European Elections: Your vote counts
Do you believe that the European elections will fail to excite young people, if so, why?
In January 2004, as politicians and parties across the EU geared up for the European Parliament elections, we asked our panel the following question: Do you believe that the European elections will fail to excite young people, if so, why?
So what is your view on this?
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‘I would like to be optimistic once again, however that is against all odds.’
That is because the amount of young people actually interested in the European Union, its power, the decision making procedures, the funding and the action plans is indeed very small. The main reason for that is that the EU is just not interesting to them. For me, that is just wrong because it is more likely that a significant for their lives law will be written, voted in the European Parliament and then passed onto a national level. The role of the EU is if not vital for our lives, very very important. Therefore, the fact that young people are ignorant towards it is really not good. Young people are the future of the EU, it is them ( well, we) who are going to make it work, who are going to make it a more competitive union, and we are going to live, work and function under the laws that those people who are now and those who will in a few months , making the laws. So, by being ignorant now they are ignorant towards shaping the future not the way they want. It is far from sure that people who are 40 or 50 or 60 who indeed vote vote with different criteria, it might also be correct that someone of that age would not trust to be a representative of their country a person of a young age, lets say 30. And it is a fact that we need ‘new and young blood’ in the Parliament.
I am of the opinion that the main reason for people not being interesting in the Union is just that the Union itself is very complicated. For example , lets just enter the website of the EU, what I have access to is a broad , are very very broad, range of information which I do not know how to use. Which file should I download first or second? The constitution itself, although there have been several attempts for it to be made easier, is still complicated. Not the constitution itself to be easier, but the way it is disposed or explained. There are several books that attempt that, a book which just provides you with the constitution purely or there are books that explain it by using drawings or make the texts easy, but still it is complicated. Moreover, another reason for those who vote is because they have participated in youth events of a European level and had to understand pretty much all about the EU, and because of the splendid time they had at those events and because the ‘flame ‘ of opinion-saying continues to burn inside them after those events they do vote. The important thing about voting is indirectly participating in the decision-making processes therefore the importance of the correct choice of the representative is clear. So, my answer to this question would be yes, it will fail to excite them. So the EU should really get into a voter- hunting procedure in that way future problems will be avoid.
Faremi’I believe that the European elections will fail to excite young people.’
This means that the politicians themselves are not encouraging the youths at all, they are so skeptical about involving them in their political affairs, it is mean to see, old people still chasing the young ones away that, what do they know about politics. Furthermore, there are not enough political conferences to involve and brief the young ones about their programmes of affairs. Moreover, on the other hand, the youths to say, some are not even interested in working with the so called old-generation politicians, so let me say the, young minds and the old minds are at a friction. In a way, bringing this kind of question could at least develop a kind of sensational behaviour towards affecting the social menac. So, I want to at this juncture appreciate your efforts on the great organization, thanks so much.
“MPs are too insignificant for young people.”
Albeit the European context offers many opportunities to discuss about Europe, the fact that the MP have a very limited power, a restricted budget, but are very well paid won’t excite the European youth. By the way, who could tell me the name at least three of them?
‘Young people in general (at least in my country) don’t seem to bother about the social life at all.’
The reason for this behavior can rely on the fact that politicians don’t try to come closer to their young audience and even when they do it they seem to be unaware of the problems and issues that Youth copes with. This year’s Elections have though a big difference. The EU expands and I think that, especially the Young People of the ‘New Comers’ will be really excited since they are going to vote for the first time their European Parliament Members. This means that there is some excitement and with the proper advertisement it can be multiplied. Closing I would like to wish everyone a happy and creative New Year. I hope to see you in the Olympic Games of Athens this summer.
‘To be sincere I don’t not remember exactly how were the last European elections in Portugal, so… probably the last European elections failed to excite young people!’
But nowadays the level of integration and impact that EU took is higher (Euro coin, the enlargement, the Convention,…) and I think that people, specially the young people, are more aware of the European affairs.
Today is somewhat common to speak about European matters and as I am an optimistic person I believe that the European election won’t fail to excite young people.
On the 13th of June, I believe the headlines will read as usual after EU-elections.’
They will warn of an all-time low rate of voters and a democracy in crisis. Let us be prepared for that! I don’t believe that people, especially young people, will vote for such a seemingly distant thing, the EU Parliament, whose role is rather undefined to the perspective of an ordinary Union citizen.
It is no mystery that people will not vote when they lack the necessary knowledge of the EU and are ignorant towards the outcome of the election. There is no need to take action on those people, accusing them of not taking their political rights seriously. The fact that many people choose not to vote shows a certain precaution on their side: they feel they do not attain the necessary insight in the subject, so they wave their political right aside instead of misusing it.
I believe time is an important factor in this issue. Time will show what functions the Parliament will have (let us not compare the EU parliament with our national ones!). Time will show how people will regard the EU project. Time will show people will use their political rights – to vote or not in the election.
In the meantime, let us work towards improving the structure of the Union. For example, the Union could be formed as a federation (yes, the “F-word”!) where the EU Parliament would be vested with real legislative powers. By doing so, the purpose with the elections would be clear and relevant and we would not have to bother anymore with low numbers of voters.
I think that the European Parliament Elections won’t be able to excite young people because European matters receive very little attention from elector compared to national matters all around Europe.
Moreover, EP elections have usually been dominated by national issues. The European Identity is still not defined and not possessed as strong as national identities. I also believe that the majority of young europeans still do not think that European Parliament is functional since the debates do not make a considerable impact in their lives.