Interview: "We must keep EU together," says EPP leader

PASSAU, Germany, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Keeping the European Union (EU) together is among the biggest challenges for the Union, chairman of the European People's Party (EPP) group Manfred Weber told Xinhua Tuesday night.

"We have to keep the EU together. We see Brexit happening. That's why we strive for the fundamental principle that compromise is good thing for Europe," said Weber, who is also the EPP's candidate for European Commission presidency in the upcoming European Parliament elections this May.

Weber came to the Bavarian city of Passau to attend the Ash Wednesday event of the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union to which he belongs. The EPP is projected to remain the largest party group in European Parliament in the upcoming elections, which will increase Weber's chance of becoming Jean-Claude Juncker's successor.

Weber told Xinhua in an interview at a media reception that for the moment it is positive for the EPP and himself, but they still need to ask the people to take the vote seriously and to participate in the elections.

Another challenge EU is facing is that as its external challenges are big, it must understand that only a united Europe, together, with one voice, can have critical mass of power to bring European points of view on the global stage.

In foreign relations, unanimous decision-making should be replaced by the majority rule, because Europe must be quicker in forming its positions on external affairs, Weber said.

The EU is also facing growing uncertainties in its neighborhood, for example the developments in Turkey or the civil war in Syria, and Europe should also care about its neighboring continent, Africa.

Weber said he, along with his EPP party group, is in favor of working together with all of the friends on international level, including China.

"We are in favor of good and strong cooperation with China," he said.

"China is for us a key partner, also for me as the EPP leader. We want to work strongly together. And a lot of key elements, for example free trade and climate change, we see that China is closely on our side," said Weber.