Leading actor in the European Parliament
As a fresh-faced student, Jeroen Lenaers had no idea where a degree in European Studies would take him. The UM alum who simply ‘fell’ into a career in international politics was last year elected by VoteWatch Europe as the most politically influential Dutch MEP. “MEPs have a huge influence on legislation—that’s one of the great things about the job.”
When Jeroen Lenaers heard the abbreviation MEP in his first year of European Studies, he didn’t know what it meant. Now, almost two decades later, he is an MEP himself: a member of the European Parliament. “I had no idea what you could do with the degree. I didn’t have strict career plans then, and I still don’t, because if things don’t work out the way you envisaged, you end up disappointed. And it blinds you to the opportunities along the way, the forks off that career path, because you’re so focused on the path ahead.”
He fell into politics almost by accident when an unexpected opportunity presented itself: an internship with the Dutch MEP Ria Oomen. In 2014, he followed in her footsteps as a member of the Christian Democratic Appeal, part of the European People’s Party Group. That things are going well is putting it mildly: he was elected by VoteWatch Europe as the most politically influential Dutch MEP of 2021.
Jeroen Lenaers studied European Studies at Maastricht University. After his internship in 2007 with the Dutch MEP Ria Oomen, he worked as a policy officer in the European Parliament. He was elected to the CDA in 2014 and is currently spokesperson for the EPP’s Christian Democratic Appeal in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
International cross-pollination
Lenaers has always been interested in Europe. “I grew up on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium as the son of a cross-border marriage. My father is Dutch, my mother Belgian. I never really saw the border as such, and that’s thanks to Europe.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, he opted for European Law School, which he soon realised was too heavily focused on national law for his tastes. “In my first year, I stumbled across European Studies. It had a real European character, with a varied mix of European cultural history combined with European law and macroeconomics.”
What he mainly recalls from the programme is the cooperation with foreign students. “You’d be writing a thesis with Ukrainian students about the Holodomor, a famine in Ukraine perpetrated by Stalin, but really it was about fake news, because there were many Western journalists who blindly believed Stalin’s version of events. That international cross-pollination was so enriching.” He is now reaping the benefits. “We have 26 nationalities in the Parliament. You have to know who you’re speaking to and how, and be aware of the sensitivities involved—which you also make use of during negotiations.”
The European Corona Certificate was developed within a few months. If the political will is there, things can move quickly. What’s frustrating is that the member states only take action when their backs are to the wall.
Fair labour market
The highlights of his work are situations in which he can help individual citizens with social security or tax problems, Lenaers says. He also mentions his contribution to the establishment of the European Labour Authority, which aims to create a fair labour market. And then there was his involvement in overhauling the existing European information systems and setting up new ones, leading to improved police and judicial cooperation. “I’m very proud to have played a leading role in this.”
These are examples of what he sees as the considerable power of the European Parliament. “MEPs have a huge influence on legislation—that’s one of the great things about the job. That power is much more direct and substantive compared to, say, the House of Representatives. You can really push concrete laws in a certain direction.” He disputes the claim that European decision making is always slow. “The European Corona Certificate was developed within a few months. If the political will is there, things can move quickly. What’s frustrating is that the member states only take action when their backs are to the wall.”
Setting an example
When it comes to issues like migration and climate change, there is no doubting the severity of the situation. Will Europe be able to cope? “Yes, but not alone; the member states have to really want it. Migration needs a global solution. But if you want to play a role on the world stage, you have to be on top of things at home, which is currently not the case.” As for the climate crisis: “It’s good that Europe is taking on a leadership role and setting an example. If you don’t take responsibility yourself, you can’t hold others accountable.”
But such issues are also potentially divisive. Europe is a strong power in economic and trade terms, Lenaers says, but the divisions between member states make it vulnerable. Other countries take advantage of this. “That’s Putin’s strategy, not to mention Lukashenko, the Belarussian dictator who’s currently using migration as a form of hybrid warfare. Reaching a consensus always requires willingness on the part of national governments, but I understand that developments have to move at a pace that everyone can get on board with. If you overrule your member states, you undermine the longer term sustainability of the cooperation.”
Right to exist
He is also concerned about the support for Europe at the national level. Member states like Poland and Hungary are chipping away at the rule of law, even as Eurosceptics challenge the EU’s very right to exist. “I see that as my primary objective: the fight for Europe in the longer term. I’m convinced that the future of the Netherlands lies in a strong EU. Europe provides the pathway to solve problems that genuinely affect citizens: unemployment, security and the dark sides of the internal market. Only if we succeed in this can we speak of real successes again.”
‘UM & Europe’ in the spotlight
2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty; time to take stock of European integration. Moreover, a special conference on the future of Europe is scheduled in Maastricht from 11 to 13 February 2022. Plenty of reasons for the European university of the Netherlands to launch a new series of stories, and to publish an overview of all of our 'UM and Europe' information. Read more.
If you overrule your member states, you undermine the longer term sustainability of the cooperation.
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