# About

Supporting Engagement in European Elections and Democratic Societies (SEEEDS) is a new project to strengthen the integrity of the 2024 European through a non-partisan transnational network that brings together civil society and electoral experts from all EU Member States and facilitates exchanges with decision-makers at the European level. We want to improve the capacity of civil society, strengthen understanding of European Parliament elections and ultimately promote broad voter participation. With our non-partisan, participatory approach, we bridge the gap between citizens from across the EU on legislation and selected electoral issues, focusing on including women, youth and mobile citizens. In this way, will help to strengthen and expand a transnational network of active citizens working for inclusive and engaged elections based on human rights and the rule of law.

\ ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/qkVJHtZBOoFMc9OVOQKi) # Who we are This project is co-financed by the European Union under the CERV Programme. This website reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. The organisations behind SEEEDS are: {% tabs %} {% tab title="EPD" %} [**European Partnership for Democracy (EPD)**](https://epd.eu/) EPD is a not-for-profit organisation with a global remit to support democracy, that brings together a network of 19 organisations specialising in the different parts of a democratic system. EPD has long engaged in coalition-building for a European democracy fostering citizens' and civil society participation into targeted EU policy making processes. Our efforts include mainstreaming democracy and transparency in EU political processes and supporting the implementation of the EDAP. EPD research and advocacy work materialised recently in a comprehensive progress report of the EDAP (EPD; 2022) that outlines action points and recommendations in terms of protecting election integrity and promoting democratic participation including on transparent political campaigns and civic participation in elections. {% endtab %} {% tab title="Election-Watch.EU" %} [**Election-Watch.EU**](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/) Election Watch is an independent, non-partisan civil society organisation and network with long-standing international and citizen-based election observation and electoral assistance expertise. The organisation aims at observing and assessing the European elections and electoral processes in European countries with a focus on international obligations and commitments as well as on best practices to strengthen democracy in Europe. Through research, recommendations and advocacy, Election Watch contributes to the safeguarding and improvement of European and EU Member States’ electoral systems and processes, and more broadly to the strengthening of democratic political practice. Election Watch has conducted the first ever comprehensive citizen-led Election Assessment Mission (EAM) to a European Parliament election. The [Final Report of the EAM 2019](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/election-watch-eu-eam-ep-2019-final-report-160919.pdf) has been referenced by the European Commission and presented to the [European Parliament](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/debate-about-electoral-reforms-in-the-eu-parliament-stimulated-by-election-watch-eus-findings-and-recommendations/) and the [European Cooperation Network on Elections](https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/eu-citizenship/democracy-and-electoral-rights/european-cooperation-network-elections_en). Election Watch originates from Austria where it operates as [wahlbeobachtung.org](http://wahlbeobachtung.org/) (German for election observation) advocating for electoral reforms. {% endtab %} {% tab title="DRI" %} [**Democracy Reporting International (DRI)**](https://democracy-reporting.org/en/office/global) Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is an independent organisation dedicated to promoting democracy worldwide. We strengthen democracy by supporting the institutions and processes that make it sustainable and work with all stakeholders towards ensuring that citizens play a role in shaping their environment. DRI focuses on five key themes on democracy: justice, elections, local governance, digital democracy and human rights. DRI’s Digital Democracy programme focuses on threats to democratic institutions from the digital sphere. Our team of researchers, project managers and policy experts bring diverse backgrounds in quantitative data analysis, advocacy, law, policy and media. In addition to expertise on social media monitoring (SMM), our team focuses on emerging threats in the disinformation sphere, and advocating for better and more inclusive digital policy and transparency through regulation. {% endtab %} {% tab title="EPDE" %} [**European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE)**](https://www.epde.org/en/For-Free-Elections-in-Europe.html) The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) was set up in December 2012 in Warsaw through 13 independent European citizen election observation organizations.The aim of EPDE is to support citizen election observation and to contribute to democratic election processes throughout Europe. EPDE improves the professional quality of its member organizations through peer-learning, tailored training and expert missions, and informs internationally about the findings of its member organizations. EPDE encourages, trains and supports experts and citizens who stand up for transparent and equal suffrage wherever it is at risk in Europe – be it in the European Union’s member states, the Eastern Partnership countries, or the Russian Federation. {% endtab %} {% endtabs %}

Logos of European Partnership for Democracy, Election-Watch.EU, Democracy Reporting International, EPDE

# SEEEDS in a nutshell # Objectives

1. Strengthening the network of electoral experts for an in-depth assessment of the 2024 European Parliament elections in all 27 EU Member States ; 2. Develop practical recommendations at European level Enable active citizens and civil society actors from all EU countries to actively participate in and contribute to the EU policy-making process and national election preparations; 3. Expand and strengthen civil society engagement in the 2024 European Parliament elections. Deepen the understanding of European electoral processes ; 4. Contribute to the fight against disinformation and other forms of interference in the electoral processes. Promote digital media literacy; 5. Encourage citizens, especially women, EU mobile citizens, youth, persons with disabilities to participate in the European elections.

![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/qkVJHtZBOoFMc9OVOQKi) # Relevant policy initiatives


European Democracy Action Plan	https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/new-push-european-democracy/european-democracy-action-plan_en	/files/Txx2lEv8QbV6n8SMHUht
EU Citizenship Report 2022	https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_2395	/files/yISUPx87mUHZTxsBO0sb
Strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU	https://commission.europa.eu/aid-development-cooperation-fundamental-rights/your-rights-eu/eu-charter-fundamental-rights/application-charter/eu-strategy-strengthen-application-charter_en	/files/C990kBsvfRqfWM3SrywD
European Commission's Proposal for a Regulation of the EP and of the Council on the transparency and targeting of political advertising	https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/46275fe4-93d7-11ec-b4e4-01aa75ed71a1/language-en	/files/ResFi6crHCXdeRud0fxl

![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/qkVJHtZBOoFMc9OVOQKi) # All you need to know about the EU elections and elections observation A Q\&A to increase voters’ understanding about the functioning of the European Union and the process of European elections, and to enhance participation in the 6-9 June 2024 elections.
Despite European elections being of great political importance for citizens in every European Union (EU) Member State, over the past years, voter participation in European elections has been rather low, having seen an increase in 2019 for the first time in two decades. Low turnout is often a reflection of insufficient knowledge about the EU and the electoral process. Moreover, European elections differ from one another, being conducted based on each Member State’s electoral laws, with only limited unified electoral rules for the whole Union. \ SEEEDS' partner Election-Watch.EU published Questions & Answers (Q\&A) as part of the Supporting Engagement in European Elections and Democratic Societies (SEEEDS) project. Its aim is to increase voters’ understanding of the functioning of the European Union and the process of European elections, as well as to enhance participation in the 6-9 June 2024 elections. The Q\&A also includes a section on election observation, which is recognised internationally as a means of supporting and strengthening democratic processes. \ This document aims to support a broad, interested public, but especially a new generation of young and first-time voters, who can engage with the issue in the run-up to the European elections and use the Q\&A as a basis for discussion in civic education classes. [**Any questions on the EU elections? Get the answer here!**](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24-qa-on-2024-european-elections-and-election-observation_updated.pdf)

You can access the infographics in other languages here: * [Bulgarian](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bg_27-elections-shape-1-european-parliament.pdf) * [German](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/de_27-elections-shape-1-european-parliament.pdf) * [Hungarian]() * [Spanish](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/es_27-elections-shape-1-european-parliament.pdf) * [French](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/fr_27-elections-shape-1-european-parliament.pdf) * [Polish](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/pl_27-elections-shape-1-european-parliament.pdf) * [Romanian](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ro_27-elections-shape-1-european-parliament.pdf) # Our 5 work packages and timeline The project has a total duration of 24 months (October 2022 – September 2024). ## Discover how we strengthen the integrity of the 2024 European Parliament elections step by step:

1. October April 2023: Consultations on Equality, Inclusion, Transparency, Accountability, Risks and Opportunities of the 2024 EP elections; 2. March-July 2023: High-level policy dialogue meeting between targeted active citizens and EU institutions and policymakers; 3. March-December 2023: Consultations of Citizens Active on Elections and Democracy Support and Network Strengthening; 4. September 2023 - May 2024: Citizens-to-citizens public outreach on civic and electoral engagement into the EU Parliament election; 5. May - September 2024: Building post-election assessment through citizens participation - learning together, doing together.

