In anticipation of the upcoming European Parliamentary elections (May 22–23, 2014), a series of presentations on the European Union will be held at the Oranje Zaal of the TU library on May 15, beginning at 16:15.
Entitled “You and the EU”, the event aims to raise awareness about the significance of the EU, the relevant issues surrounding the organization and its impact on European citizens. Presented by former European Commission Policy Officer Leo de Vrees and Transport and Environment Policy Officer Cécile Toubeau, the talks touch upon a number of different subjects, including how the EU works, career opportunities at one of the many EU institutions or lobby groups and an in-depth discussion on the EU’s Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the US. These presentations are followed by one of the major Presidential Debates (TellEUROPE) to be held at the European Parliament in Brussels later that evening.
“Beside a general presentation on how the EU works, emphasis will be placed on the fact that it’s an organisation with ordinary people that one can interact with and influence,” says David Westsson, organizer of the event. “We hope that those who come get the basic structure of the EU, that they themselves seek more information about the EU and that they of course vote.”
Indeed, voter turnout has been in decline since the first European Elections in 1979. According to the European Parliament, only 43% of the EU voting population cast their vote during the 2009 elections. “Voter turnout is low as the EU has a major problem of communication,” says Toubeau. “I believe it lives in its own little bubble. I think the member states and the EU need to work together to better communicate what the EU does for people, but I don’t see that happening any time soon.”
Be that as it may, the EU insists that the upcoming elections will be different, due in part to the Lisbon Treaty’s new electoral provisions. For the first time, European voters will indirectly choose the President of the European Commission. Whether this will be enough to encourage EU citizens to vote, remains to be seen. “My views may be too strong, but if you do not vote, you have no right to complain about what happens in government and in your everyday life,” Toubeau claims. She hopes that her talk will ultimately pique students’ interest and boost their participation.
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