Another highlight was Hungary's decision to lift its veto on the 18 billion euros in aid to Ukraine in exchange for the approval by its European counterparts of its recovery plan.

These European funds will only be released if Viktor Orban produces around twenty reforms.

"In Hungary, there is corruption, justice is threatened, democracy is threatened," said Yannick Jadot.

"But Viktor Orban will be obliged to implement a certain number of measures for the independence of justice, to fight against corruption and it is on this basis that he will be able to have access to European funds. So much the better if the Europe requires him to restore democracy to his country".

Yannick Jadot "does not believe in an interesting agreement" on the price of gas in the EU

The MEP is more reserved on the gas price cap: "I don't believe in an interesting agreement, because of the conflict within the EU on this subject. The Germans want to supply themselves at any price , they put in a package of 200 billion euros to compensate for the price increase."

In France, the soaring price of gas and electricity is heavy for public finances, for businesses and households.

According to Yannick Jadot, "the European Commission, which has united with Germany, is waiting for the price of gas to fall so that it is not an urgent matter."

But if the EU leaves Russian gas to switch to liquefied natural gas (LNG) this does not solve everything because "LNG supply is global and prices are unstable", continues Yannick Jadot, with shale gas imported from United States.

"It's a very expensive and polluting gas. We have to move towards renewables, energy savings, sobriety and investments in construction."

Qatargate, an "extremely serious" affair

Asked about the Qatargate affair, a real earthquake which shook the European Parliament with several elected officials suspected of corruption with Qatar, Yannick Jadot believes that "it is extremely serious".

And he continues: "Corruption kills democracy, there is a strong mistrust of citizens vis-à-vis politics and Europe (...). We will have to be very serious with an investigation and heavy sanctions" . 

The MEP indicates that his group, the Ecologists, has been fighting for years to improve the transparency of the European institutions: "The conservatives, the socialists and the liberals were blocking our demands (…). Commissioner Margaritis Schinas took up all the arguments of the lobbyists who defended Qatar, you have to know why!".

Yannick Jadot pleads for a High Authority for the transparency of public life, a control of the heritage of elected officials and asks that the States be considered as lobbies.

According to him, it is necessary to scrutinize the votes, such as that of the agreement with Qatar Airways, to detect certain hidden influences.

Outraged by Emmanuel Macron's trip to Doha

While Emmanuel Macron traveled to Qatar for the semi-final of the 2022 World Cup between France and Morocco, Yannick Jadot is indignant: "These statements are terrible (…). President Macron is participating like the Qataris in a instrumentalization of sport to play politics and validate this World Cup, with all the human dramas and all the corruption behind it. It's scandalous!"

While COP15 is being held in Montreal at the same time on biodiversity, which must save life, the MEP concludes: "If Emmanuel Macron really wants to take the plane, let him go to COP15 in Montreal and not to Doha."

Program prepared by Isabelle Romero, Perrine Desplats and Sophie Samaille.

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