The establishment of 9 May as a common day for European elections, the creation of an additional constituency at EU level and supranational ballots headed by the preferred candidate for President of the European Commission are among the provisions of the proposal discussed by MEPs in Strasbourg on Monday, with some calling it a "historic moment" and others expressing concern, particularly in relation to the representation of smaller member states.
The proposal aims to establish more common rules on European elections and strengthen their European dimension, on the basis of a report by rapporteur Domènec Ruiz Devesa from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats. Among other things, it stresses the importance of transforming the European elections into a "single European election [] INSTEAD OF 27 SEPARATE NATIONAL ELECTIONS, AS IS CURRENTLY THE CASE."
According to the proposal, it provides for the establishment of one constituency at EU level for the election of 28 MEPs, in addition to MEPs elected in national or local constituencies.
In addition, European political parties or coalitions of national parties would be able to propose supranational lists headed by their preferred candidate for Commission President. The inclusion of candidates from small, medium and large states also aims to ensure geographical balance.
The proposal stresses that all European voters should be able to vote for their preferred candidate for Commission President.
A similar proposal to introduce supranational ballots was tabled before the 2019 European elections, but did not receive the support of EU heads of state and government.
In this proposal, MEPs propose that Europe Day, on 9 May, be designated as a common day for European elections. Currently, elections are held from Thursday to Sunday, according to the national traditions of each country.
The proposal also aims to harmonise the age limit for the right to vote and stand for election in order to ensure equality. MEPs stress that the minimum age should be set at 16 and that the minimum voting age should be set at 18.
The report's rapporteur Domènec Ruiz Devesa called it an innovative, ambitious and balanced project. This proposal is a solution to strengthen the list for the election of the President of the European Commission through a single constituency, he said.
In addition to the election of MEPs, citizens will also be able to support the European party, the common European project and the candidate of their choice to lead the European Commission, he added.
If we don't want in 2024 the system of lead candidates to be ignored once again, this regulation should be adopted, Ruiz Devesa said. He finally rejected accusations that small countries are being ignored,and called on MEPs to move together for a European democracy.
European Values and Transparency Commissioner Vera Yurova said that the Commission fully recognises the importance of the EP's role in reforming this act and is ready to provide legal expertise to facilitate inter-institutional relations.
She referred to improvements on the issue of the top candidate for the leadership of the Commission and the international lists and said she would continue negotiations on this proposal.
There is a wide range of views and many arguments for and against, he said, while calling for the recommendations of the Conference on the Future of Europe to be respected, including one proposing changes to electoral law.
On behalf of the European People's Party, Sven Simon spoke of a "historic project" as he said that for 45 years no reform of electoral law had been achieved even though the EU had changed.
The idea of a constituency would allow citizens to express their views through a second constituency, he continued, noting that it was a historic opportunity that we should seize.
Speaking on behalf of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Gabriele Bischoff said that "we have a great opportunity to make European history and take the European project further."
She appealed to her colleagues to give European citizens a second vote to decide which top candidate will take up the post of Commission President through which, she said, European policy is decisively shaped.
He also said that the rapporteur's proposal included a template whereby "the little ones will not fear being bypassed."
Guy Verhofstadt on behalf of the Renew Europe Group spoke of a "huge and comprehensive piece of legislation that includes the whole electoral system" from the process for the lead candidate, to the day of the European elections and the constituencies. This legislation is a historic issue for Europe and the European construction, he said.
He also called on the body not to follow those who do not want a European demos and a European people. He said this would avoid what happened in 2019, when the EP was absent from the election of the Commission President.
On behalf of the Greens group, Damian Boeselager said European parties are getting closer to the citizens, so that they in turn are able to choose the party and candidate they want to vote for. He called for a step towards a European parliamentary democracy and urged MEPs to vote in favour of the proposal.
Gerolf Annemans of the Identity and Democracy Group was negative to the proposal in plenary, saying that the EU was introducing its own electoral system and replacing the one that Member States have been using until now according to their own culture and identity.
We wanted more wisdom and this is a historically critical moment, he said, concluding that the report "is not good news at all."
In his own intervention on behalf of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, Angel Dzhambazki said he was against the report, which he said "shows that some people in this room are living in a different world from the real one."
In his own intervention on behalf of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, Angel Dzhambazki said he was against the report, which he said "shows that some people in this room are living in a different world from the real one. He said the report takes sovereignty away from member states and its provisions are contrary to the treaties.
Leila Chaibi of the Left Group referred to equal gender representation on electoral rolls. She said it was a pity that it was not compulsory for men and women to stand for election on a rotating basis, as this could improve the representation of women in the EP.
The revision of the European electoral law requires a special decision-making procedure. The European Parliament prepares the proposal and the Council can then amend it and must adopt the text. The proposal will be put to the vote on Tuesday.
Source: CNA
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