It is time to vote for “our” European Union
The European elections will take place across Europe on 23-26 May 2019, and citizens will directly elect their representatives in the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament co-decide with the Council of the EU (representing member States Governments) the great majority of EU laws which are also the basis of a majority of legislation in our own countries, they decide on the EU budget and they also elect the President of the European Commission. Regardless of the countries in which they are elected, MEPs represent EU citizens. There are different issues at stake than in a national election. Yet information on the impact of the European vote is scarce and often inaccurate or incorrect. The participation of citizens in shaping the European Union is critical and the first important step to ensure this is to vote!
The European Union has brought a lot of benefits to our societies in many areas, such as the protection of the environment, gender equality, safety at work, consumer rights, removing obstacles to mobility, just to give a few examples. Yet a lot of changes are also necessary to improve current policies and legislation or develop coordinated solutions to common issues, which are beneficial to people living in all EU countries and according to the common good. Civil Society Organisations are active in suggesting concrete and innovative solutions to the challenges that Europe is currently facing based on their work on the ground. We also act as watchdog, monitoring the correct definition and implementation of policies in the public interest.
You will find below the campaigns of our members active in very different fields from Human rights, active citizenship, youth, education, culture, social rights, health, the environment, international cooperation or transparency.
As the coordination of civil society organisations at European level, we call for the development of a coherent and structured dialogue with citizens and their representative associations in all decision making process on EU matters whether conducted at EU level or in the member States.
We also want a more transparent decision making, especially as regards meetings among member States and “trilogue” negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission.
For more information on the European elections, vote procedures and results:
https://www.european-elections.eu/
To engage and invite other people to vote: https://www.thistimeimvoting.eu/
To know better what the EU does: https://www.what-europe-does-for-me.eu/en/portal and https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu_en
For all there is know about European elections: http://ec.europa.eu/info/elections-toolkit
To get to know civil society campaigns:
