Together with Election-Watch.EU (EW), Democracy Reporting International (DRI), and the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), as part of our SEEEDS project, which aims to assist European and Member State decision-makers in safeguarding trust and improving the integrity of the 2024 European Parliament elections, we have released a policy paper. This paper delves into the findings and recommendations result of our four thematic webinars and a high-level event held on July 4th on strategies to enhance electoral integrity in anticipation of the forthcoming European elections (see summary report below).
Our findings
Equality and inclusion
In addition to the pressing need for legislative reforms to ensure European electoral cohesion and avoid 27 diverse legal frameworks, engaging mobile EU citizens, persons with disabilities, and women in elections is also a substantial challenge.
Transparency
As online news platforms are becoming increasingly the first source of news among EU citizens, EU institutions are in the process of regulating political advertising. However, to date, political advertising online is only regulated on the basis of the voluntary self-regulatory commitment of major platforms.
Accountability
There are discrepancies between EU-level rules and national regulations with regards to the financing and accountability of EP elections while existing EU and EUMS regulations on party and campaign finance do not respond to the needs of the EU as a community of shared values.
Risks and opportunities
The digitalisation of political campaigns, external anti-democratic interference, rule of law erosion in certain Member States, along with disinformation and hate speech, stand as key 2024 EU elections risks. Conversely, the COVID pandemic, EU recovery funds, support for Ukraine, and lead candidates’ roles could sustain the rising voter turnout trend from the 2019 EP elections.
Our recommendations
What can be done to address the issues mentioned above? You can find our recommendations on equality and inclusion, transparency, accountability, as well as the risks and opportunities leading up to the 2024 EU elections in the policy paper below.
The project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
