European Parliament Election, June 2004, March 2004

In June 2004 over 343 million voters go to the polls over a four-day period (Thursday 10 - Sunday 13) to elect a new European Parliament (EP). These will be the sixth direct elections to the EP since the first were held in 1979. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be elected for the first time in the ten new Member States, bringing the total number of MEPs to 732.

Timetable

Counting of votes begins on Sunday evening when the last polling booth has closed.

Membership

The number of MEPs elected by each Member State depends broadly on population. Existing Member States have been obliged to make reductions in the number of their MEPs to allow for the accession states to have fair representation in the EP (as shown in column 3 of the table below). Only Germany and Luxembourg retain the same number of MEPs.

It is possible that further Member States will enter the Union during the 2004-2009 term of office and as a result additional MEPs will be elected in these countries (Bulgaria and Romania). It is therefore anticipated that the number of seats in the EP may temporarily be extended in order to accommodate MEPs from the countries which will have signed accession treaties after the 2004 European elections (as shown in columns 4 and 5 in the table below).

The European Commission Memo of 16.03.04 on enlargement and institutional changes gives details of the percentages of the population/seat ratio for each country's MEPs.

Observers from the accession Member States

162 observers from the accession Member States have been attending the EP since 5 May 2003. Each national delegation has been equal in number to the number of MEPs that will eventually be elected.

On 1 May 2004, these observers will be replaced by fully-fledged MEPs. These new MEPs (who may include former observers) will initially be appointed by their national parliaments for an interim period until the European elections in June. However, from 1 May 2004 they will exercise all rights enjoyed by MEPs. They will hold office up to the end of the EP's legislative term, i.e. until the constituent plenary session of 20 July 2004 which follows the June elections.

Legal basis

Direct elections to a European Assembly were envisaged in the original Treaties and in 1976 the Council agreed the European Elections Act which is the basis on which European elections are held every five years.

In 2002 Council Decision 2002/772 [pdf] was adopted, allowing for a number of changes to the 1976 European Elections Act.

As well as moving towards a more standard electoral system throughout Europe, the Decision makes provision for the abolition of dual membership of the EP and national parliaments (known as the dual mandate). This is due to come into effect at the 2004 elections, although the UK and Ireland have negotiated an exemption until the 2009 elections.

The question of voting rights for Gibraltar is also covered in an annex to this Decision in which the UK government guarantees that the people of Gibraltar will be able to take part in the next European elections. Details of the UK implementation of this are provided in the next paragraph - under Legal basis in the United Kingdom.

Under Council Directive 93/109/EC of 6 December 1993 EU citizens have the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the EP even when resident in a Member State of which they are not nationals. A January 2004 press release announced that all the Member and accession countries have adopted legislation to guarantee that nearly a million EU citizens living in a Member State outside their home country can vote and stand as a candidate in the forthcoming European elections.

The deadline for registration for participation in the June elections is as follows:

Source: Communication ...to ensure participation of all citizens of the Union to the 2004 elections to the EP in an enlarged Union COM/2003/0174 final

Legal basis in the United Kingdom

Provision for Gibraltar to be combined with an existing UK electoral region and for a reduction in the number of UK MEPs from 87 to 78 to make room for those from the new Member States is contained in the European Parliament (Representation) Act 2003. The Electoral Commission recommendation was that the number of seats in three electoral regions - the East Midlands, the South-West and Northern Ireland - should remain unchanged, while the other nine regions should all lose a single seat. Concerning Gibraltar, the Electoral Commission recommended that it should be combined with the South West region for future elections.

The Government accepted these recommendations and the Draft European Parliament (Number of MEPs) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) Orders 2004 were considered by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation on 29 March 2004. The draft order will come into force on 1 May 2004, when the 10 accession states join the EU.

Detailed regulations concerning the nomination of candidates, deposits, the conduct of the election and the poll, election agents, broadcasting rules, donations and sponsorship requirements are contained in Statutory Instrument 293/2004 of March 2004 - The European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004.

Voter Turnout

Overall turnout for voting in the EP elections has fallen from 63% in 1979 to 49.4% in 1999.

