Martin Schulz, the chairman of the social democratic group in the European Parliament, talks to SPIEGEL about the forthcoming European elections, why the EU needs more democracy and his infamous spat with Silvio Berlusconi.

SPIEGEL: Mr. Schulz, do we need to introduce you to our readers?

Martin Schulz: According to surveys, a quarter of all Germans know who I am. There are some cabinet ministers or prime ministers who would be pleased with a figure like that.

Eurosceptic members of the European Parliament demonstrate after the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

SPIEGEL: Why did you become head of the social democratic group in the European Parliament and not a federal minister in Berlin?

Schulz: It has to do with my background. I grew up in the Aachen area, one of the most Europeanized regions on the continent. My parents were staunch pro-Europeans from the war generation. They were very proud when I went to France in 1971 on a student exchange program. In those days, the concept of Europe was mainly about values. Today, unfortunately, personal benefit has taken center stage. People ask: What can Europe do for me?

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The major beneficiary of British voter disgust at the ongoing MP expenses scandal, the UK Independence Party, is attracting brickbats from left, right and far right, accusing the eurosceptic party of hypocrisy when it comes to fiddling expenses.

Meanwhile, the threat of a gaggle of hard-right MPs descending upon Strasbourg from Britain appears to have ebbed, as the far-right British National Party (BNP) lowers its expectations to just one seat.

Ukip are being targeted by opponents as they hoover up votes from disgruntled voters (Photo: Ian Dodds)

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The knives have come out for Ukip as it has begun to hoover up votes of disaffected voters revolted by a seemingly ever-widening expenses scandal in which dozens of MPs from all the mainline parties are revealed to have been using parliamentary expenses instead on second homes, food bills and, in the case of one deputy, having his moat cleaned.

Two recent polls have put Ukip, which favours a British exit from the European Union, on a level-pegging with the ruling Labour party. In one survey, Labour is pushed into fourth place behind the eurosceptic party.

As for the elections, well, don't hold your breath waiting for debate on European issues. The vote in Latvia will be about nothing but domestic issues.

"Politicians don't care about these [European] elections," says Filips Rejevskis, a political analyst.

"People are thinking that this is an election not for representing them in the European Parliament but more we are choosing eight people who will have a good life for the next four years, very good, very well paid, very comfortable life."

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The British tabloids have shifted their shrill focus from national politicians' perks to those enjoyed by MEPs, while events in Italy have taken a farcical turn.

After days of frenzied reporting on the expenses excesses employed by British politicians, UK tabloid the Sun reports that during the five-year term of the EU parliament, an MEP can clock-up over €2 million in expenses. The papers says that MEPs can claim five relaxing sessions of mudbaths, hydromassage, hydrotherapy and acupuncture every month with a doctor's note.

The socialists have given notice that Jose Manuel Barroso, the current Commission president, will not hold onto Brussels' top job without something of a struggle.

The socialists' president in the European Parliament, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen - himself a likely contender for the job if it was in the gift of the Left - has signalled in a blog that Mr Barroso shouldn't consider it in the bag.

During this election period I find myself repeatedly trying to explain how and if these elections matter. This is but one illustration of how they do have a real impact. Just not a straightforward, simple-to-understand one.