What motivates you to get involved as an MEP?

Europe must be seen as a community for peace and understanding. I am committed to strengthening the EU as a peace project and advocate close cooperation between Member States to resolve conflicts peacefully.

I am in favour of reducing the bureaucratic burden and overregulation on businesses and citizens in order to strengthen competitiveness and relieve SMEs, which are the backbone of our economy. The economy needs support for fair competition, digitalisation and innovation. This requires openness to technology.

Industrial policy must be geared towards growth and employment. This goal can only be accompanied by a climate policy that does not strangulate Europe's economy and maintains the necessary sense of proportion.

Agriculture needs an ideology-free and predictable framework.

Illegal migration to the EU must be stopped as a matter of urgency. Crime and terrorism must be effectively combated by all means.

Maintaining and promoting Europe's cultural values are also among my priorities.

What do you consider the biggest challenges European companies face in the coming years?

European companies are faced with the challenge of asserting themselves in global competition. In order to increase competitiveness, we need a decisive and noticeable reduction in bureaucracy with excessive display, documentation, and proof obligations. In order to ensure the international competitiveness of European companies, energy prices must be significantly reduced and innovation promoted. Another challenge I see is the creation of sustainable, future-proof training and jobs in order to meet the shortage of skilled workers. Other topics include digitalisation, cybersecurity and the protection of intellectual property. In order to trigger new investments, a stable banking system with stringent interest and debt policies is required. The European single market must be completed and the long overdue conclusion of free trade agreements that are still open will open up new markets for businesses. Finally, it is also important to close global supply chains and to review laws that are far from practical, such as the Taxonomy or the CSDDD.

How to #PowerUpEurope: How would you like to use your work in the Industry Committee to make Europe an attractive and strong business location again?

Competitiveness in all its facets will be a core task of this legislature, including in the transport sector. With millions of workers, the automotive industry is one of the key industries in Europe. This needs to be strengthened. To do this, we need new innovations and openness to technology. In the rail sector, we must continue to work on the unification of the many different technical systems and the European high-speed network must be expanded with great vehemence in the coming years. In the aviation sector, we need to strengthen European air hubs. The framework conditions for the aviation industry in Europe have deteriorated drastically due to high taxes and levies, costs for air traffic control, guarantees, airport charges and climate protection requirements. There is an urgent need to counteract competition in Asia and America. We still need research and development in the field of e-mobility and alternative fuels. Europe's ports, as gateways to cosmopolitan trade, must be further developed into modern and efficient trans-shipment points. My concern is to think about the impact of political decisions on the ground, to listen to the economy and the local citizens, and to promote digitalisation and reduction of bureaucracy in the transport sector.