Voter turnout in European Parliament elections

Notes:
1. European elections following accession
2. Belgium, Greece and Luxembourg: voting is compulsory
3. Italy: voting is a civic obligation, no penalty

Measures to encourage voter interest

The challenge for Member States and MEPs in the forthcoming elections will be to stimulate public interest and awareness. The EP is to launch a campaign to promote voter turnout in the accession states and also in the Netherlands and the UK which recorded the lowest turnout in 1999 (Parliament launches poll campaign in bid to boost turnout).

The UK office of the European Parliament's 2004 elections website Europe Counts gives details of the 'European Parliament balloon' tour, workshops, exhibitions,' get the vote out' receptions and other regional events designed to encourage voter participation. The UK Office together with the Office in Scotland is also organising a series of Question Time events.

A study carried out by MORI and the LGC Elections Centre at the University of Plymouth for the Electoral Commission (Public opinion and the 2004 elections, October 2003) looks at the decline in turnout throughout Europe for the 1999 elections and considers what might motivate people to vote. A recent poll commissioned by the UK office of the European Parliament suggests that only 18% of eligible British voters will definitely vote in this year's elections (see also European Voice Election apathy 'will aid extremists', 05.02.04)

Young European Federalists plan a campaign to increase awareness of the EP elections and encourage young people to vote. They also hosting an international seminar 'European Elections: the first time in the enlarged European Union' in Boskovice in the Czech Republic in May 2004.

Postal and e-voting

The Irish government announced on 25 February 2004 that it will introduce electronic voting in time for the European and local elections on June 11th (Cabinet to press ahead on e-voting in EU and local polls, Irish Times, 25.02.04). A demonstration website has been set up to explain the practicalities.

In the United Kingdom the European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Act 2004 received Royal Assent on 1 April 2004. As a result, there will be all-postal voting pilot schemes in four regions at the EP elections. All-postal voting will also apply to any local authority or local council elections taking place in these regions. The four regions specified in the Act are:

• East Midlands;
• North East;
• North West; and
• Yorkshire & the Humber.

Political groups

One of the main issues of these elections will be the division of power between the right and the left in the new Parliament. Currently, the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats is the largest party, followed by the Party of European Socialists and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.

As a consequence of enlargement there will be new rules in place regarding the formation of political groups when Parliament reassembles in July. From 1 July 2004 Rule 29 of the Rules of Procedure will specify that there must be at least 16 MEPs elected in at least 5 Member States to form a political group.

(This contrasts with the current position where a political group must comprise Members from more than one Member State. The minimum number of Members required to form a political group shall be twenty-three if they come from two Member States, eighteen if they come from three Member States and fourteen if they come from four or more Member States.)

A new framework Regulation ((EC) No 2004/2003) for financing European political parties out of the Community budget was agreed in November 2003. It covers the conditions in which a political party may qualify for European political party status, rules relating to contributions from member parties and donations, and the use of funds for election campaigns while also laying down minimum standards of democratic conduct for such parties. Most of the rules provided for by the Regulation are due to enter force from the first plenary session after the Parliament reassembles in July. (see European Sources Online: In Focus Parties' funding overhaul set for Parliament backing, 19.06.03).

According to a recent study, published in April 2004, conducted on behalf of Burson-Marsteller. Europe's centre-right parties are likely to emerge as the largest political group in the EP after the election, on the back of a strong performance in Britain, Germany and Poland. (For the study see Predicting the Future: the next European Parliament [pdf] and press release President Cox launches European Election prediction - based on science, not opinion).

Policies and manifestos

Political groups are discussing the manifestos under which they will be campaigning in the forthcoming elections. At present European elections tend to be essentially national affairs with parties in each Member State running their own national campaigns and only coming together as part of a pan-European group once elected to Strasbourg. A BBC summary of an article in Le Monde of 15 April 2004 notes that 'many EU members are only now hastily preparing for the European Parliament election in June' and that in EU countries apart from Britain and Germany "European themes have been present in the domestic debates, but often only as afterthoughts tagged on to domestic issues".

