Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 8 October 2025
Committee on European Union Affairs
Engagement with Representatives of the European Committee of the Regions
2:00 am
Ms Kata Tütt:
There is a lot of truth in that. Eurosceptics are emerging all across Europe, but when you looks at those countries you always has to go in to deep to understand where it comes from. Euroscepticism is just a symptom. It is not about Europe. It is about the speed of the transformation. Everything is transforming. It is not just climate change; it is industry, technology and society. It is this constant push to go faster and faster. A lot of people are getting tired. This is what is happening. Euroscepticism is just a symptom because people have to blame someone. If someone tells a person who is tired, in pain, or suffering that it is because of migration or crazy people in Brussels, it is easier for them to say they will not suffer that much if we get rid of that. We know how this works. It is not connected to the European funds. I always say it is the role of leaders at all levels to understand how important the European framework is; it is not the citizens' role. They have a lot of problems on their plates. If a leader is a real leader and wants to serve their community, it is in their interest and it is in our interest to protect the European idea and European Union. We cannot expect our citizens to live like that. Every level of government and every politician has to understand that outside is worse than inside.