The European People’s Party Congress in Warsaw, Poland drew over 3,000 people, including journalists and party members who set the agenda for the upcoming European Union elections in June. NEtv was there, and Kostas Sasmatzoglou, the EPP’s Secretary of External Relations stopped by for an impromptu interview and discuss the party’s platform and hopes.

This a very difficult time for any political party and most of the concentration seems to be on the economic crisis. But what kind of vision does the EPP offer in terms of foreign policy as well, because that seems to play into any end game along with that thinking?

-Absolutely, in fact in the manifesto which that we will approve tomorrow, which is going to be our actual electoral platform for the European elections, we have focused also on foreign policy. It is one the five main themes of our manifesto. The title of the theme is “Uniting Europe on the World Stage.” So here basically, we’re convinced of the importance of having, of pooling all our recourses on the European level and to be able to speak with one voice internationally. I think the strengthening of the voice of Europe will offer added value to our Member States and of course will help us to deal with many of the current global challenges , which includes also the financial crisis.

The financial crisis has to be dealt with in close cooperation within European Union as an entity together with the United States and all big economic powers. So, of course that is an important element but also dealing with serious foreign policy issues like the Middle East.

The Middle East, that seems to be an attractive problem. The EU has a special envoy, Tony Blair, the US has George Mitchell, they (Israelis and Palestinians) have been fighting since the dawn of man. Is there any resolution to that problem?

-Unfortunately and especially keeping in mind that there is a new Israeli government, I think everybody is still waiting to see the new political stage at this moment; I think everybody in Europe wants to see how the new government is going to develop its new positions before we start becoming more engaged with the issue. And I hope that the EU will offer added value to the process.

The EU certainly has a role, but do you find any irony in the fact that United States had a President who didn’t listen, now does, and he comes into the stage at the same time Israel switches leadership and now is not listening?

-That’s why timing in politics is very important and let’s hope that all of the stars will align at some point, and see some serious dialogue; to find some ways, in which we can seriously deal with this issue and to be able to move forward and to create real stability and prosperity in the Middle East region.

How do you walk the fine line between the former US administration harder lines and the EU’s soft power? Is there a middle line between those two tactics?

-I think Europe has the opportunity to that. If Europe manages to consolidate its position vis a vis foreign policy issues, if it manages to be taken seriously on the world stage and to have a strong voice, I think that Europe can point to that middle path; to be able to use soft power when necessary, but also to have strong voice, and be more forceful when decisions have to be taken.

What do you want the EPP to say about this? What are its recommendations?

-Our argumentation is that we need a strong voice in the world, we need a strong European foreign policy and we hope that later this year the Lisbon Treaty will be approved and of course it will give us a new very important instrument: the Foreign Minister or the Higher Representative as it’s called in the Lisbon treaty.

Because now we have a fragmentation of resources within the EU: we have Javier Solana, we have Benita Ferrero-Waldner, we have the DG for External Relations we have Europeaid, a distortion on European resources. Now if the Lisbon Treaty passes and we have a new EU Foreign Minister, he will have access to all these resources. That will allow him to give Europe a stronger profile.

So one voice, but maybe not necessarily a loud voice…

-We hope to make it louder and I think it’s up to us, at least for us here in EPP if we agree on this point, and I’m sure that we will. The fact that nearly half of the EU, which is here in the EPP Congress will agree on a strong EU foreign policy, is very significant. I would like to remind you that the EPP today has 13 out of the 27 Heads of States in government in the EU. Very soon we might even have the absolute majority. We will have very soon elections in Bulgaria, in Hungary and some other countries, and the EPP may soon have the absolute majority in the European Council. Therefore a stronger EPP voice in the EU will mean a louder voice of Europe in the world.