• The new European Constitution re-emerged as an issue in March after a change of heart in Spain, which has a new socialist government, and Poland over their relative voting strengths in the enlarged EU. This has reignited the debate in the UK and will feature in the campaigns leading to the June elections with pressure on Tony Blair to allow a referendum on acceptance of any agreed Constitution (06.04.04: Blair's referendum must be on the Constitution (Jonathan Evans); 09.04.04: Kennedy backs Tory calls for euro poll)
• Support for eurosceptic groups in many countries looks strong and many are confident of gaining votes (Euroscepticism set to rise in Parliament, European Voice, 05.02.04). In Sweden a group of economists and a former central banker have launched the 'June list' with the aim of limiting the EU's powers and ensuring more decisions are taken at national level. (Party for EU sceptics launched in Sweden, Financial Times, 12.02.04)
• In the Netherlands Paul van Buitenen, whose actions led to the downfall of the Santer Commission has set up a new anti-fraud party 'Europatransparant'. Mr van Buitenen will publish his manifesto on 28 April in the form of a booklet called 'In the trenches'.
• At a ceremony in Rome in February 2004 the Green Party launched an EU wide campaign, the first of its kind, with common spokesmen, posters and policies across all 25 EU countries. (Greens launch first European party with the spirit of Rome)
• At the end of March 2004 the European Free Alliance (EFA) launched itself as a European political party at its General Assembly in Barcelona. The Party is made up of 30 autonomist and regionalist parties from across Europe, including Plaid Cymru, the Scottish National Party and MEPs from Flanders, Catalonia, the Basque region and Aragon. The group hopes to expand its representation in the EP in May, with the arrival of MEPs from the new Member States. The party will be known officially as the EFA and is set to continue in its alliance with the Greens to make up the fourth largest party in the EP. (Greens-EFA press release of 17 March; Organisation pour les Minorités Europeénnes press release of 30 March).
• European Socialists are expected to discuss their manifesto at a gathering in April.
• The European Liberal Democrat Reform Party's Manifesto for 2004 elections was approved Amsterdam in November 2003.
• In February 2004 the European People's Party issued an 'EPP Action Programme 2004-2009' and an 'EPP Manifesto 2004-2009' (Both documents downloadable from XVI Congress February 2004).

Pressure groups are preparing manifestos on specific issues:

• Green-8, a grouping of European environmental organisations in their Environmental manifesto for European elections 2004 [pdf] urges parties and politicians to give the environment the priority it deserves. This is backed up by the European Environment Bureau's statement.
• AGE, the European Older People's Platform have recommendations on age discrimination and better employment opportunities for older workers in their AGE Manifesto to the European elections.
• The European Anti-Poverty Network has issued a Manifesto for the European Parliament elections in a bid to reinforce the fight against poverty and social exclusion[pdf]
• The European Disability Forum's Manifesto adopted in November 2003 was addressed to the EP and all prospective election candidates.
• Youth organisations are making efforts to increase awareness among young people: The Young European Federalists are campaigning to Give Europe a Face and are organising an International seminar 'European Elections: the first time in the enlarged European Union'in Boskovice in the Czech Republic in May. The European Youth Forum have issued a Manifesto on June 2004 European Parliament elections. The European Students' Forum held a seminar on youth issues and the EP elections in March 2004 (see conclusions from the seminar), in preparation for which they prepared a movie concerning the EP Elections 2004.
• Other manifestos to have been published include the Conference of European Churches' Briefing Document for Churches [pdf] March 2004; the European Women's Lobby - women demand an equal share; and the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU's Manifesto [pdf].

Candidates

Electoral lists are being finalised in individual Member States. The European Voice article Election fever on the march across Europe as June looms, 05.02.04 provides a good starting point for a round-up of progress by country.

Act4Europe, the Civil Society Contact Group has produced two listings: NGO toolkit for the European Parliament elections [pdf] and Party contacts in Europe [pdf] both of which contain lists and further contact information about candidates and manifestos for all political parties in the 25 countries. Although primarily intended for civil society groups these documents are useful for anyone interested in keeping up with detailed data on the candidates, various political parties and their campaigns. They are being updated on a regular basis.

In the United Kingdom the Local Government Information Bureau has compiled a list of known candidates by region - Who's who in the June 2004 European Parliament elections. The UK office of the European Parliament's 2004 elections website Europe Counts will include candidate information once nominations have been approved by local authorities on 13 May (see Your candidate).

Further information on individual candidates and national party lists is available in the section Manifestos and candidates below. Other information on the campaign is appearing on a weekly basis in European Voice - see the listing in Further information within European Sources Online below and also on the BBC Online's website - see the listing in Other relevant external sites at the end of this paper.

