Stock-taking of the European elections 2024
The European Parliament adopted by 388 votes to 186, with 34 abstentions, a resolution on the stocktaking of the European elections 2024.
The 2024 European elections recorded the highest turnout of any European Parliament election in the last 25 years, with 50.74% of voters turning out to vote (a slight increase compared to 2019, when turnout was 50.66%), providing a strong and positive signal of European citizens' interest in European affairs. Turnout figures vary considerably across Member States, ranging from 89.01% to 21.35%, highlighting the need for continued political investment in electoral participation across the Union.
European democracy after the 2024 European elections
Members are convinced that efforts must be stepped up to boost voter turnout and make the Union less bureaucratic, more democratic and more efficient in its decision-making.
Parliament welcomed the efforts of the European institutions and the European Broadcasting Union to increase the continent-wide visibility of candidates in the European elections, including through a series of high-level pan-European debates, bringing together lead candidates from different political parties, as well as through ‘get out the vote’ debates to raise awareness among young Europeans. It welcomed the positive impact of its own institutional communication strategy using the slogan ‘Use your vote, or others will decide for you’.
Members stressed the importance of doing more to increase the participation of under-represented groups in European elections. They are also concerned about the decline in youth turnout and pledge to step up efforts to increase the reach of election campaigns to this key age group.
Parliament reaffirmed its long-standing view that further reforms and adjustments to the Union's electoral framework are needed to make European elections more democratic, resilient, inclusive and truly European.
Institutional and electoral reform
Members called for the modernisation of the electoral framework for European elections to enhance citizen participation and reduce disparities between Member States, including by establishing a single common voting day and a uniform minimum voting age. They called on the Council to engage constructively with Parliament to ensure swift approval of the pending proposal of 3 May 2022 for a new electoral law.
Parliament regretted that the proposed new rules on the right of ‘mobile citizens’ to vote and stand for election to Parliament had not been adopted by the Council in time for the 2024 elections. It reiterated its proposals to enable voter registration as soon as voters register in their place of residence, to strengthen language and information requirements for local authorities, to facilitate the exercise of the right to vote by under-represented voter groups, and to improve awareness-raising campaigns carried out by Member States with the active participation of civil society.
Member States are urged to ensure that their citizens living abroad can participate in the European elections, including by strengthening consular services and allowing postal voting, and to ensure that elderly people and people with disabilities have easy access to polling stations.
Members strongly support the efforts of political parties to further develop the implementation of the lead candidate process (Spitzenkandidaten) to establish a link between the election, the composition of Parliament, and the nomination of the President of the Commission so as to make the appointment of the EU executive more transparent for citizens. The election of the President of the Commission in the European elections would strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the elections.
The resolution:
- stressed the role of European political parties in combating disinformation and developing European political awareness,
- approved the recast of the regulation on the financing of political parties and foundations, and requested more resources for the latter,
- called for a ban on foreign donations to parties and candidates, with an obligation of transparency and control at EU level,
- stressed the need to strengthen the role and visibility of European political foundations in the European democratic sphere.
Parliament also proposed (i) reversing the roles of the Council and Parliament in the nomination and confirmation of the President of the Commission; (ii) giving Parliament the right of legislative initiative and strengthening its right of inquiry; and (iii) convening a convention to examine these changes in the context of a future revision of the Treaties.
Institutional resilience
Parliament stressed the importance of strengthening the link between local, regional, national, and European issues. It expressed deep concern about the growing number of internal and external threats eroding the European democratic fabric and reiterated its deep concern about the persistent trend of malicious interference in European democratic processes, including disinformation.
The Commission and Member States are called upon to ramp up their efforts to combat foreign interference and disinformation through a cross-cutting and coordinated multi-level strategy, supported by adequate financial resources.
Members are deeply concerned about the rise and electoral success of anti-establishment and openly anti-EU parties, which is leading to the radicalisation of political discourse and a further polarisation in Parliament. They condemned any form of political rhetoric that promotes hatred, discrimination, xenophobia, or violence, and called on all political actors to engage in a constructive and fact-based dialogue that respects democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law.
In conclusion, Parliament believes that European democracy can only thrive as long as European democratic and electoral processes are strengthened and defended.