election-watch.eu

Brussels, Vienna, 6 March 2024: The number of EU mobile citizens (EU citizens living in another Member State) is estimated at 13.7 million. Some 11 million are considered to be of voting age.

Election-Watch.EU organises a SEEEDS webinar on enhancing participation of mobile EU citizens in European Parliament Elections on Tuesday, 19 March 2024 from 17:00 to 18:00 hours. Register here and find out more here: SEEEDS Webinar Mobile EU Citizens Participation  

Objective:

Inform mobile EU citizens and especially young voters on their rights to vote and stand in the 6-9 June European Parliament elections by providing information on registration requirements, possible barriers, and answer questions from the audience.

Impact:

Enhance understanding of suffrage rights, requirement to register as a voter in a host country and greater understanding of voting possibilities for mobile EU citizens.  

Agenda            17:00 – 18:00 hours

17:00 – 17:10    Welcome and introduction by  Mr. Armin Rabitsch, Chairperson Election-Watch.EU

17.10 -17:20      Input Statements on mobile EU citizens’ participation in European elections

 Mr. Damian Boeselager, Member of the European Parliament, Volt party, Greens/EFA group, Rapporteur of the EP Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) on the proposal for a Council directive on mobile EU citizens

Mr. David de Groot, European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), Author of Electoral rights of mobile EU citizens in European Parliament elections

17:20 – 17:50    Questions and Answers                      

17:50 – 18:00    Closing remarks by Amb. Urszula Gacek, Advisory Board Member Election-Watch.EU

Moderators: Armin Rabitsch & Tatyana Hilscher-Bogussevich, Election-Watch.EU

Baseline:

• How many people are concerned and what have been past problems and experiences?
• What has changed since 2019 and what happened with the amendments to the Directive on mobile EU citizens?
• What are the different advance and alternative voting possibilities in the Member States? (postal voting, advance voting days; out-of-country voting)
• What are the different requirements to register and vote in their host countries?

Focus:

• Citizen engagement in European elections
• Provision of information portals and helplines for mobile EU citizens by EU and CSOs to understand voter registration procedures and eligibility criteria of mobile EU citizens
• Advocacy to engage with mobile EU citizens and motivate them to register and vote

Q&A:   Zoom chat function, advance consultation for questions

2024 EP elections, EP elections 2024, equality, inclusion, inclusion in elections, mobile EU citizens