Electoral rights of mobile Union citizens in European Parliament elections

The European Parliament adopted, by 587 votes to 60, with 21 abstentions, following a special legislative procedure (consultation), a legislative resolution on the draft Council directive laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament for Union citizens residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals (recast).

Parliament approved the Council's draft as adapted to the recommendations of the consultative working party of the legal services of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. The proposal is limited to a straightforward codification of existing acts, without changing their substance.

The draft legislative act lays down the arrangements under which Union citizens residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals may exercise the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament.

In order to ensure that Union citizens who reside in a Member State of which they are not nationals (non-national Union citizens) are able to exercise their right to vote and to stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament under the same conditions as nationals of their host Member State, the conditions governing registration and participation in such elections should be clarified in order to ensure equal treatment between national and non-national Union citizens. In particular, Union citizens seeking to vote and to stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament in their Member State of residence should be treated equally as regards any periods of residence that are to be fulfilled as a condition for the exercise of the right, as well the proofs for demonstrating compliance with such a condition.

In order to have their name entered on the electoral roll, Union voters should produce the same documents as voters who are nationals. The formalities applicable to their registration should be as simple as possible.

In order to prevent multiple voting or instances where the same person would stand as a candidate more than once at the same elections, Member States should exchange the information collected sufficiently in advance of polling day.

Member States that provide for the possibilities of advance voting, postal voting, and electronic and internet voting, in elections to the European Parliament should ensure the availability of those voting methods to Union voters under similar conditions as the ones applicable to their own nationals.

Parliament regretted that the Council had not meaningfully taken Parliament's opinion into account, illustrating a persistent pattern of a lack of constructive cooperation in certain special legislative procedures. Recalling the recommendations contained in its report of 13 December 2023, it reiterated its call on the Council and the European Council to collaborate constructively in finding policy solutions that work in the interest of European citizens.