![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/qkVJHtZBOoFMc9OVOQKi) # Results The section "Results" introduces the outputs of the SEEEDS project implemented by the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), Elections-Watch.EU, the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), and Democracy Reporting International (DRI). The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/4JFxMwgmz0podQaHYii1) # Results WP1 The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/NNjGq4bvz6LwsUCp3mBg) # Webinar “Equality and inclusion” The webinar “Equality and inclusion” looked at the state of knowledge on equality and inclusion in the European Parliament elections analysed similarities and differences across the EU, with a focus on women’s participation in politics, accessibility for persons with disabilities and youth participation. Voter mobilisation is a key component of community belonging. Empowered transnational partnerships and citizens networks are the engines that can strengthen and advocate for EU citizenship-based values, producing a collective advocacy agenda for inclusive and engaging elections. In this first webinar, we explored the state of knowledge on equality and inclusion in the European Parliament elections analysing similarities and differences across the EU, with a focus on women’s participation in politics, accessibility for persons with disabilities and youth participation. Speakers noted that there are still legal and practical barriers to voter participation for persons with disabilities. While legal barriers mainly affect people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, millions of people still suffer from practical barriers ranging from the physical accessibility of the voting process to the accessibility of relevant information. The discussion resulted in a call for better cooperation between organisations advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities and the electoral authority to remove the remaining barriers. Another outcome of the discussion was that citizen election observation is not yet equally possible everywhere in the EU due to heterogeneous legislations, but that enabling such active participation in the electoral process would further increase young people's participation in elections and contribute to more transparency and accountability. Recommendations of the webinar: Further concerted efforts are required on the part of European Institutions and EU MS to continue the initiated electoral reforms. * Consider additional common European voter and candidate eligibility criteria to ensure the equality of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate across the EU. * Implement additional measures to support the equal participation of women and men to alleviate the obstacles faced by women candidates. This can be remedied, for example, through provisions for candidate registration. In particular gender related online hate speech should be addressed as a priority. * Remove remaining barriers to effective electoral participation of persons with disabilities, including those related to restrictions based on mental/intellectual disability, to the lack of access to polling stations, and to barriers to accessible information. Measures aimed at supporting independent and informed voting and decision-making such as the free choice of assistance and assistive tools should be prioritised. * Conduct regular targeted information campaigns and activities to explain European institutions and democratic processes to continue fostering youth participation in elections. * Include provisions in EU MS legislation to explicitly allow impartial citizen-led election observation throughout the electoral process, including access and accreditation, as it reveals shortcomings and highlights best electoral practices. * Engage in an inclusive, consultative and participatory electoral reform process with the involvement of all stakeholders, including civil society and underrepresented groups. \ You can find the full webinar uploaded online [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kew1yqJMGh4\&list=PLC65Va3CBtrj2q8afCXaJnlsiwp0xrK0z\&index=3\&t=51s). *The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/rPrwMv6qTwb022tLwqWB) # Webinar "Transparency in European Elections" Transparency is a key principle for credible elections. Independent verification of political campaigning and electoral processes by electoral stakeholders, whether political parties, election observers or voters, strengthens trust and public confidence in elections free of irregularities or mal-intended interference. As online political advertising has become increasingly important in campaigning, its regulation and oversight has been largely missing at EU and MS levels. Panelists pointed out that key concerns such as the protection of personal data, the secrecy of the ballot, combating algorithms that discriminate against women and minorities, and the full implementation of a human rights-based approach remain. A human rights-based approach has not yet been fully implemented. CSOs have played a key role in shaping the new legal framework for elections, but have been faced with problems with shrinking civil society space or lack of recognition. The webinar provided a wide audience of experts and non-experts with further information and insight on this very relevant and forthcoming file. Recommendations of the webinar: * Pursue a human rights-based approach to regulate political advertising in order to protect fundamental freedoms, democratic processes and open government. * Enable timely passage and full implementation of a new regulatory framework of political advertising ahead of the 2024 EP elections in all 27 EU MS. Create clarity on the definition of political advertising to cover only sponsored political content and not all political content. * Consider effective sanctions and sanctions enforcement mechanism by all EU MS, the Commission and EU agencies, as well as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Services Act (DSA). * Put in place measures to enforce detailed and timely reporting to electoral authorities on campaign financing and advertising. * Strengthen oversight institutions at EU level like the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and at EU MS level like national data/media monitoring and regulating authorities. * Protect personal data, which should not be used without consent, including for the purposes of political advertising and micro-targeting. Default consent to third-party companies and cross-platform tracking should be prohibited. Individuals should be informed in a clear and transparent manner why they are seeing certain advertisements and who has paid for them. * Make all political online advertisements easily accessible and searchable, containing detailed information about sponsor, source and amount of the funds involved, number of users reached, as well as specific targeting parameters that were used. * Expand and protect the space for civil society organisations to operate, including by fully recognising the positive role of non-partisan election observation as well as of ad tech platforms monitoring before, during and after elections, including through granting accreditations. \ You can find the full webinar uploaded online [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mp6vm5Vl2E\&list=PLC65Va3CBtrj2q8afCXaJnlsiwp0xrK0z\&index=2\&t=20s). *The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/p0606nTWrFviIdgdb66i) # Webinar "Accountability" Political finance accountability is a cornerstone of electoral and political integrity and refers to mechanisms that aim to hold electoral actors to account in case of non-compliance with applicable regulations. Accountability mechanisms at both the European and national levels are intended to ensure the effective enforcement of regulations through oversight and sanctioning systems.Accountability is a shared value within the EU region and the EU has a critical role in promoting best practices among MS. Across the EU region, there are a variety of political finance regulators tasked with the supervision and enforcement of accountability mechanisms. The main finding was that there are discrepancies between the rules at the EU level and at the national level regarding the financing of EP elections and the planned strategies to improve political accountability in the financial area. The tracking of money has become a common theme for most national supervisors. There is also a gap between the EU and EU Member States in terms of enforcement mechanisms that needs to be addressed. Recommendations of the webinar: * Close the gap between European regulations of European political parties and national regulations of national political parties, especially where national campaign issues are of cross-border nature, such as online political advertising. * Set up a network of oversight bodies under the control of the European regulator (Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations, APPF) to ensure the uniform and consistent application of EU regulations at the MS level and bridge the gap in political finance implementation. While the Authority does not have the mandate to regulate national political parties, the APPF could empower national oversight bodies to perform their duties more effectively. * Remove the current financial firewall that prevents European political parties from participating in a significant number of national EP electoral campaigns. The absence of a clear distinction between national campaigns in a MS in a "national" EP election campaign, and European campaigns through the holding of European campaign activities in a MS significantly affects the ability of European political parties to engage in campaigning. \ You can find the full webinar uploaded online [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPKtYVdwlcM\&list=PLC65Va3CBtrj2q8afCXaJnlsiwp0xrK0z\&index=4\&t=9s). *The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/RqFTf4XVQwFQ5K7azkl5) # Webinar "Risks and Opportunities" Particular attention was paid to the impact of the rule of law crisis, media freedom issues, as well as disinformation and cyber attacks. In the discussion, speakers pointed to a number of risks for the upcoming EU elections. These include anti-democratic interference from outside and within, the erosion of democracy and the rule of law in a number of member states, and extremely biased reporting by the public service media, as well as the overlap between state and party and the lack of an independent judiciary in some cases. The speakers noted that all these problems call into question the integrity of the EP election process. Challenges to EP elections are increasing due to the digitalisation of political campaigning and news consumption as well as anti-democratic interference from outside and within. The erosion of democracy and the rule of law in a number of member states poses a particular problem. Extremely biased reporting by public media, overlap of state and party and a lack of independent judiciary in some cases contribute to problems that challenge the integrity of the EP election process. At the same time, the EP elections also offer opportunities, as more voters are motivated to defend democratic structures and the EU has become more visible as a crucial political actor, especially in the context of the Covid pandemic, its reconstruction funds and its role in supporting Ukraine. This impetus could translate into voter mobilisation, but also revive the idea of leading candidates.
Recommendations of the webinar: * Strengthen free and independent media and protect journalists, human rights activists and civil society organisations, and counter restrictions by foreign agents legislation, SLAPP, physical threats and intimidation to counter media capture and biased reporting. * Stimulate policy debates on topics important to European voters and encourage democratic participation while balancing the attention to anti-European narratives and far-right parties in the elections to support voter engagement and a positive vision of the EU as a project. * Improve communication around the EU institutions’ activities in the fight against disinformation to raise awareness about the sources and quality of information for citizens. * Support the creation of stronger systems by civil society, media and academia to monitor and counter disinformation in EU and EU MS domestic context. * Strengthen the EU’s perception in public opinion as solution provider and inform citizens more about its activities and functioning. * Respond decisively to the undermining of the rule of law in MSs as rule of law weaknesses may affect electoral integrity (I.e. possibility of election appeals). \ You can find the full webinar uploaded online [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEmUwATDMno). *The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/ErXcOeHDXPnwVjGzIyos) # Civil Society Recommendations Paper **INTRODUCTION** This [policy paper](https://epd.eu/news-publications/enhancing-the-integrity-of-the-2024-european-parliament-elections/) originates from the ongoing research and human rights advocacy of [Election-Watch.EU (EW)](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/), the [European Partnership for Democracy (EPD)](https://epd.eu/), [Democracy Reporting International (DRI)](https://democracy-reporting.org/en/office/global), and the [European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE)](https://www.epde.org/en/For-Free-Elections-in-Europe.html). Four thematic webinars under the Supporting Engagement in European Elections and Democratic Societies (SEEEDS) project had European policy makers and experts discuss key topics of the 2024 European elections. A high-level panel, including representatives of the four major political groups and civil society, debated about enhancing electoral integrity ahead of the upcoming European elections at the EP on 4 July 2023. The SEEEDS project partners stand ready to support European and MS decision makers in protecting trust in and enhancing integrity of the 2024 EP elections. The findings and recommendations are outlined in four chapters: 1) Equality and Inclusion, 2) Transparency, 3) Accountability, and 4) Risks and Opportunities. **EQUALITY AND INCLUSION** **Findings** During the ongoing and previous legislative terms, the majority of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted for legislative reforms aiming at greater European electoral cohesion. However, the EP’s legislation has not yet been unanimously adopted by all EU MS and therefore did not become law. Although the remaining legislative avenues ahead of the 2024 EP elections may be limited, there is still room for improvement for particular groups of voters, for example the inclusion of mobile European citizens, as well as the accessibility of elections for persons with disabilities. Women are disadvantaged as candidates in most MS, resulting in unequal representation. An emerging phenomenon affecting women candidates more than men is gendered hate speech in online environments. There are still legal and practical barriers for the electoral participation of persons with disabilities. While legal barriers mostly affect those with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, millions suffer from practical barriers, ranging from the physical accessibility of the voting process to the accessibility of relevant information. A key insight from ongoing reform efforts is that best results are achieved where disabled persons organisations work hand in hand with the election administration to address remaining obstacles.