Further information within European Sources Online

European Sources Online: The Economist

07.02.04:

Charlemagne: Free the Strasbourg 626: why ambitious young politicians are leaving the European Parliament

European Sources Online: European Voice

	01.04.04:	European People's Party deal opens door to sceptics
	11.03.04:	Liberals ponder 'marriage' to Free Alliance group
	04.03.04:	Czech party warns of Prague-Berlin rift over EPP veto threat
	04.03.04:	'Young Turks' leave Parliament but rising stars look set to shine
	04.03.04:	Federal big gins hold merger talks
	26.02.04:	Greens proud of historic European party
	26.02.04:	German MEPs anxious about touted union with Czech group
	26.02.04:	Question of the week (Paul van Buitenen and Europatransparant)
	26.02.04:	Secret talks could lead to federal group of 30 MEPs
	26.02.04:	Turnout will fall again 'unless voters grasp Parliament's role'
	19.02.04:	Parliament launches poll campaign in bid to boost turnout
	12.02.04:	Federalists in threat to split from EPP after Euro election
	12.02.04:	Tories stay in 'marriage of convenience' with EPP
	05.02.04:	Euroscepticism set to rise in Parliament
	05.02.04:	Election fever on the march across Europe as June looms
	05.02.04:	Centre-right split over call to ban former communists from top jobs
	05.02.04:	Election apathy 'will aid extremists'
	05.02.04:	Assembly acts as breeding ground for top politicians
	29.01.04:	MEP candidates urged to sign reform pledge
	20.11.03:	Plea for party quotas to boost number of female candidates
	20.11.03:	Liberals unveil manifesto for historic 2004 election
	13.11.03:	Call for greater gender balance at 2004 elections
	25.09.03:	Parliament campaign launched to improve EU election turnout
	19.06.03:	Parties' funding overhaul set for Parliament backing

Articles on election news are being added on a weekly basis from European Voice - search in 'Advanced Search' by inserting '“European Voice”' in the Series Title box under Publication Information combined with '2.7.b European Parliament: President, Political Groups and elections' under the Subject list and selecting dates as appropriate.

European Sources Online: Financial Times

	13.04.04:	Centre-right 'set for strong showing' in EU election
	12.02.04:	Party for EU sceptics launched in Sweden

European Sources Online: In Focus

20.02.03:

European Commission seeks to strengthen the position of pan-European parties

European Sources Online: Topic Guides

European Parliament

Further information can be seen in these external links:
(long-term access cannot be guaranteed)

EU Institutions

European Commission: DG Press and Communication: RAPID: Press Releases

	16.03.04:	Memo: enlargement and institutional changes
	29.01.04:	Towards the first European Parliament “enlarged elections”: participation of a further one million EU citizens living in outside their home country successfully guaranteed
	29.10.03:	Right to vote in EP elections in Gibraltar

European Commission: EUR-OP: EUR-LEX

08.04.03:

Communication from the Commission ... on measures to be taken by Member States to ensure participation of all citizens of the Union to the 2004 elections to the European Parliament in an enlarged Union COM(2003) 0174 final

European Commission: EUR-OP: EUR-LEX: Legislation in Force

	Parliament
	Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding Official Journal L 297, 15.11.2003 p1-4
	Council Decision (2002/772/EC, Euratom) amending the act concerning the election of representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, annexed to Decision 76/787/ECSC, EEC, Euratom of 20 September 1976 Official Journal L283, 21.10.02
	Council Directive 93/109/EC laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament for citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals Official Journal L329, 30.12.93, p34-38
	1976 Act concerning the election of the representatives of the Assembly by direct universal suffrage [consolidated version]

European Parliament

European Parliament elections 1999

European Parliament: Background Information

13.01.04:

2004 elections: key facts

European Parliament: Fact sheets

The European Parliament: electoral procedures

European Parliament: Ireland Office

	Home page
	Elections and results

European Parliament: UK Office

	Europe Counts (2004 elections website)
	News and Events
	06.04.04:	Estonian supermodel to stand in European elections

Manifestos and candidates

a) Political groupings

European parties

European Green Party

	Home page
	European Elections Manifesto 2004 [pdf] November 2003
	21.02.04:	Greens launch first European party with the spirit of Rome
	Candidates (Search list by party)

