By Bruno Waterfield - 6th April 2004
Europe’s future “could be threatened” by the apathy and hostility of European voters, the Irish EU presidency warned on Wednesday.
National capitals, EU institutions and Europe’s great and good are increasingly concerned over plummeting turnout for European elections.
Official EU polling published in February predicted that participation in June’s enlarged European elections will crash to under a third of EU citizens - the lowest ever turnout.
Irish Europe minister Dick Roche fears bad headlines and declining support could challenge the EU’s existence.
“Declining voter turnout in European elections, negative media comment, and falling support in opinion polls all suggest that the union no longer enjoys a positive image,” he said.
“The scale of the problem is difficult to gauge accurately, but is clearly significant. If citizens are not better informed about, and engaged in, the EU, the future of the union itself could be threatened.”
The most recent Eurobarometer forecast for looming European elections takes country-by-country turnout expectations to under a third – 33.2 per cent.
Voter turn-out has slumped from 63 per cent in 1979, when direct elections to the European Parliament were introduced, to 49 per cent in 1999.
For the ‘old’ Europe of 15 countries those Europeans “definitely” prepared to vote falls to 31.7 per cent.
And in ‘new’ Europe – where EU enthusiasts hoped the turnout would be high – the country by country average is predicted at a first time low of 26 per cent.
In Ireland, which will be holding the EU’s presidency as Europe goes to the polls, under a quarter, 23.7 per cent, are expected to show up on the day.
Since the last election in 1999, the introduction of the euro, enlargement and accelerating political integration make the 2004 poll a key political test of the European vision.
Proposals for an EU constitution – which will not be ready in time for the election – will double the legislative clout of MEPs giving the parliament a more central role at the heart of political Europe.
But as the role of the EU grows its appeal is in steep decline – and seems to be accelerating.
Turnout fell by 4.5 per cent in the first decade of elections and then 9.1 per cent in the second.
Into the third decade participation may drop 16 per cent sounding alarm bells in European capitals.
European Parliament President Pat Cox told the conference that bland euro-consensus building was a turn-off.
“Politics is indispensable. Public relations are necessary but cannot substitute politics in informing European public. My own contention is that Europe is not short of information but short of communication,” he said.
“Too often, I think, there is a tendency in Europe to shy away from having big debates of this sort because we are afraid of undermining something. But when did the light of political argument ever undermine a political process?”
EU justice chief Antonio Vitorino believes ‘information’ on burning issues such as a European constitution are a “right”.
“Communicating Europe to citizens is an effort which not only constitutes a responsibility of European institutions and member states, but also constitutes the right of citizens to be informed,” the commissioner claimed.
“Only informed citizens can fully participate in democracy and are able to exercise their citizenship.”
Roche outlined a "basic" five point plan to reinvigorate a jaded EU citizenry.
“The introduction of plain language initiatives/anti-jargon measures; the simplification and improvement of forms; the establishment of a form audit agency; the simplification of legal texts; the development of a [EU]-wide code of administrative practice.”
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