Right to vote of persons with disabilities in 2021 - European Disability Forum (EDF) Human Rights Report 2022

Efforts by the EP and civil society organisations to promote the last European elections have resulted in a remarkable turnout, particularly among young and first- time voters, in most but not in all EU MS. Further efforts are needed to keep youth interested and to increase their active participation in European affairs. One such measure may be lowering the voting age to 16 years. Youth engagement could also be enhanced by creating possibilities of non-partisan election observation, and to incorporate youth perspectives from their reports into electoral reforms. Citizen election observation is not yet equally possible across the EU due to heterogeneous legislations, but enabling such active participation in the electoral process would further increase youth turnout and contribute to greater transparency and accounta- bility. Further concerted efforts by the European Institutions and EU MS are required to continue the initiated electoral reforms. **Recommendations** We call on the European Union and EU Member States to: 1. Consider **additional common European voter and candidate eligibility criteria** to ensure the equality of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate across the EU. 2. Implement additional **measures to support the equal participation of women and men** to alleviate the obstacles faced by women candidates. This can be remedied, for example, through provisions for candidate registration. In particular, gender related online hate speech should be addressed as a priority. 3. Remove remaining **barriers to effective electoral participation of persons with disabilities**, including those related to restrictions based on mental/intellectual disability, to the lack of access to polling stations, and to barriers to accessible information. Measures aimed at **supporting independent and informed** voting and decision-making such as the free choice of assistance and assistive tools should be prioritised. 4. Accord mobile EU citizens the same electoral rights and opportunities to register, to vote and to stand for elections across all EU MS. 5. Conduct regular **targeted information campaigns** and activities to explain European institutions and democratic processes to continue fostering youth participation in elections. 6. Include provisions in EU MS legislation to explicitly allow **impartial citizen-led election** **observation** throughout the electoral process, including access and accreditation, as it reveals shortcomings and highlights best electoral practices. 7. Engage in an **inclusive, consultative, and participatory electoral reform process** with the involvement of all stakeholders, including civil society and underrepresented groups **TRANSPARENCY** Transparency is a key principle for credible elections. Independent verification of political campaigning and electoral processes by electoral stakeholders, whether political parties, election observers or voters, strengthens trust and public confidence in elections free of irregularities or mal-intended interference. As online political advertising has become increasingly important in campaigning, its regulation and oversight has been largely missing at EU and MS levels. **Findings** EU institutions are in the process of regulating political advertising with the aim to enhance transparency of political advertising and of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered online campaigning, and to counter disinformation. Online news platforms are becoming increasingly important as the first source of news among EU citizens. To date, political advertising online is only regulated on the basis of the voluntary self-regulatory commitment of major platforms. This [Code of Practice against Disinformation updated in 2022](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/code-practice-disinformation) has failed to solve many of the problems regarding political advertising, such as lack of independent third party oversight. X (formerly Twitter), an important platform for political debate, has withdrawn from the Code.

Use of the internet for reading online news sites/newspapers/news magazines in the EU

The envisaged regulation, including a possible sanction mechanism, had been scheduled to pass mid- 2023 and to be implemented ahead of the 2024 EP elections. However, key concerns like the protection of personal data, the secrecy of the vote, addressing algorithm biases against women and minorities, to fully embrace a human rights-based approach, remain. Civil society organisations played a key role in helping to shape the new regulatory framework of elections but have been facing problems with shrinking civic space or lack of recognition. **Recommendations** We call on the European Union and EU Member States to: 1. Pursue a **human rights-based approach** to regulate political advertising in order to protect fundamental freedoms, democratic processes and open government. 2. Enable the **timely passage** and full implementation of a new regulatory framework of political advertising ahead of the 2024 EP elections in all 27 EU MS. Create clarity on the **definition of political advertising** to cover only sponsored political content and not all political content. Consider **effective sanctions and sanctions enforcement mechanisms** by all EU MS, the Commission and EU agencies, as well as the General Data Protection Regulation ([GDPR](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj)) and the Digital Services Act ([DSA](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-services-act-package)). 3. Put in place measures to **enforce detailed and timely reporting** to electoral authorities on **campaign financing and advertising**. 4. **Strengthen oversight institutions** at EU level like the European Data Protection Board ([EDPB](https://edpb.europa.eu/about-edpb/who-we-are/edpb-chairmanship_en)) and at EU MS level like national data/media monitoring and regulating authorities. 5. **Protect personal data**, which should not be used without consent, including for the purposes of political advertising and micro-targeting. Prohibit default consent to third-party companies and cross-platform tracking. Individuals should be informed in a clear and transparent manner why they are seeing certain advertisements and who has paid for them. 6. Make all **political online advertisements easily accessible and searchable**, containing detailed information about sponsor, source and amount of the funds involved, number of users reached, as well as specific targeting parameters that were used. 7. **Expand and protect the space for civil society organisations** to operate, including by fully recognising the positive role of non-partisan election observation as well as of ad tech platforms monitoring before, during and after elections, including through granting accreditations. **ACCOUNTABILITY** Political finance accountability is a cornerstone of electoral and political integrity and refers to mechanisms that aim to hold electoral actors to account in case of non-compliance with applicable regulations. Accountability mechanisms at both the European and national levels are intended to ensure the effective enforcement of regulations through oversight and sanctioning systems. Accountability is a shared value within the EU region and the EU has a critical role in promoting best practices among MS. Across the EU region, there is a variety of political finance regulators tasked with the supervision and enforcement of accountability mechanisms. **Findings** Existing EU and EU MS regulations on party and campaign finance do not respond to the needs of the EU as a community of shared values. For the EU to become a promoter of best practices regarding accountability, it needs to tackle the new challenges, such as disinformation, online campaigning and foreign influence. There are discrepancies between EU-level rules and national regulations with regards to the financing of EP elections and the envisaged strategies to enhance political finance accountability. Following the money has become a common issue of concern for most national oversight bodies. There is also a gap between the EU and EU MS with regards to enforcement mechanisms. European political parties are facing barriers while campaigning. The distinction between European and national campaigns impacts their ability to reach voters, which crucially questions legitimacy of their role. Existing national regulations on EP elections mostly pertain to the activities of national political parties, and the financing of EP election campaigns remains a national matter creating a financial firewall between the European and the national levels of regulations.

Responsible oversight bodies in EU Member States - European Platform for Democratic Elections, June 2022: Puzzling Rules – Equal Game?

**Recommendations** We call on the European Union and EU Member States to: 1. **Close the gap between European regulations of European political parties and national regulations of national political parties**, especially where national campaign issues are of cross-border nature, such as online political advertising. 2. **Set up a network of oversight bodies** under the control of the European regulator (Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations, [APPF](https://www.appf.europa.eu/appf/en/home/the-authority)) to ensure the uniform and consistent application of EU regulations at the MS level and **bridge the gap in political finance implementation**. While the Authority does not have the mandate to regulate national political parties, the APPF could empower national oversight bodies to perform their duties more effectively. 3. **Remove the current financial firewall that prevents European political parties from participating in a significant number of national EP electoral campaigns**. The absence of a clear distinction between national campaigns in a MS in a "national" EP election campaign, and European campaigns through the holding of European campaign activities in a MS significantly affects the ability of European political parties to engage in campaigning. **RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES** Challenges to EP elections are increasing due to the digitalisation of political campaigning and news consumption as well as anti-democratic interference from outside and within. The erosion of democracy and the rule of law in a number of MS poses a particular problem. Extremely biased reporting by public media, overlap of state and party and a lack of independent judiciary in some cases contribute to problems that challenge the integrity of the EP election process. At the same time, there are opportunities in the EP elections in that more voters have become motivated to defend democratic structures and that the EU has become more visible as a decisive political actor, in particular in the context of the Covid pandemic, its recovery funds, and its role in supporting Ukraine. This impetus could translate into voter mobilisation, but also reignite the idea of lead candidates (“Spitzenkandidaten”). **Findings** Awareness of disinformation and hate speech as a risk has increased since the 2019 EP elections, also due to ongoing efforts in this area by European institutions.15 Countries such as Russia, China and other authoritarian states are seeking to influence public discourse in the EU, particularly online, to serve their own strategic goals.

