Local Forums for Participatory Democracy - Engaging Young People in EU Elections

1. Overview of the Participation in the EU elections and why are we and especially young people loosing interest in politics ? LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

2. General disinterest in politics Politically steady period since 1968' National back and forward movements– no real political development Business is taking the place of politics – the supreme power of lobbying For 30 years now the turnout in national, local and European elections is dropping LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

3. The rate of abstention for the European elections on the 7th of June could reach 66%! - says the Eurobarometer poll of the 27 member states published in January Since 1979, date of the first European Parliament election by universal suffrage, abstention increased from 37% thirty years ago to 54.3% in June 2004, while the powers of Parliament have continued to grow LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

4. Why don't we feel concerned about Europe and European Parliament ? Participation requires education and appropriate information as well as minimum of financial resources – Youth consultation for the White Paper on Youth initiated by Commissioner Viviane Reding in 1999 Lack of awareness coupled with the economic crisis leads to a collapse of confidence in community institutions. LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

5. Actors involved in the EU elections process and their responsibilities: European Union and more precisely European Parliament Media Political Parties Voters LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

6. EU PARLIAMENT The role of the Parliament and the co-decision process is not enough promoted and explained -it is estimated that over 60% of European citizens have no image, good or bad, of the European Parliament. MEPs are unreachable and constantly accused of the abuse of their expenses and privileges Electoral procedure is different in each member state and very close to the local elections LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

7. MEDIA Lack of general information- only 36% of people have read, heard or seen a topic devoted to the European Parliament in their media. Lack of innovative and interesting ways of presenting European politics - we are overwhelmed by boring debates of men in suits. Lack of appropriate language – often a technical slang Lack of educational programmes for children and teenagers LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

8. POLITICAL PARTIES : There is a constant confusion between national and European political parties European political parties are Brussels based and they lack local representational offices Lack of clear messages in the most important issues: climate change , energy ,economical crisis Lack of consultation process and cooperation with Civil Society LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

9. VOTERS : The study conducted in the framework of CIVIACTIVE project reveals that abstention takes two forms: Practical difficulties and obstacles to vote ( ex. Voting day during holidays, illness )‏ Lack of motivation or political involvement The study also showed a very strong relationship between age and civic participation, with people being more likely to vote as they get older LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

10. YOUNG ADULTS: Voters in the under 25 and 25-35 year-old age groups need to be targeted and encouraged to participate in elections Young people are nowadays more under family and social pressure then ever, what captures their full attention There is a strong lack of identification – given the average age and academic background of European politicians, Ngos and associations give far more attractive answers to the current global problems then politicians LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

11. MIGRANTS: Many are still unaware of the fact that they are entitled to vote in European Parliament elections (Maastricht Treaty 1992 )‏ They often experience poor economic situation and are victims of psychological assumption of being an outsider Politics is often a very important point of attachment to the country of origin, so they do identify with local politicians LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

12. FINAL THOUGHTS: Participative Democracy versus Representative Democracy European Emptiness European Union- LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme

13. LOCAL FORUMS FOR DEVELOPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACYThis project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme Thank you for your attention Karolina Rachwal krachwal@qec-eran.org