On 20 March, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted a resolution calling on European citizens to use their democratic right to vote and to cast their ballots in the fast-approaching European elections.

‘We have gone through difficult times, but no one can deny that the EU has guaranteed peace, democracy, economic prosperity and social progress for its Member States and citizens. Thanks to the Union, we have the freedom to work, study and do business in all EU countries,’ the EESC stated in the resolution.

‘Nationalism, populism and single-state solutions are not the answer. Collaboration, cooperation and convergence are,’ the EESC said, stressing that no EU country can cope with challenges like rising inflation, wars, migration or the climate emergency alone.

The resolution was adopted at the EESC March plenary session following the debate The 2024 European elections through a civil society lens, which saw the participation of civil society activists and the national economic and social councils of France and Bulgaria.

The EESC said it wanted to mobilise its network of at least 90 million people across the EU, and make sure that Europeans headed to the polls to decide who will represent them in the European Parliament over the next five years.

EESC president Oliver Röpke told the plenary that the organisations represented by EESC members have deep roots in national civil societies: ‘We can reach out to everyone, we can get people to vote, and we must do it. It is our moral duty.’

The EESC has also joined forces with the European Parliament to help boost the turnout, which is usually much lower than in national elections, particularly in some Member States.

The EESC president stressed that against the backdrop of democracy in retreat around the world and in some Member States, the stakes seemed particularly high for the 2024 elections.

‘These elections are not the silver bullet to end our troubles, resolve our fears or alleviate citizens’ worries, but they are a legitimate way of expressing our wishes, of demanding a better future, and of holding those in power to account,’ Mr Röpke said.

Speaking at the plenary, the three Resolution rapporteurs, EESC members Christa Schweng, Cinzia del Rio and Ioannis Vardakastanis, representing the EESC Employers’, Workers’ and Civil Society Organisations’ Groups respectively, were united in their calls on Europeans to use their vote and elect representatives who will stand up for a united, democratic, sustainable and social Europe.

The EESC will adopt another resolution in July, focusing on civil society’s demands for the newly elected European Parliament and the Commission.(ll)