Confidence by EU citizens to recognise disinformation in EU Member States - Flash Eurobarometer Media & News Survey 2022

The risk of biased media reporting is further intensified by the issue of oligarchic or governmental control over media outlets in several MS, as well as the shrinking space for independent media in general. This includes physical threats, foreign agent legislation, state surveillance, and Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), among other factors. These circumstances have a detrimental effect on the quality of political campaigns and electoral processes. Moreover, the well- documented concerns regarding the independence of the judiciary, particularly in Poland and Hungary, could potentially impact the EP elections if electoral challenges arise. Judicial independence has been perceived as low in several MS. Although the 2019 EP Elections registered the first ever increase in voter turn-out, this issue remains a concern especially in MS that consistently register very low turn-outs to EP elections. The EU has gained in visibility, especially in the context of the Covid pandemic and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The EP elections could benefit from this increased visibility, especially if the idea of lead candidates (one lead candidate per faction, the winner becomes the President of the European Commission, “Spitzenkandidaten”) is finally implemented. In 2019, the MS did not fulfil this promise. Lead candidates could help create a sense of identification with EU institutions as well as direct representation and choice in the elections. The EU MS governments rejected the EP [vote for a proposal](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220324IPR26135/eu-elections-meps-want-transnational-lists-and-all-countries-to-vote-on-9-may) that would establish a Union-wide constituency for the election of 28 MEPs. Instead, the EU MS’ governments preliminary agreed to add 15 EP seats, taking the number of seats from 705 to 720 for the next EP between 2024 and 2029. **Recommendations** We call on the European Union and EU Member States to: 1. **Strengthen free and independent media** and **protect journalists**, human rights activists and civil society organisations, and counter restrictions by foreign agent legislation, SLAPP, physical threats and intimidation to counter media capture and biased reporting. 2. **Stimulate policy debates** on topics important to European voters and encourage democratic participation while balancing the attention to anti-European narratives and far-right parties in the elections to support voter engagement and a positive vision of the EU as a project. 3. **Respond decisively to the undermining of the rule of law** in MS as rule of law weaknesses may affect electoral integrity (I.e., the possibility of election appeals). 4. **Improve communication around the EU institutions’ activities in the fight against disinformation** to raise awareness about the sources and quality of information for citizens. 5. Support the **creation of stronger systems** by civil society, media, and academia to monitor and counter disinformation in EU and EU MS domestic context. 6. **Strengthen the EU’s perception** in public opinion as solution provider and inform citizens more about its activities and functioning. *The project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.*

# Results WP2 The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/3beAZ9M2x3iupG3Dstpr) # SEEEDS High-level: Event Ensuring the integrity of European Parliament elections in 2024 through the In view of the upcoming elections to the European Parliament in 2024 (EP elections), the EU’s commitment to defending democracy has become more important than ever. The elections provide an important opportunity to strengthen citizen participation in elections, improve trust and promote identification with democratic values. Following the four SEEEDS webinars from January to April 2023 on the upcoming European Parliament elections (WP1), a high-level dialogue event at the European Parliament on 4 July 2023. This event was organised as a public panel discussion and brought together MEPs from the four major pro-European political groups in the EP (EPP, S\&D, Renew, Greens/EFA) with civil society organisations, election observation experts and representatives from the European institutions in order to discuss regulatory options and non-regulatory support initiatives regarding the European elections.

The guiding questions were: * What are current initiatives to enhance youth and women participation and to ensure equal participation of persons with disabilities? Are they sufficient to reach as many voters as possible? * How to protect human rights in political advertising online and ensure free voter participation? * How to improve political and campaign finance regulations? * How could the European Commission’s Defence of Democracy Package contribute to countering disinformation and safeguard rule of law principles? The event agenda was registered on the website of the EU Parliament [here](https://together.europarl.europa.eu/fr/event/seeeds-high-level-event-2023-07-04-1746/register). *The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/qkVJHtZBOoFMc9OVOQKi) # Report on the event Four rapporteurs representing SEEEDS project partners presented civil society recommendations that had emerged from the four SEEEDS webinars. The face-to-face event was an ideal opportunity for an in-depth exchange of information on a wide range of electoral issues. {% hint style="success" %} The Civil Society Recommendation paper was presented to various EU policymakers, as a joint contribution of civil society to strengthening the electoral integrity of the European Parliament 2024 elections. Read the recommendations [here](https://seeeds.epd.eu/results/results-wp1/civil-society-recommendations-paper) ! {% endhint %} Practitioners had the opportunity to learn first-hand from policymakers about their priorities and concerns, while policymakers in turn benefited from detailed insights into legislative assessments and the experiences of civil society and election observers on the ground.

SEEEDS project partners exchanging on elections recommendations

It resulted in a better and more informed understanding of the challenges and opportunities that different groups of stakeholders face ahead of the 2024 elections. The face-to-face nature of the event also provided an opportunity for networking and helped to forge closer contacts between policy-makers, civil society organisations and election observers in the run-up to the elections. This event engaged a transnational European network of citizens active on electoral and democracy issues in a public outreach campaign on voter mobilisation and civic education to improve the political participation of EU citizens, including and primarily women and the voters from underrepresented groups.

The event panel at the European Parliament

This was a useful event to better link EU policymakers with civil society to deal with electoral rights ahead of the EP elections and helps to build stronger relations between policymakers and transnational active citizens for the future. *The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/TzFgRWoWCwlRU3GzxEy0)
# Results WP3 The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/3beAZ9M2x3iupG3Dstpr) # Consultations of Citizens Active on Elections and Democracy Support and Network Strengthening The citizen-to-citizen capacity building workshop conducted by Election-Watch.EU within the framework of the EU funded Supporting Engagement in European Elections and Democratic Societies (SEEEDS) project brought together Election-Watch.EU focal points and National Chapter Members from 24 EU Member States. The in-person SEEEDS workshop combined presentations on the newest election-related developments ahead of the 2024 European Parliament elections with working group discussions and practical preparations for an Election Assessment Mission (EAM) 2024. It focused on the following topics: * Changes in electoral practices and learnings from observation activities in Slovakia and Poland. * New digital challenges, opportunities, and laws, e.g., linked to TTPA, GDPR, DSA and AI. * EU communication strategy on the EP elections and voter information. * Continued coordination challenges concerning voter registration and mobile EU citizens. * Observation of electoral participation and inclusion - especially concerning persons with disabilities, women, national monitories, youth, and civic space * Observing and assessing developments in campaign and European political parties' financing Based on the discussed topics and a re-cap of lessons learned from the EAM 2019, working groups prepared for the EAM 2024. These preparations included the identification of possible thematic focus areas as well as operational considerations on logistics, reporting, communication, structure, and timeframe.

