Follow the final debate between the European Union’s political families in this live blog from the Euraactiv newsroom.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which will host the debate from 15:00 to 16:45 on 23 May, will be joined by Walter Bayer (European Left), Sandro Gogi (Renew Europe) and Ursula von der Leyen. (European People’s Party), Terry Reindke (European Green Party), and Nicolas Schmidt (European Socialist Party) confirmed their participation.
The debate has come under fire in recent weeks after far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) and regionalist European Liberal Alliance parties protested against its exclusion. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group has not taken part in previous debates and will not be attending this one.
Topics include the economy and jobs, defense and security, climate and the environment, democracy and leadership, immigration and borders, and innovation and technology.
Moderated by Martin Řezníček (Czech TV) and Annelies Beck (VRT, Belgium), the debate will feature “spotlight” interviews with the following candidates one by one: Nicolas Schmit, Sandro Gozi, Terry Reintke, Ursula von der Leyen and Walter Baier.
