ASSEDEL recently had the pleasure of interviewing Martin Hojsík, Vice-President of the European Parliament and member of the Renew Europe political group.
In our conversation, he shed light on the responsibilities that come with the Vice-Presidency and why this role is crucial to the institution’s day-to-day functioning. We also discussed how political affiliation can shape a Vice-President’s work and explored meaningful ways for the European Union to deepen its connection with the younger generations of Europe.
Understanding the role of a Vice-President
Mr. Hojsík explained that serving as Vice-President is an additional responsibility alongside his full-time role as a Member of the European Parliament. His political work is strongly driven by a commitment to tackling the climate crisis and ensuring a livable future for younger generations. As Vice-President, one of his key duties is to oversee and chair plenary sessions. In addition to this, each Vice-President is entrusted with a specific portfolio of responsibilities. Mr. Hojsík’s portfolio covers the rule of law, citizens’ language rights and multilingualism, relations with Asia and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), work on artificial intelligence, and participation in the Parliament’s Internal Audit Panel.
Because the role comes with a wide range of responsibilities, the European Parliament has 14 Vice-Presidents. The Vice-Presidents are elected after the President and together they form the Parliament’s Bureau, which oversees the institution’s day-to-day functioning. At the start of each mandate, the President assigns individual portfolios to the Vice-Presidents following consultations, taking into account their interests, political balance, gender and regional representation, as well as their experience and capabilities.
Balancing neutrality and political vision
Given the diverse political voices both within the Parliament and the group of Vice-Presidents, Hojsík explained that while his political vision as a member of Renew Europe naturally informs his work, the role of Vice-President requires impartiality and strict adherence to the Rules of Procedure and the EU treaties.
“That’s something that actually comes from the very political foundation of my group — this is the attitude of liberal democracy that we foster.”
He added that topics such as the rule of law, fundamental rights and emerging technologies like AI are particularly important to him, reflecting his forward-looking political focus. When it comes to balancing different political perspectives, he noted that this is primarily the responsibility of the Conference of Presidents, where the leaders of the political groups negotiate. By contrast, The Bureau, where the Vice-Presidents sit, works in a collegial manner on the institutional functioning of the Parliament.
“Within the Bureau, I would say we are very collegial, trying to work things out. Our job is not to advance our individual political views, but to make sure that the House works properly — that it improves, answers the expectations of citizens, and fulfills its duties.”
Connecting with the next generation
When asked how the European Parliament can engage younger citizens who often feel disconnected from EU politics, Hojsík emphasized the importance of direct involvement and dialogue:
“What I’m doing is trying to push initiatives that involve more young people in concrete policy areas.”
Several existing programs aim to bring students closer to EU decision-making, such as Euroscola, where thousands of students from across Europe participate in debates and activities in Strasbourg, and the European Ambassador School program. Beyond these initiatives, Hojsík has championed projects that give young people a voice in concrete policy areas, including the Young Pollinator Assembly, which gathers youth representatives from all member states to provide input on protecting bees and other pollinators, a critical issue for the future of the planet.
Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel!