The participants of the Workshop in a group photo

*The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/qkVJHtZBOoFMc9OVOQKi) # Plans for Enhancing Electoral Observation in the European Union Armin Rabitsch from Election-Watch.EU welcomed 32 participants from 23 EU Member States to the workshop. Expectations included peer networking, understanding Election Assessment Mission (EAM) plans, and developing citizen observation methodologies. **Session I: Changing Electoral Practices** Speakers discussed evolving electoral practices, emphasizing the impact of shrinking civic space on observer access and participation. Examples from Poland and Slovakia highlighted efforts to address new challenges, including the use of technology in elections. **Session II: New Regulations and Practices Online** Presentations focused on legislative developments related to political advertising regulation and efforts to combat disinformation. Concerns were raised about the slow progress in implementing regulations and addressing foreign interference. **Session III: Legislative Developments and EU Voter Information Strategy** Updates on pending legislative developments and strategies to increase voter turnout for the 2024 European Parliament elections were discussed. Efforts to collaborate with national election authorities and tech companies were emphasized. **Session IV: Break-out Groups on Legal Framework & Electoral System, Election Administration** Participants discussed priority topics for the upcoming Election Assessment Mission (EAM), including electoral system reforms, legal framework changes, and election administration improvements. **Session V: Voter Registration and Mobile EU Citizens** DG JUST outlined efforts to facilitate voter registration and address challenges faced by mobile EU citizens. Discussions highlighted discrepancies in national legislations and the importance of election observation in building trust. **Session VI: Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, Women, National Minorities, Youth, and Civic Space** Speakers addressed issues of inclusion in electoral processes, emphasizing the need for uniform standards and effective representation. Break-out groups discussed strategies to enhance civic space and promote women and minority participation. **Session VII: EU Political Parties, Campaign Finance, Authority for Political Parties and Foundations** Challenges related to campaign finance transparency and the role of EU political parties were discussed. Recommendations included improving transparency in funding and monitoring party independence. **Session VIII: Digital Services Act, Transparency, and Targeting of Political Advertising** Presentations covered elements of the Digital Services Act and strategies to address disinformation and deep fakes. Challenges in regulating social media platforms and accessing data for election observation were highlighted. **Session IX: EAM 2024 – Logistics, Reporting, Communication, Structure** Reflections on the 2019 Election Assessment Mission were shared, with recommendations for improving logistics, reporting, and communication in the upcoming mission. Emphasis was placed on collaboration, transparency, and timely accreditation. The workshop concluded with discussions on optimizing communication channels and fostering collaboration among focal points for the 2024 Election Assessment Mission. These insights and recommendations aim to enhance electoral observation practices and promote transparency and integrity in the European Union's electoral processes. *The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/qkVJHtZBOoFMc9OVOQKi) # Results WP4 The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/NNjGq4bvz6LwsUCp3mBg) # Webinar “Mobile EU Citizens” \ The webinar titled "Enhancing Participation of Mobile EU Citizens in European Parliament Elections" was held on Tuesday, 19 March 2024, under the auspices of Election-Watch.EU. The primary objective was to inform and assist a diverse audience of mobile EU citizens, with a particular focus on young voters, regarding their rights and responsibilities in the upcoming European Parliament elections scheduled for 6-9 June. The event commenced with a welcoming introduction by the moderators, setting the stage for insightful discussions. Speakers delved into international standards for youth electoral participation, reflecting on past experiences and addressing key issues, gaps, expectations, and reform proposals. This set the foundation for an interactive session where participants engaged in meaningful dialogue, posing questions and receiving clarifications. A significant portion of the webinar was dedicated to emphasizing the significance of voting and the impact of youth participation on policy decisions. Experts shared valuable insights and strategies to overcome barriers to participation, highlighting the pivotal role young voters can play in shaping the political landscape. Furthermore, the event showcased various engagement options tailored for mobile EU citizens, including information resources, helplines, and voter registration procedures. Difficult questions surrounding voting scenarios involving citizens abroad and the rights of 16-year-old voters were also addressed, ensuring comprehensive coverage of pertinent issues. The webinar adopted an interactive format, allowing for audience engagement and the exchange of expert insights. Participants were equipped with valuable information and resources to navigate the electoral process effectively. Overall, the webinar successfully addressed the imperative to empower mobile EU citizens and enhance their participation in the democratic process. By emphasizing inclusivity and representation, the event contributed to fostering a more robust and representative European Union. \ You can find the full webinar uploaded online [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZvlYZnGHdc\&list=PLC65Va3CBtrioSl3APcSmVXGLFYyrE5L_\&index=1). *The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/rPrwMv6qTwb022tLwqWB) # Webinar "Women in Elections" The European Partnership for Democracy hosted a webinar titled "Bottom-up Outreach on Women in Elections," delving into the crucial topic of enhancing women's representation in European politics. Held on May 14, 2024, the event served as a platform for in-depth discussions and insightful analyses regarding the measures necessary to bolster women's participation both at the voting booth and in office. The webinar commenced with a warm welcome and introduction from Emma Achilli, the Strategic Advisor on Civic Space at the European Partnership for Democracy. With enthusiasm, she set the stage for the engaging discussions that followed, highlighting the significance of the event's agenda. Throughout the session, expert speakers delved into international standards for women's electoral participation and representation. They meticulously examined the prevailing gender inequality within European politics, shedding light on key issues, gaps, and reform proposals. Despite significant strides in women's rights, it became evident that women continue to be underrepresented in political spheres, necessitating concerted efforts from various stakeholders including political parties, EU institutions, media, and civil society organizations. An interactive Q\&A session ensued, providing participants with a platform to actively engage with the speakers, pose pertinent questions, and seek clarifications on the topics discussed. This segment fostered an open dialogue, allowing for a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in advancing women's representation in European politics. As the event drew to a close, concluding remarks summarized the key insights gleaned from the discussions and underscored the importance of advancing women's representation in European politics. The webinar served as a catalyst for action, urging stakeholders to redouble their efforts in promoting gender equality and inclusivity in political decision-making processes. Key focus areas included an evaluation of the EU's progress in women's political participation over the last five years, an assessment of the effectiveness of the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, identification of remaining barriers to women's representation within European political parties, and an exploration of the role of gender mainstreaming in shaping future European policies. In conclusion, the webinar provided a vital platform for stakeholders to assess the current landscape of women in European elections and politics. By identifying necessary measures for improvement and emphasizing the paramount importance of gender equality, the event aimed to drive positive change and pave the way for a more inclusive and representative European democracy. \ You can find the full webinar uploaded online [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1VBGpsNrTQ). *The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/p0606nTWrFviIdgdb66i) # Webinar "Empowering Youth" \ The webinar, titled "Empowering Youth: Enhancing Participation in the European Parliament Elections," held on April 15, 2024, and hosted by Election-Watch.EU, sought to tackle the persistent issue of underrepresentation of young people in EU political decision-making, with a specific focus on the impending European Parliament elections slated for June 6-9. Here's a recap of the key discussions and outcomes: Delving into the intricacies of international standards for youth electoral participation, speakers explored past trends and the current landscape of youth involvement in EU elections. Issues, gaps, expectations, and proposals for reforms were scrutinized thoroughly during this phase. The significance of voting and its tangible impact on policy decisions were underscored in subsequent segments, with insights from young MEPs shedding light on strategies to surmount barriers to candidacy. Highlighted focus areas included the provision of information portals and helplines for young voters, the creation of easily accessible voter information materials through infographics, and strategies aimed at engaging those who are less informed or lack interest in politics. A diverse array of engagement options tailored to resonate with the young generation was showcased, ranging from information portals and helplines to innovative tools for detecting election-related disinformation. The webinar concluded with a final opportunity for participants to engage in dialogue and glean further insights, culminating in summarizing key takeaways and emphasizing the pivotal role of youth participation in the European Parliament elections. Key discussion points centered on the importance of voting in the EP elections and its statistical impact, the influence of youth participation on policy decisions, methods to hold parties, candidates, and MEPs accountable, and alternative avenues for political involvement beyond voting and standing. Overall, the webinar successfully addressed the pressing need to empower young individuals to actively participate in the democratic process, especially within the context of the European Parliament elections. By offering valuable insights, resources, and strategies, the event aspired to ignite greater youth engagement and nurture a more inclusive and representative democracy within the European Union. \ You can find the full webinar uploaded online [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkt4VfmAvNY). *The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/RqFTf4XVQwFQ5K7azkl5) # Infographics on European elections Election-Watch.EU compiled 24 Answers to 24 Questions ([Q\&A](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24-qa-on-2024-european-elections-and-election-observation_updated.pdf)) surrounding the 6-9 June 2024 European Parliament elections. This document aims to support a broad, interested public, but especially a new generation of young and first-time voters, who can engage with the issue in the run-up to the European elections and use the Q\&A as a basis for discussion in civic education classes. Election-Watch.EU engages in voter education as part of its agenda to strengthen civil society participation in the safeguarding of electoral integrity and in the shaping of inclusive and comprehensible electoral processes. The Q\&A also includes a section on election observation, which is recognised internationally as a means of supporting and strengthening democratic processes and represents the core competence of Election- Watch.EU. European elections are of great political importance for citizens in every European Union (EU) Member State. However, over the past years, voter participation in European elections has been rather low, having seen an increase in 2019 for the first time in two decades. Low turnout often results from a weak understanding of the EU and insufficient knowledge about the electoral process. Moreover, European elections differ according to each Member State’s electoral law, as there are no unified electoral rules for the whole Union. Election-Watch.EU provides these Questions & Answers ([Q\&A](https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/24-qa-on-2024-european-elections-and-election-observation_updated.pdf)) as part of the Supporting Engagement in European Elections and Democratic Societies ([SEEEDS](https://seeeds.epd.eu/)) project. *The project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.*

