial disorder are the real causes of the public concern that leads to extremism,” said Michel Rocard today in an exchange of views on “Elections to the European Parliament: the aftermath”, in the presence of PACE President Anne Brasseur.
“In order to revive the European integration project, there is an urgent need to tackle these causes, which go beyond Europe,” added the former French Prime Minister and MEP.