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The countdown to EU Elections has begun |
The countdown to the European Parliamentary elections have started. There are not too many weeks left to go to May 22 until
the first polling stations open for the 2014 European elections.
It will be the second biggest democratic exercise in the world, 400 million people can
cast their vote for a new European Parliament.
The 751 MEPs taking up
their seats in July will not only set the course of European policies
for the next five years but also elect the leader of the EU's executive
body, the European Commission President.
This upcoming election is different because the increase in the European Parliament’s powers since 2009 has
started to make itself felt as the European Union sought to pull through
the economic crisis and MEPs drew up legislation, inter alia on
effective budgetary discipline, the winding down of failing banks and
caps on bankers' bonuses.
The May European elections therefore will
allow voters to contribute to strengthening or changing the direction
that Europe takes in tackling the economic crisis and in many other
issues affecting people’s daily lives.
For the first time, the composition of the new European
Parliament will determine who will lead the next European Commission,
the EU's executive body, which initiates legislation and supervises its
implementation. Under the new rules, EU government leaders, who will
propose a candidate for the post of the future Commission President,
must do so on the basis of the election results.
The European Parliament will elect the new Commission
President by a majority of the component members, i.e. at least half of
the 751 MEPs to be elected (376). European political parties will
therefore, or have already, put forward their candidates for this
leading position in the EU before the European elections, thus allowing
citizens to have a say over next Commission President.
The new political majority emerging from the elections
will also shape European legislation over the next five years in areas
from the single market to civil liberties. The Parliament - the only
directly elected EU institution - is now a linchpin of the European
decision-making system and has an equal say with national governments on
virtually all EU laws. Voters will be more influential than ever.
To see how the political cards are falling in place
click on our poll - and to make your voice be heard don't forget to go out and vote 22 - 25 May. 2014.
EU-Digest