# Results WP5 The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/NNjGq4bvz6LwsUCp3mBg) # Webinar "Joint Lessons from the 2024 European Parliament Elections: Post-Electoral Assessment and Building a Baseline for Future Advocacy" On 12 June 2024, the Citizen Network of Election Observers convened for an online session to discuss findings from the 2024 European Parliament elections and prepare a consolidated report covering all 27 EU Member States. Organized by Election-Watch.EU, the debriefing emphasised electoral inclusion, integrity, and reform as pivotal to strengthening democratic processes across the Union. Election-Watch.EU presented insights from its Election Assessment Mission (EAM), which involved 77 election experts and ten citizen observer organizations. Rooted in international human rights standards, the mission identified both challenges and opportunities, offering 19 examples of good practice and 20 recommendations to improve future elections. A Preliminary Statement, released in Brussels on 10 June 2024, outlined assessments in six key areas: equality, inclusion, transparency, accountability, integrity, and resilience. The debriefing underscored the need for greater inclusivity in electoral processes, focusing on marginalized groups such as persons with disabilities, women, youth, and national minorities. Ensuring accessible polling stations, introducing alternative voting methods like postal and mobile voting, and providing election materials in minority languages were identified as vital steps. For women’s participation, legislative and voluntary measures, supported by gender-disaggregated data collection, were deemed critical. Enhancing civic education and practical voter simulations were highlighted to engage young voters effectively. The discussion also addressed the disparities in electoral regulations across Member States, emphasizing the need for greater uniformity in suffrage rights, candidacy criteria, and campaign finance rules. The harmonization of voter registration procedures and improved transparency in election results were identified as priorities to bolster voter confidence and participation. Social media regulation emerged as another key area, with calls for the robust implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to combat disinformation and improve transparency on online platforms. Additionally, strengthening media freedom and addressing the misuse of defamation laws through the Anti-SLAPP Directive were recognized as essential to preserving journalistic independence. On 24 September 2024, [Election-Watch.EU](http://election-watch.eu/) hosted a highly engaging and insightful webinar, *“Joint Lessons from the 2024 European Parliament Elections: Post-Electoral Assessment and Building a Baseline for Future Advocacy”* The event offered a valuable platform for discussing the findings from the 2024 European Parliament elections, with a particular focus on equality, inclusion, and electoral integrity. Here’s a summary of the discussions, key takeaways, and future recommendations from the webinar. \ **Setting the Stage for Inclusive Elections** The webinar began with opening remarks from Roy Virah-Sawmy (European Partnership for Democracy), setting the tone for the event by highlighting the significance of the 2024 elections and the pressing need to advance inclusion and equality in the European Parliament (EP) election processes. Michael Lidauer from [Election-Watch.EU](http://election-watch.eu/) moderated the session, guiding discussions through various perspectives on electoral best practices. \ **Key Observations from the 2024 Elections** The first section of the webinar spotlighted findings from [Election-Watch.EU](http://election-watch.eu/)’s Election Assessment Mission, which examined good practices and outlined essential recommendations for enhancing electoral integrity. An important element addressed was the role of social media, with Democracy Reporting International presenting findings from their Social Media Monitoring Project. This research underscored the increasing risks of disinformation and the need for stronger cyber resilience measures during elections. Adding a national perspective, Robert Lech from the Political Accountability Foundation in Poland shared insights into Poland’s election process, which provided further context on the strengths and weaknesses of electoral systems across EU Member States. \ **A Panel Discussion on Inclusion and Integrity** The highlight of the event was the panel discussion featuring Ms. Marie-Helene Boulanger (Directorate-General for Justice, European Commission) and Ms. Sophie Pornschlegel (Institut Jacques Delors). The panellists explored the successes and challenges faced during the 2024 elections, with a clear focus on how electoral processes could be made more equitable. **Key points discussed included:** * The critical role of post-election assessments to drive meaningful reforms. * The importance of inclusion strategies that engage underrepresented groups, such as mobile EU citizens, persons with disabilities, women, and national minorities. * The ongoing challenge of ensuring electoral integrity through cybersecurity and transparency measures. **Engaging Dialogue with Participants** An interactive Q\&A session followed, where participants posed questions about inclusion strategies and the future of election monitoring across the EU. This vibrant exchange of ideas demonstrated the collective will to improve democratic processes and foster inclusivity. **Outcomes and Future Directions** **The webinar concluded with several key outcomes:** 1. A shared understanding of lessons learned: attendees gained critical insights into both the successes and gaps in achieving equality and inclusion during the 2024 European elections. 2. Laying the foundation for future reforms: the event paved the way for continued discussions on strengthening democratic processes and making future elections more inclusive. 3. Strengthened networks for advocacy: the webinar helped foster collaboration between participants, encouraging a united effort to advocate for electoral reforms at both national and EU levels. **Looking Ahead: Advocacy and Reform** The event reinforced the importance of future electoral reforms, which will be driven by the [Election-Watch.EU](http://election-watch.eu/) Election Assessment Mission report. The discussions also touched upon current advocacy efforts focused on the newly elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the European Commission, urging them to prioritise inclusion and electoral integrity in forthcoming reforms. \ **Key areas of focus moving forward include:** * Enhancing electoral integrity: strengthening cybersecurity and combatting disinformation to ensure fair and transparent elections. * Electoral inclusion best practices: continuing to implement good practices that engage vulnerable and underrepresented groups. * New European legislation: monitoring the impact of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and political finance regulations on electoral processes. **Conclusion** The “Joint Lessons from the 2024 European Parliament Elections: Post-Electoral Assessment and Building a Baseline for Future Advocacy” webinar successfully brought together experts and stakeholders to reflect on the 2024 elections and chart a course for future improvements. The conversations that took place underline the need for sustained efforts in making elections more inclusive, secure, and reflective of Europe’s diverse population. By continuing to share best practices and push for comprehensive reforms, the European Union can build a more resilient and equitable democratic framework for future elections. \ You can find the full webinar uploaded online [here](https://seeeds.epd.eu/events-and-activities). **Take a look at our factsheet on lessons for elections-related reforms:** * [Bulgarian](https://epd.eu/content/uploads/2024/10/SEEEDS_WP5-summary-report-fact-sheet-bg.pdf) * [English](https://epd.eu/content/uploads/2024/10/SEEEDS_WP5-summary-report-fact-sheet.pdf) * [French](https://epd.eu/content/uploads/2024/10/SEEEDS_WP5-summary-report-fact-sheet-fr.pdf) * [German](https://epd.eu/content/uploads/2024/10/SEEEDS_WP5-summary-report-fact-sheet-de.pdf) * [Greek](https://epd.eu/content/uploads/2024/10/SEEEDS_WP5-summary-report-fact-sheet-el.pdf) * [Hungarian](https://epd.eu/content/uploads/2024/10/SEEEDS_WP5-summary-report-fact-sheet-hu.pdf) * [Italian](https://epd.eu/content/uploads/2024/10/SEEEDS_WP5-summary-report-fact-sheet-it.pdf) * [Polish](https://epd.eu/content/uploads/2024/10/SEEEDS_WP5-summary-report-fact-sheet-pl.pdf) * [Romanian](https://epd.eu/content/uploads/2024/10/SEEEDS_WP5-summary-report-fact-sheet-ro.pdf) * [Slovak](https://epd.eu/content/uploads/2024/10/SEEEDS_WP5-summary-report-fact-sheet-sk.pdf) *The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.* ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/rPrwMv6qTwb022tLwqWB) # Events and Activities

SEEEDS Webinars 2024 - #EU2024 #UseYourVote

{% tabs %} {% tab title="Webinar 4" %}

Webinar 4: Joint Lessons from the 2024 European Parliament Elections: Post -Electoral Assessment and Building a Baseline for Future Advocacy . 24 September, 4 pm

Now that the European Elections 2024 are behind us, it is time to explore the lessons learned! In this webinar, the SEEEDS partners will provide insights into the 2024 European Parliament elections based on the findings of civil society organisations and initiate the discussion on the way forward regarding future European electoral reforms and strengthening democratic processes at the EU level. ### AGENDA **16:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks by Roy Virah-Sawmy, EPD** * Introduction to the webinar's objectives and importance. * Scene setting and background: overview of the 2024 European Parliament elections and their significance. **16:10 What did we observe in the European Parliament elections?** * **Armin Rabitsch** and **Tatyana Hilscher-Bogussevich, Election-Watch.EU**: Election Assessment Mission findings, good practices, and recommendations. * **Ognjan Denkovski, Democracy Reporting International**: Findings from Social Media Monitoring. * **Robert Lech, Political Accountability Foundation**: Perspective from Poland. **16:40 Panel discussion with policymakers, EU administrators and civil society** **Marie-Hélène Boulanger**, Directorate General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission. **Sophie Pornschlegel**, Europe Jacques Delors. **17:10 Q\&A with the audience** **17:30 Closing** **Moderator**: Michael Lidauer, Election-Watch.EU ## **Re-watch** [**HERE**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvP2KvNohTE) You can access the material shared during the webinar [**here**](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fsC7pJmvJD7X9icev9xNsb6pcGk-dvl4). {% endtab %} {% tab title="Webinar 3" %}

SEEEDS Webinars 2024 - Webinar 3: Women in Elections: transforming policies, transforming politics in Europe, 14 May, 4 pm #EU2024 #UseYourVote

It's time for our third SEEEDS webinar on women's representation! Women have the right to vote but continue to be under-represented in European politics and the public sphere. Political parties at national and European level, EU institutions, media and CSOs have a strong role to play in strengthening female involvement in politics. What progress has the EU made in the last decades in women’s political participation? What is the current state of play in the EU? Join us to discuss assessments of the situation of women in European elections and European politics. In the course of the discussion, we will analyse what measures are needed to improve the representation of women both in the voting booth and in office. ### AGENDA **16.00 - Welcome and introduction to SEEEDS** **Emma Achilli**, Strategic Advisor on Civic Space, European Partnership for Democracy **16.10 - Input Statements** **MEP Radka Maxová,** Vice-Chair of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, European Parliament **Carlien Scheele**, Director, European Institute for Gender Equality **16.40 - Q\&A Session** **17.10 - Closing remarks and end of event** ## **Re-watch** [**HERE**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1VBGpsNrTQ\&t=1179s) {% endtab %} {% tab title="Webinar 2" %}

SEEEDS Webinars 2024 - Webinar 2: Making a Difference Through Electoral Participation: Youth Engagement in the European Parliament Elections, 16 April, 4 pm #EU2024 #UseYourVote

