Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The European Parliament launches its second-phase communication campaign, urging citizens to vote in the June 2024 elections, emphasizing democracy’s significance. Efforts include media events, digital outreach, and a poignant “Use Your Vote” film.
The European Parliament undertakes the second phase of its communication campaign, highlighting the significance of voting and safeguarding democracy. Between 6 and 9 June 2024, more than 370 million people across 27 Member Nations are called to vote in the European elections. To further tell EU citizens and urge them to vote, the European Parliament is embarking on the second step of its institutional communication strategy.
What Is the European Parliament’s Tagline for Voting?
With “Use Your Vote. Or others will decide for you” as its tagline, this second phase emphasises the importance of democracy. It contains a multifaceted approach, including media events, digital outreach, public and private associates’ involvement, community engagement endeavours and educational programmes tailored to echo with citizens across the EU.
Among the outreach measures used, the 4-minute film “Use your vote” features depositions of senior citizens from different EU nations passing on their stories about democracy to the next generations and highlighting that this democratic right cannot be taken for granted.
“European Union democracy is more important today than ever. Everyone’s vote matters. It will decide the direction our Union will take for the five coming years. It will decide what Europe we want to live in”, states European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. “In order not to let someone else choose for us, we should vote on 6-9 June 2024”.
As the European Union meets evolving challenges and with the June 2024 elections approaching, the European Parliament reaffirms its dedication to fostering dialogue, unity and active citizenship. “Use your vote. Or others will decide for you” serves as a powerful reminder that democracy is a precious legacy that must be nurtured and supported by all.
How Does the European Parliament Reinforce Democracy?
“Democracy is a collective responsibility – not towards a political idea or a specific cause – but towards each other”, states the European Parliament’s spokesperson Jaume Duch. “We are more united in European democracy than we might think: across nations, political sensitivities and across generations. In our polarised times, this is easy to forget and our campaign is made to remind us of what unites us.”
More particularly, the campaign’s central video further examines the chequered history of many European countries that have undergone armed conflict or limits on individual freedom and the precarious nature of democracy if not actively sustained.
Interest in EU elections on the rise
How Do Europeans View the Significance of Voting?
In 2019, more than half of qualified voters in Europe turned out to vote (50.6%). The EP’s Spring 2024 Eurobarometer survey with more than 26,000 respondents in all EU Member States has revealed that 60% of Europeans are interested in the 6-9 June 2024 elections, eleven points more than in spring 2019 (three months before the previous European elections). Additionally, 71% say that they may vote, again 10 more points than last time.
Findings also indicate that four in five Europeans agree that “Voting is necessary to keep democracy strong” (81%) and that “Voting is important to assure a better future for the next generations” (84%). More than eight in ten Europeans (81%) believe voting is even more important given the current geopolitical situation.
