European Parliament Launches Informational Campaign for the 2014 European Elections

The European Parliament today launches its informational campaign for the elections that will take place in 2014. This campaign will continue even after the elections, until the newly elected Parliament selects a new President of the European Commission.

– The only way to legitimize and influence the decision-making process in the EU is through the European Parliament. Some believe that the political decisions of the European Union lack legitimacy in the current economic crisis. EU voters have the exclusive opportunity to determine who will be the political majority in the Parliament, which will set the direction of legislation and fight against poor policies – emphasizes Anni Podimata (Social Democrats, Greece), one of the two Vice-Presidents of the EP responsible for communication.

– The European Parliament is the council of citizens – we are the voice of citizens in the decision-making process. But this time it is different. This electoral campaign will run until the elections in May, but also beyond, until the Parliament elects the President of the European Commission and approves all commissioners – emphasized Othmar Karas (Christian Democrats, Austria), the other Vice-President of the EP responsible for communication.

Most laws today are made at the EU level, which gives the European Parliament an equally strong role as any national parliament. Voters therefore need to know what decisions are being made in Brussels (or Strasbourg) and how they can influence those decisions.

The campaign will have four phases. The first phase starts today, aiming to explain what the new powers of the European Parliament are and their implications for EU citizens. The second phase, from October to February 2014, will highlight five key themes – economy, jobs, quality of life, money, and the EU in the world – through a series of interactive events in European cities. The third phase is the electoral campaign that begins in February and will focus on the elections for the European Parliament from May 22 to 25. After the elections, the final phase will focus on the newly elected European Parliament, the election of the next President of the European Commission, and the inauguration of the new Commission.