It is a good tradition at the Robert-Franck-Schule that students at the business high school ask well-prepared questions to state and European politicians about the future of Europe on the European Project Day. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the last event in 2019 took place with the Vice-President of the European Parliament Rainer Wieland. This year, Tayfun Tok, Member of Parliament for the Greens, had a home game. He himself graduated from the Robert-Franck-Schule 16 years ago as a student of the Wirtschaftsgymnasium. Principal Wolfgang Ulshöfer was therefore delighted to welcome his former pupil to the European Project Day. "Perhaps we were also able to awaken his interest in economic issues during his time at our school," said Ulshöfer, who taught him himself as a teacher in the economics profile subject. Tok is currently also a member of the State Parliament's Committee on Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism.
In his opening remarks, Ulshöfer emphasized: "In recent decades, Europe has often become a little-appreciated matter of course. Especially in view of the current threat to our liberal values posed by Russia's terrible war against Ukraine, it is all the more important that we need a strong, united Europe with a united front today more than ever." In the following greeting, the first state official Jürgen Vogt addressed the students directly. "Young people's commitment to Europe is very important. You can have a say in how the EU develops in the future," said Vogt.
For the panel discussion that followed, the pupils in Year 1 of the business high school had prepared questions in advance with their social studies teachers, which the student mentors contributed. "How did you actually get into politics?" asked Luca Schollenberger. After a brief description of his background, Tok revealed that he really liked the Greens because they made no distinction in terms of origin or religion. With regard to economic policy, he interjected: "Sure, we have built the world's best cars and machines. But the countries around us are catching up. To stay ahead, we have to do our homework and drive innovation." Timo Burkhardt points out that the Greens are actually against armament and therefore asks: "What is your personal position on arms deliveries to Ukraine?" Tayfun Tok explains: "Putin wants to expand his sphere of influence. The countries around Ukraine are also afraid of this. We must support Ukraine - including with weapons - and defend our values, especially as Putin will only take us seriously if we embody a certain strength." In response to the provocative question from department head Steffen Benz as to whether the Greens would not like to take over the Ministry of Defense from Ms Lambrecht, Tok held back in a statesmanlike manner and emphasized that he was not in a position to decide this.
In the context of energy policy, Tok regretted that almost everyone says yes to the energy transition and when the wind turbine is on the doorstep or lithium is mined on the Upper Rhine, suddenly everyone is against it. The question arose from the plenary session as to what sanctions - as in the case of Hungary and Poland - should be imposed in response to violations of EU values. Here, Tayfun Tok argued that we as Germans should not come with a raised index finger, but should find a sense of proportion and balance in order to include these countries and not lose them. "Otherwise Putin will be rubbing his hands when these countries pull out." It is important to me not to equate countries with people. That's why we need to think in the medium and long term and focus on the population rather than the autocrats currently in power," says Tok. In response to the increasing right-wing extremist tendencies in Europe, such as France, Tayfun Tok recommends: "The European Union project must reinvent itself. Promises of prosperity and advancement must be filled with new life. If we are democratic, we are not automatically better off." In the lively and fair discussion, Tayfun Tok proved to be a very approachable and credible politician who appealed to the students: "I believe in young people and would like to encourage you to stand up for your country and your interests. I am one of you and not an aloof politician. 16 years ago, I was a pupil at the Robert Franck School, just like you. Today I sit in the state parliament and can help shape important decisions."
After the entertaining panel discussion, all the pupils agreed - more of the same.