It's time for our second webinar on Youth Engagement in the European Parliament Elections! In this session, we will focus on an overview of opportunities for youth engagement, offering solutions to possible barriers, and pointing to a variety of youth-tailored information resources, while also demonstrating the impact of electoral engagement on the national and EU-level decision-making. Why is it important to vote in the EP elections? What is the impact of your vote? How can you hold your party/candidate/MEP accountable? Apart from voting and standing, what are other ways of getting politically involved? Join us for the discussion! ### AGENDA **16:00 – 16:10 - Welcome and introduction by Election-Watch.EU** **16:10 – 16:25 Setting the scene - “All the difference you can make when you use your vote”** **Rareș Voicu**, Board Member of the European Youth Forum (EYF) **16:30 – 16:40: Questions and Answers** **16:40 – 17:00: Showcasing engagement options for a young generation of voters** *How to engage young voters* **Ana Valiente,** Communications Coordinator at the Youth Outreach Unit of the European Parliament *European political parties’ positions exploration tool* **Hendrik Nahr**, Head of European Affairs at Make.org & Co-Coordinator of EurHope *Youth debunking election-related disinformation* **Veronika Hincova Frankovska**, Project Manager at Demagog.SK *SEEEDS / Election-Watch.EU Videos* **17:00 – 17:10 Questions and Answers**\ \ **17:10 – 17:15 Conclusions and Closing Remarks** **Moderators**: Michael Lidauer & Tatyana Hilscher-Bogussevich, Election-Watch.EU ## **Re-watch** [**HERE**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkt4VfmAvNY\&list=PLC65Va3CBtrioSl3APcSmVXGLFYyrE5L_\&index=3) You can access the material shared during the webinar below: 1\. [Presentation](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ieSGqKrWz874ttdK5Bxguclmd9wiN9h1/view?usp=sharing) by Tatyana Hilscher-Bogussevich 2\. Resources shared by Rareș Voicu: * [Erasmus generation - Voting Abroad](https://erasmusgeneration.org/voting-abroad) * [Vote at 16](https://www.youthforum.org/topics/vote-at-16) * [European Youth Forum ](https://www.youthforum.org/files/231114-Youth-Manifesto-folder-digi-EN.pdf)[Youth Manifesto](https://www.youthforum.org/files/231114-Youth-Manifesto-folder-digi-EN.pdf) 3. [Presentation ](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dU0FPKnZfd9-r8ORow9aCqSg185xJCzY/view?usp=sharing)by Ana Valiente 4. [Presentation](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iSYRr5vyMxukBcumblbGNM6yll8B2X2r/view) by Hendrik Nahr 5. [Presentation](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QPCLQ0bzST0rXlYu4WcS91uKIW6_cqT2/view) by Veronika Frankovská {% endtab %} {% tab title="Webinar 1 " %}

SEEEDS Webinars 2024 - Webinar 1: Enhancing participation of mobile EU citizens in the European Parliament Elections. 19 March 2024, 4 pm. #EU2024, #UseYourVote

EU mobile citizens are EU citizens living in another Member State. They are estimated at 13.7 million, among whom some 11 million are considered to be of voting age. Mobile EU citizens can also stand as candidates but in the 2019 European Elections, only 168 decided to do so.
Civil Society Organisations reported several problems of mobile EU citizens when exercising their political rights in their MS of residence. What are the alternative voting possibilities in the Member States? What are the different requirements for mobile citizens to register and vote in their host countries? EPD and the SEEEDS partners are glad to invite you to the first webinar of the SEEEDS 2024 series on the participation of mobile EU citizens in the European Elections 2024. ### AGENDA **17:00 – 17:10 Welcome and introduction** **Armin Rabitsch**, Chairperson Election-Watch.EU **17.10 -17:20 Input Statements on mobile EU citizens’ participation in European elections** **Damian Boeselager**, Member of the European Parliament, Volt party, Greens/EFA group, Rapporteur of the EP Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) on the proposal for a Council directive on mobile EU citizens **David de Groot**, European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), Author of Electoral rights of mobile EU citizens in European Parliament elections **17:20 – 17:50 Questions and Answers** **17:50 – 18:00 Closing remarks**\ \ **Amb. Urszula Gacek**, Advisory Board Member Election-Watch.EU ***Moderators**: Armin Rabitsch & Tatyana Hilscher-Bogussevich, Election-Watch.EU* ## **Re-watch** [**HERE**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZvlYZnGHdc\&list=PLC65Va3CBtrioSl3APcSmVXGLFYyrE5L_) {% endtab %} {% endtabs %} ## Webinar Series of 2023 {% tabs %} {% tab title="Webinar 1" %}

Webinar series - Webinar 1: Equality and Inclusion in the European Elections. Tuesday, 31 January 2023 at 4 pm

Special emphasis is placed on: * [What are the perspectives for ongoing electoral reforms ahead of the 2024 European elections? ](#user-content-fn-1)[^1] * [How are the envisaged reforms enhancing the equality and inclusion of electoral participation across the EU member states? ](#user-content-fn-1)[^1] * [What are the best measures to enhance the overall participation of women in elections? ](#user-content-fn-1)[^1] * [What are remaining obstacles, and which measures work best, to increase the accessibility of elections for persons with disabilities? ](#user-content-fn-1)[^1] * [What needs to be done to maintain and increase the participation of youth and first-time voters in the 2024 European Parliament elections?](#user-content-fn-1)[^1] ### **AGENDA** **16.00 Welcome and introduction to SEEEDS** **Michael Lidauer**, Election-Watch.EU **Carolin Johnson**, European Partnership for Democracy **16.10 Input Statements** **Domènec Ruiz Devesa**, Member of the European Parliament, S\&D Group, EU Election Observation Mission Chief Observer **Urszula Gacek**, Senior Diplomat, former Member of the European Parliament, EPP Group, OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Head of Mission **Alejandro Moledo**, Deputy Director European Disability Forum (EDF), PWD rights advocate **Noémie Arcidiacono**, President Agora Election Observation, Youth CSO leader\ \ **16.40 Q\&A Session** **17.10 Closing remarks** ## **Re-watch** [**HERE**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kew1yqJMGh4\&list=PLC65Va3CBtrj2q8afCXaJnlsiwp0xrK0z\&index=2\&t=51s) {% endtab %} {% tab title="Webinar 2" %}

Webinar series - Webinar 2: Transparency in the European Elections. Tuesday, 28 February 2023 at 4 pm

The webinar "Transparency in European Elections" provides an overview of the state of knowledge on transparency and targeting of political advertising in the European Parliament elections. Particular attention will be given to upcoming regulations to political advertising, algorithms-led online campaigning, disinformation, and monitoring of social media. Special emphasis is placed on: * What are the main changes for political advertising from the 2019 to the 2024 European elections? * How are the envisaged reforms enhancing transparency of political competition across the EU Member States? * What measures are envisaged to avoid bias against women and minorities of algorithm-led online campaigning? * Which are the most effective measures to counter disinformation and information from malicious actors from inside and outside the EU? * Which strategies and methodologies are envisaged to monitor social media networks and platforms and their compliance with the new EU regulations during the 2024 European elections? ### **AGENDA** **16.00 Welcome and introduction to SEEEDS** **Armin Rabitsch**, Chairperson Election-Watch.EU **Status quo on political advertising regulation in the EU** **Fernando Hortal Foronda**, Digital Policy Officer, European Partnership for Democracy **16.10 Input Statements** **Alexandra Geese**, Member of the European Parliament, Greens/EFA **Edvin Hasangjekaj**, Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU, current EU Presidency **Francesco Sciacchitano**, AGCOM Senior Legal Officer and Chair of the ERGA Task Force on Political Ads **Eliska Pirkova**, Europe Senior Policy Analyst and Global Freedom of Expression Lead; Access Now **16.40 Q\&A Session** **17.10 Closing remarks** ## Re-watch [HERE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mp6vm5Vl2E\&list=PLC65Va3CBtrj2q8afCXaJnlsiwp0xrK0z\&index=2\&t=20s) {% endtab %} {% tab title="Webinar 3" %}

Webinar series - Webinar 3: Accountability in the European Elections. Tuesday, 28 March 2023 at 4 pm

Elections to the European Parliament (EP) are regulated by the national legislations of all 27 Member States as well as EU-level regulations. When looking at the issue of political party finance and campaign spending, there is a variety of regulatory approaches across the EU. During this webinar, we will disentangle the regulatory jungle between the EU and national levels and look at how discrepancies in political finance oversight can affect equality of opportunity and transparency in the European elections. We will focus on enforcement mechanisms that have been developed at both levels: * The firewall between EU and national level legislation concerning how European political parties can be funded and can participate in the elections; * The role of the EU in promoting best practices among Member States concerning accountability in the political finance sphere. The discussion builds upon the findings and recommendations made in the study published by SEEEDS’s project partner the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) “[PUZZLING RULES – ](https://www.epde.org/en/news/details/New-EPDE-publication-Puzzling-rules-equal-game.html)[EQUAL GAME? - Comparing political finance regulations across the EU](https://www.epde.org/en/news/details/New-EPDE-publication-Puzzling-rules-equal-game.html)”. ### **AGENDA** **16.00 Welcome and introduction to SEEEDS** **Kira Mössinger,** Program Manager of the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE)\ \ **16.05 Panel discussion** **Moderator: Alexander Shlyk**, International Election Expert, former Head of the Election Department of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (Co-author of the EPDE study) **Panelists:** **Lina Petronienė**, Head of the Division of Political Parties and Political Campaigns Funding Control of the Central Electoral Commission of Lithuania **Barbara Jouan Stonestreet**, Senior Legal Expert with the French National Commission on Campaign Accounts and Political Party Financing (CNCCFP) (Co-author of the EPDE study) **Quentin Reed**, Political Finance Expert engaged in research on national provisions affecting European political parties and European political foundations **Shari Hinds**, Policy Officer on EU Political Integrity at Transparency International EU\ \ **16.40 Q\&A Session** **17.10 Closing remarks** ## Re-watch [HERE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPKtYVdwlcM\&list=PLC65Va3CBtrj2q8afCXaJnlsiwp0xrK0z\&index=4\&t=9s) {% endtab %} {% tab title="Webinar 4" %}

Webinar series - Webinar 4: Risks and Opportunities in the European Elections. Tuesday, 25 April 2023 at 4 pm

This webinar provides an overview of the state of knowledge on inherent risks and opportunities arising from the European Parliament elections. Particular attention will be given to the implications of the rule of Law crisis, matters of media freedom as well as disinformation and cyber-attacks. Beyond these topics, the webinar content will be determined by the results of a **survey** that the consortium will run for two weeks via newsletter and social media channels and which will determine the main risks and opportunities of the target audience. Furthermore, the webinar session will be structured with the help of a digital co-working board to which the live-audience can contribute to, to guide the panellists in the discussion. ### **AGENDA** **16.00 Welcome and introduction to SEEEDS** **Mr Michael Meyer-Resende**, Executive Director, DRI **16.05 Introduction of the panel by the moderator, presentation of the results from the survey** **Ms Amanda Coakley**, Senior Staff Reporter, Coda Story **16.10 Input statements and commenting on audience contributions via digital board** **Ms Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir,** Islandic Diplomat, Former Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, **Ms Sabrina Spieleder**, Team Leader, Policy, strategy and global priority issues, European External Action Service. **Ms Camino Mortera-Martinez**, Head of the Brussels Office, Centre for European Reform, **Professor Alberto Alemanno**, Jean Monnet Professor of EU Law, HEC Paris. **17.00 Q\&A Session** **17.25 Closing remarks** ## Re-watch [HERE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEmUwATDMno) {% endtab %} {% endtabs %} *SEEEDS is a project implemented by Election-Watch.EU, the European Partnership for Democracy, Democracy Reporting International and the European Platform for Democratic Elections EPDE.*
*These webinars are co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of SEEEDS and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.*

Logos of: European Partnership for Democracy, Election-Watch.EU, Democracy Reporting International, EPDE. On the right, the EU funding statement mentioning Co-funded by the European Union.

Communication Partner for the European Elections 2024

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{% endtab %} {% endtabs %} ![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/qkVJHtZBOoFMc9OVOQKi) # Did you know Learn the most interesting facts about European Parliament elections ### History of the European Parliament

The European Parliament started out as a mere consultative body

The European Parliament comes from very humble beginnings. During its infant years, it functioned simply as a consultative body **without any real power** except to supervise the High Authority.

How many representatives had the first European Parliament?

The first Common Assembly was composed of **78 appointees** from the six member states of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and was set up the 10th of September 1952. Its first president was Paul-Henri Spaak, former Prime Minister of Belgium.

When did the first European Parliament elections take place?

By the 1970s, the European Communities had six administrative bodies. The European Council and the Court of Auditors were added to the already existing High Authority (now called the Commission), the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers, and the Court of Justice. But none of the members of these bodies were directly elected to the European Communities. The obvious lack of democratic mechanisms fuelled the need for parliamentary elections. The 1967 Commission led by Belgian politician Jean Rey launched the campaign for European Parliament elections. The act calling for elections every five years was adopted in 1976. Finally, in June **1979**, the first European Parliament elections were held, and 410 Members of the European Parliament or MEPs were elected from nine countries. By this time, Britain, Denmark, and Ireland had joined the European Communities.

Who was the first elected European Parliament president?

The first president of the elected European Parliament was a **woman** – celebrated lawyer and politician, and a Holocaust survivor, **Simone Veil**, of the Liberals and Democrats. Only 2 other women have held the office since – fellow Frenchwoman Nicole Fontaine of the European People’s Party (1999 - 2002) and Roberta Metsola (2022-2024) in replacement of the deceased European Parliament President, David Sassoli.

Which are the 3 oldest political groups in the European Parliament?

The transnational political groups forming the **Christian democrats**, the **socialists**, and the **liberals** in the EU have been around since the early beginnings of the European Parliament. In 1953, the centre-right Christian democrats and conservatives began organising themselves into the Christian Democratic Group and later changed their name to European People’s Party (EPP). The centre-left social-democratic parties formed the Socialist Group, now known as the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S\&D). And the liberals and democrats assembled under the Liberal Group, which we now call the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).

The European Parliament has undergone two name changes

In 1958, the **Common Assembly** changed its name to the **European Parliamentary Assembly**. However, it remained a consultative body of appointed members. The European Parliamentary Assembly served as a consultative body for the three organisations, which all together came to be called the European Communities (EC). In 1962, the Assembly finally assumed its current name, the **European Parliament.** But it didn’t see any significant increase in powers until the 1970s.

When did the European Parliament reach its highest number of MEPs?

The European Parliament was at its largest from **2007 to 2009**. In 2007, the European Parliament reached its highest number of 785 MEPs when Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Communities, which was already called the European Union by then. The Treaty of Lisbon, which came into force in December 2009, set a maximum number of 751 MEPs. No EU country can have more than 96 seats or less than 6 seats, according to the treaty. The European Parliament shrank in size when Brexit happened. The departure of 73 MEPs from the United Kingdom reduced the number of parliamentary seats from 751 to 705.

### Gender and EU Elections

What was the percentage of women MEPs in the first European Parliament?

In 1979, in the first directly-elected European Parliament at the first parliament, there were just **68 female MEPs**, accounting for [15.2%](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20190226STO28804/women-in-the-european-parliament-infographics). That proportion has grown ever since. In 2018, there were 271 female MEPs. However, that is still considered a low number when taking into consideration that there are 480 male MEPs. Currently women account for 39.3% of the total number of MEPs.

Which country currently has the highest proportion of female MEPs? And the lowest?

**Finland** currently has the **highest** proportion of female MEPs, at 77%. Its neighbour **Estonia** has the **lowest** – under 17%.

### Members of the European Parliament

An MEP may decide not to belong to any political party

MEPs can belong to only one political group, but may choose not to belong to any; they are then called **non-attached** (in the table above, the non-attached members are designated as NI, from the French abbreviation for “non-inscrits”). Currently, 45 MEPs have opted not to join a political group.

What is the average age of an MEP?

The average age of an MEP, taking into account the period 2014-2019, is around **55-years-old**. The oldest member, from France, was aged 90 and the youngest MEP, from Belgium, was 30-years-old.

Who is the longest serving MEP?

Germany has the longest running MEP who has severed for just under three decades - **Elmar Brok**. He was first elected in 1980 and served until 2019 after losing a spot on the list of his party, the Christian Democratic Union.

Who is the youngest ever MEP?

**Kira Marie Peter-Hansen** (born 23 February 1998) is a Danish politician and a Socialist People's Party (part of the Greens-European Free Alliance group) Member of the European Parliament (MEP). She was elected in the 2019 European parliamentary elections when she was only 21 years old while studying at university.

Who is the oldest ever MEP?

This title is shared by **Louise Weiss** and **Jean-Marie Le Pen**. On 17 July 1979, Louise Weisse (born 25 January, 1893) was elected as a French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and sat with the European People's Party. At the time of the first election she was aged 86 and remained MEP until her death, on 26 May 1983, aged 90. The main parliament building in Strasbourg bears her name. From 1984 into the early 21st century, Jean-Marie Le Pen (born June 20, 1928), served as an elected member of the European Parliament.

Which country has the largest number of MEPs?

The number of seats each country receives is based on the size of the population. The member state with the largest population is **Germany** (84.4 million) who in 2019 voted in 96 MEPs. France is the second largest, with 74 MEPs.

### EU Elections

Where is the furthest voting location from Brussels?

The place farthest from Brussels to vote in the election is the French special collectivity of **New Caledonia** – 16,296km from the EU capital, in the southwest Pacific Ocean.

Only 1 country in the EU allows voting online

**Estonia** is the only country in the European Union that allows its citizens to vote in the upcoming MEP elections online. The majority of the EU also enable citizens to vote by post, and a handful allow a proxy vote as well. In Malta, this year, voting will remain manual but the counting process will be done electronically.

Not all EU countries vote at the same time

Election days can be different. The elections normally start on a Thursday (the day on which the Netherlands usually vote) and finish on a Sunday (when most countries hold their elections). However, no EU country can publish any results until polls have closed in all other member states.

Which country has the highest non-compulsory voting turn out?

**Malta** has the highest non-compulsory turn out across Europe, with an 82.4% turn out in 2004, a 78.8% turn out in 2009 and a 74.8% turn out in 2014.

### Other facts

How many official headquarters does the European Parliament have?

**Brussels**, **Strasbourg,** and **Luxembourg** are the **three** official cities of the European Parliament, but Strasbourg is considered the main seat. MEPs hold their monthly plenary sessions in Strasbourg. Additional plenary sessions and meetings of parliamentary committees and political groups take place in Brussels. The European Parliament’s Secretariat is located in Luxembourg.

English is no longer the official language of any member state

**After Brexit**, there are only be two member states, Ireland and Malta where English is an official language. However, in Ireland, the EU nominated language is Irish, and in Malta it is Maltese.

![Co-funded by the European Union](/files/qkVJHtZBOoFMc9OVOQKi) # Contact For further questions please contact: **Carolin Johnson** *Policy Coordinator at the European Partnership for Democracy*