By Robert Sermek

Next year, between 6 and 9 June, more than 400 million EU citizens will get a chance to elect Members of the European Parliament and shape the future of the European Union. However, this unique democratic exercise is often presented as less relevant and less important.

Recently I had the privilege of attending a communications seminar dedicated to the European Elections 2024, organised by the European Economic and Social Committee. It took place in Bratislava, Slovakia, and the choice of venue was not random. Slovakia is a country with the lowest voter turnout among all Member States.

The seminar tried to find an answer to a very simple question: Why vote in the European Elections? I would start with a counter question: And why not? Voting is always important, be it on local, national, or European level. It is an excellent opportunity to have our say on topics we care about.

In June 2024, we will be selecting 720 Members of the European Parliament, or MEPs. These 720 politicians will be co-deciding on EU legislation for the next five years. On  EU legislation that has a direct impact on our daily lives in virtually all areas, from the environment, security and  migration, to consumer rights and the  economy. Not everyone necessarily agrees with every decision taken at EU level, but these decisions have a real impact on our lives. Understanding the impact helps clarify the importance of voting and having a say, and  that not voting means that we actually let someone else decide for us.

Another element of the European elections, which is often underestimated, is its impact on the future overall direction of the EU and the composition of its institutions.

Following the June elections, the Heads of States and Governments will have to nominate the next Commission President. In doing so, they must respect the election result and nominate a candidate from the victorious political party. The newly composed Parliament will then elect the Commission President, and this is not something that can be taken for granted. In 2019, Ursula von den Leyen was elected by a rather tiny majority. In addition, the MEPs will grill each candidate for the Commissioner post in a three-hour long public hearing before electing the full college of Commissioners in the autumn of 2024. Thus, the impact of our vote on the future shape of the EU institutions is evident, and much larger than just the composition of the European Parliament.

But how can we convince our citizens? The European Parliament's communication services have been "campaigning" since the beginning of 2023. The first phase of our communication campaign, politically neutral and impartial, was dedicated to the "delivery": what the EU has done for its citizens and what impact it has had on their lives in the past four years. We will slowly move to the "democracy" narrative in the coming weeks, stressing the importance of voting.

Obviously, the European Parliament cannot and will not make it alone. We are working with our volunteers and active citizens signed up in our together.eu community, and I invite all of you to get familiar with this initiative and register. You can sign-up as individual or as a civil society organisation.

We need as many partners as possible, including the European Economic and Social Committee. We need civil society organisations, trade unions, social interest groups, business associations. All together you represent, or can reach, more than 90 million Europeans – and that is a massive voting power. I sincerely believe that our pre-election messages can reach these voters thanks to your help and cooperation.