Debate: Stocktaking of European elections
Date: TUESDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2020
Speaker: Věra Jourová
Language: EN

In June 2020, the Commission published its own report on the 2019 elections. The report looked at the conduct of the last European elections and analysed measures taken to enhance transparency, to protect free and fair elections, and to promote the democratic participation of all EU citizens, to strengthen the European dimension of the elections, and to ensure resilient electoral processes. It was based on substantial input received from Member States authorities, in particular from the European Cooperation Network on Elections and the Expert group on electoral matters.  Our findings have shown that young and first-time voters drove turnout figures to a record high, the first increase since the 1970s and the highest in 25 years. It was also an election where the institutions and Member States cooperated closely and effectively to communicate with citizens. A dynamic European debate emerged on a number of topics showing progress in developing a European political dimension. In the report, the Commission announced that it would continue to intensify its communication activities, to support inclusion policies and to engage with the Member States in the framework of the European Cooperation Network on Elections, on best practices in this area, including on data and reporting. The network in fact already touched on these subjects at its most recent meetings in July and September, and also discussed practices and experience in adapting elections and democracy to the post-COVID environment, which was warmly welcomed by Member States and which will continue.  We also indicated some opportunities for European political parties to support the effort to increase turnout, in particular through communications efforts, to increase inclusive participation, and through awareness-raising about the elections, and how the EU works.  In the next week, the Commission will adopt the European Democracy Action Plan. In this plan, we aim to protect our European democracies against today’s challenges and make them more resilient in order to ensure that citizens are able to participate in the democratic systems through informed decision-making free from unlawful interference and manipulation. The Action Plan will focus on safeguarding the integrity of our elections, on countering disinformation and on supporting free and independent media, and also build on the lessons learned from the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.  It will also cover active citizenship and strengthening of civil society. The international dimension of these initiatives is a thread running through the whole plan. It will announce legislative proposals to ensure greater transparency of paid political advertising, alongside non-legislative measures and further initiatives to tackle disinformation and to protect the media. I am glad that the Durand Report focuses also on institutional matters such as the lead candidate. With the upcoming European Parliament reports and the hopefully soon to be launched Conference on the Future of Europe, we will be able to discuss together with citizens and Member States the shape of the next elections. Let me repeat that I remain ready to act as an honest broker in this field where the Commission’s initiative, as you know, is limited. From our side, we are ready to join the debate and to make available legal and institutional expertise, research on electoral processes and insight into interinstitutional relations if this Parliament and the Council deem it useful. I would also like to mention two of the files where the Commission has the right of initiative. The Regulation on the Statute and funding of the European political parties and foundations. As announced in the work programme for the next year, we will propose a revision aiming for clearer rules, for instance on the financing. We will also propose legislation to ensure greater transparency of paid political advertising, alongside non-legislative measures, ensuring transparency and accountability, in particular online, is essential. All this with a view to adoption well in time ahead of the 2024 elections.  To summarise: on behalf of the Commission I can assure you that we will do our best to ensure that citizens’ confidence in our democratic process and decision-making only increases in the years to come.