Brussels, 10/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - After the 56.9% record rate of abstention averaged across the 27 member countries in last week's European elections (81.4% in Slovakia, 79.1% in Latvia, 75.5% in Poland, 72.6% in Romania, 71.8% in the Czech Republic, 65.8% in the United Kingdom, and so on), voices have been raised in concern at the public's lack of interest in European affairs and ideas have been put forward to remedy this worrying state of affairs for the future of Europe.
The outgoing chairman of the European Parliament constitutional affairs committee, Jo Leinen (PES, Germany, re-elected), for example, has called for a “new concept” for European elections. “We need truly European parliamentary elections. The blockades and barriers of purely national campaigns must be overcome,” he says. He has called, therefore, for the newly elected European Parliament to take the initiative and, as quickly as possible, launch a “convention”, comprising representatives of the EP, national parliaments, national governments and the European Commission, to agree on a new “European election system”. He says that this new electoral system should allow European political parties to draw up transnational European lists (with candidates eligible in all member states) alongside the usual national lists. “Only when the political families can campaign for European mandates will there be a truly European debate,” he argues. In a second proposal, Leinen, says that, in future, at each European election, every European party should designate its candidate for the post of “head of European government”, that is, President of the Commission. He believes that voting for people will encourage more people to come out and vote. Thirdly, the EU should have common rules on the timescale for nominating candidates at the European elections. “It is unacceptable that in some member states, the lists of candidates are put together by hardly transparent, exclusive party circles just weeks before the election”, he rails. The new Parliament must begin discussion of these ideas immediately after the summer recess, he says.
Outgoing leader of the Liberal Group in the EP (ALDE) Graham Watson, who is a candidate for the presidency of the new Parliament, has also argued that, in future, “a percentage” of MEPs should be elected from “pan-European lists”. If elected president of the EP, Watson would work to “ensure proper communication,” he told journalists in Brussels on 8 June. He proposes, too, that the recently elected Parliament begin discussions with the Council on whether European commissioners should be appointed by Parliament from among its Members - one per member state - rather than by national governments. Commissioners would then have an “electoral mandate” given by European electors, “so people can see their vote has an importance”. He said that he was going to raise these ideas with the other political groups.
Alain Lamassoure (EPP, France, re-elected) said that the Lisbon Treaty would raise the stakes in the next European elections, automatically bringing an improved turnout. “The next time, the public will be asked to elect a Parliament with full legislative powers and even, through this, themselves to choose who will lead Europe, just as they elect their mayor in France or their Prime Minister in our neighbours. What is up for grabs will be as clear as for national or local elections, and turnout will, therefore, come into line. The time of a democratic Europe, a Europe of peoples, a Europe of citizens is at last beginning!” he said.
President of the COMECE (Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community) Mgr Adrianus Van Luyn said that the reason for the low turnout was not just to be found in the lack of a European debate, but rather in “the lack of a European civil society”. “We have not yet laid sufficient stress on the emergence of a European civil society compared with the importance given to creating a common market. The European institutions, national governments, political parties and no doubt, too, the churches must ask themselves: have we done enough to help bring about a European awareness among our fellow citizens?” he said. (H.B./transl.rt)