European Electoral Act: Parliament calls for progress on long-stalled reforms 

On Tuesday, Parliament adopted a report (417 votes in favour, 234 against, nine abstentions) that analyses hurdles to amending the European Electoral Act in relation to both the 2018 revision and the 2022 proposed reform. Highlighting that European elections continue to be conducted largely under national frameworks, which were conceived in a markedly different phase of European integration and no longer correspond to the enhanced role and legislative powers of the European Parliament, so MEPs urge the member states to overcome the political deadlock in order to push for a more coherent common European electoral framework.

They also reaffirm that a broader electoral reform should reinforce EU citizenship and the democratic dimension of European elections, while enhancing transparency, accessibility, inclusiveness, and youth participation. Key measures would include mandatory visibility of European political parties on ballot papers and a solution for the situation of dual EU citizens, which as it stands may result in a number of administrative or legal complications for voters.

Further details are available in the press release issued following the report’s adoption in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs.

Quote

Rapporteur Borja Giménez Larraz (EPP, Spain) said: “Today’s vote shows Parliament’s determination to strengthen our shared democratic space. By urging member states to finally align their rules, we take a concrete step toward European elections that are fairer, more transparent and anchored in a genuinely common democratic framework. At the same time, today’s vote makes clear that Spain is the only EU country blocking the 2018 reform of the Electoral Act, to the detriment of all others. Parliament is calling on the Spanish Government to finally deliver on its European commitments.”

A press conference with the rapporteur will take place at 16:30 CET at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Background

The 2018 revision of the Act is yet to be ratified by Spain (which blocks the application of compulsory measures in other EU countries, e.g. electoral threshold rules in Germany), while its optional provisions have been transposed in a limited manner, revealing a lack of political will to commit to a democratic process that better reflects the European dimension. Similarly, a lack of political will among member states on the 2022 reform means that no interinstitutional negotiations have taken place to date.