Enhancing Democratic Aspects of European Elections: Parliament's Proposed Reforms

The European Parliament is pushing for an interinstitutional agreement on the procedure to elect the Commission President, aiming to increase voter turnout and ensure citizens' right to vote in the upcoming European elections. MEPs are proposing a draft report that demands efforts to boost voter participation, particularly among mobile citizens, and calls on the Council to adopt a new European electoral law. The report also emphasizes the importance of democratic standards when selecting candidates, including the lead candidate for President of the European Commission, and proposes reforms to the lead candidate system.

Key Takeaways:

• The European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs is proposing a draft report to enhance the democratic aspects of the upcoming European elections.
• The report demands efforts to increase voter turnout, particularly among mobile citizens, and calls on the Council to adopt a new European electoral law.
• MEPs emphasize the importance of democratic standards when selecting candidates, including the lead candidate for President of the European Commission.
• The report proposes reforms to the lead candidate system, including a clear and credible link between voters' choice and the Commission President position.
• MEPs call for an agreement between Parliament and the European Council to ensure that lead candidates engage in negotiations to put forward a common candidate.
• The European political parties should announce their candidates for the top Commission job at least twelve weeks before election day.
• The report highlights the need for clear and credible democratic standards, particularly in the selection of candidates.
• MEPs reject the restrictions preventing European political parties from fully participating in European election campaigns.
• The report regrets that recently proposed innovations for mobile citizens will not be applied in time for next year's elections.
• A clear and credible link between voters' choice and the Commission President position is necessary, as highlighted by the Treaties.
• The draft report calls for negotiations between Parliament and the European Council to put forward a common candidate.

Statistics:

• 19 MEPs voted in favor of the draft report, 2 against, and 2 abstained.
• The report proposes reforms to be implemented for the 2024 European elections.
• The lead candidate system was not applied in 2019.
• MEPs highlight the importance of a clear and credible link between voters' choice and the Commission President position.
• The report emphasizes the need for democratic standards to be applied when selecting candidates.

Sources:

• European Parliament's draft report on the procedure to elect the Commission President.
• Co-rapporteur Sven Simon (EPP, DE) commented in the draft report.
• Co-rapporteur DomÈ¿nec Ruiz Devesa (SandD, ES) said in the draft report.
• Conference on the Future of Europe (proposal 38.4)