EU institutions open doors to public to raise election awareness

European Union institutions are opening their doors to the public in Brussels and other cities with exhibitions and special visits to showcase the work of the latest legislature and mobilize participation in the June elections.

The purpose is to commemorate Europe Day, which marks the anniversary of the Schumann Declaration of 9 May 1950, when 74 years ago the then French Foreign Minister and future President of the European Parliament, Robert Schumann, proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which paved the way for what would later become today’s European Union.

With about a month left until the European elections and 45 years after the first of these elections took place in 1979, the message is clear and all EU institutions are carrying out educational work aimed at bringing citizens closer to elections, often emphasized by political events. representatives and institutions as one of the most important since the founding of the European Union.

Under the motto “Use your voice, or others will decide for you,” the European Parliament is presenting a program aimed at a wide audience to bring it closer to the legislative work of this chamber in the last term, during which some 450 laws were approved.

The European Parliament has focused on providing visitors with a European election experience, ensuring that people who visit leave better prepared to take part in this electoral event and with a wider knowledge of the seven political families that currently make up Parliament, as well as the relevant electoral proposals .

Communications director and European Parliament spokesman Jaume Duch told Efe that “compared to five or ten years ago,” the public today has “a much more realistic idea of ​​what it means to be a member of the European Union.”

“During these years, the European Union has been working on issues that are very close to it, such as the vaccination campaign or what has been done by many member states to accept Ukrainian refugees,” the same official said.

Jaume Duch also noted that polls “show that the visibility of the EU is higher than ever, that its authority is also higher and that more than 70% of Europeans already know that decisions taken in Brussels or Strasbourg affect their lives.”

Last year, the European Parliament received around 13,000 visitors for Europe Day, an event that typically attracts around 16% of average monthly visitors in a single day, according to 2023 statistics cited by Efe.

The European Parliament also held a parallel programme, consisting of 30-minute sessions in which different speakers spoke on topics such as disinformation, the role of women in politics or the key aspect of multilingualism in this institution, where all approved laws must be translated into English. 24 linguist officers.

In addition to Brussels, the parliament also organized events in other places where it has its official headquarters. An open day will be held in Luxembourg on May 9, concerts and dance shows are planned. In the French city of Strasbourg, such an open day was held last Saturday.

Europe Day will also be celebrated this Saturday in other institutions located in Brussels, gathered at the Schumann roundabout, known as the “Heart of the European Union”.

Among its activities, the European Commission highlights the 20th anniversary of the EU enlargement in 2004 and the 25th anniversary of the euro, and visitors to the European Council can follow the journey of European Union leaders as they arrive at European summits and view the various stands. which highlight the traditions of each member state.