ELDR President Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck

The European elections are a democratic mega-event that can only be compared to the elections in India. The elections have begun today in The Netherlands and the UK. Until Sunday evening close to 400 million European citizens have the possibility to determine the direction that Europe will take over the course of the next five years. The Parliament is the only directly elected body of the European institutions. Your vote gives the European Parliament its democratic character and influences decisions taken at the European level. There are a number of challenges that member states cannot face alone and where action at the EU level is vital. The economic crisis, which is affecting so many of us, is a prime example. (more…)