Delano: What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Alexandra Schoos: My dog Pinda gets me out of my bed! Either for a nice short run or just for a walk with her favourite toy: her little orange ball. And in the best case, the sun joins us.

What’s something that most people don’t realise about the upcoming elections?

Most people don’t realise that each vote counts. We are living in a fast-changing world and in a currently difficult geopolitical situation. Taking part in the elections gives EU citizens a voice and an opportunity to support the parties that best represent their ideas. Moreover, it is their right and responsibility to vote, as we all are Europe, even though only a few people of each country represent the citizens of Europe at the European Parliament.

What does Europe mean to you?

Europe, to me, means finding a unique density of different cultures, languages, landscapes, cuisines, histories… but Europe means as well taking the responsibility to preserve the individuality of the different countries in this unique and amazing project of a European Union, at its origin a project of peace. The EU represents to me an enormous economic opportunity, free movement and a sense of unity which needs to be preserved and not endangered because of excessive bureaucracy and sovereignty concerns.

Which place in Luxembourg represents Europe to you?

The Robert Schumann Monument represents Europe for me here in Luxembourg for two reasons. Robert Schuman, born and raised in Luxembourg, is one of the founding fathers of the Europe Union. And the localisation of the monument: it stands next to the “Rout Bréck,” which makes the connection of the old city of Luxembourg and the European quarter in Kirchberg.

A shorter version of this interview first appeared in  of Delano magazine.