European Liberal Democrat Reform Party

	Homepage
	Manifesto for 2004 elections (approved Amsterdam, November 2003)
	ELDR candidates for 2004 European elections (search page, by country or party)

European Parliament

Political groups [links to the seven political groups in the current Parliament]

European People's Party

	Home page
	XVI Congress February 2004 from where it is possible to download: EPP Action Programme 2004-2009 EPP Manifesto 2004-2009

European Parliament: Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance

	Home page
	17.03.04:	New European Political Party to be founded in Barcelona

Organisation pour les Minorités Européennes

30.03.04:

European Free Alliance launch as political party

Party of European Socialists

Homepage

National parties

Czech Republic

KDU-CSL List of candidates (Czech)

Denmark

	Konservative Folkeparti Candidates (Danish)
	Folkebevaegelsen Candidates (Danish)

Sinn Féin

	European Union
	Election manifesto

Sweden

The June List (in Swedish)

United Kingdom: Conservative Party

	Conservatives in the European Parliament
	Conservative European Parliamentary Candidates
	06.04.04:	Blair's referendum must be on the Constitution (Jonathan Evans)

United Kingdom: Conservative Party: Scottish Conservatives

European Elections 2004

United Kingdom: Labour Party

11.01.04:

Labour announces candidates for European Parliament

United Kingdom: Liberal Democrats

	European selections
	Pre-Manifesto September 2003
	Scottish Liberal Democrats

United Kingdom: London elects

European Election

United Kingdom: UK Independence Party

2004 Euro-election candidates

b) Pressure groups

Act4Europe (The European Volunteer Centre)

	Home page
	NGO toolkit for the European Parliament elections Civil Society and the European Parliament elections 2004 What is at stake? [pdf]
	Party contacts in Europe [pdf] (links to candidates and manifestos)

Age Concern

Older voters in the 2004 European elections: the most influential group

AGE European Older People's Platform

AGE Manifesto to the European elections (2004) [pdf]

CONCORD

A strong agenda for development co-operation in the new Europe in NGO toolkit for the European Parliament elections pp. 20-26

Conference of European Churches

European Parliament Elections 2004: Briefing Document for Churches [pdf] March 2004

European Anti-Poverty Network

	Manifesto for the European Parliament elections [pdf]
	27.01.04:	European Election Campaign 2004 Voices of millions of people facing poverty must be heard [pdf]

European Disability Forum

Manifesto - to the European Parliament and all prospective election candidates November 2003

European Environmental Bureau

EEB statement on the European Parliament elections 2004 [pdf]

European Students' Forum

	26.03.04:	The significance of youth voices - conclusions from the seminar
	Movie concerning the EP Elections 2004 March 2004

European Women's Lobby

10.10.03:

European elections 2004: women demand an equal share

European Youth Forum

	A promise to youth - a promise to keep. European Youth Forum Manifesto for the 6th Direct Elections to the European Parliament (June 2004) [pdf] November 2003
	Manifesto on June 2004 European Parliament elections (press release)

Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU

Manifesto [pdf]

Green-8

Environmental manifesto for European elections 2004 [pdf]

Young European Federalists

	2004 elections JEF campaign - Give Europe a Face
	International seminar 'European Elections: the first time in the enlarged European Union' in Boskovice, Czech Republic, 15-22 May 2004

National and local government sources

Estonian National Electoral Committee

Electoral timetable

Ireland: Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

	European Parliament: how Ireland's representatives are elected [pdf]
	25.02.04:	Government confirms nationwide electronic voting in June
	Electronic voting (demonstration)

Ireland: Houses of the Oireachtas: Joint Committee on European Affairs

Consideration of .. Statute and financing of political parties

Latvia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

	01.01.03:	Latvia commences preparations for 2004 European Parliament elections
	06.04.04:	Information on voting in the elections to the European Parliament

Poland: Institute of Public Affairs

Elections to the European Parliament 2004: voter attendance and significance to the Polish electorate and political landscape [pdf] by Falkowski, Mateusz Analyses and Opinions No.11, June 2003

United Kingdom: Department for Constitutional Affairs

	Home page
	Electoral process
	How the voting system works [pdf]
	21.01.04:	Two more regions for all-postal voting trial

United Kingdom: Electoral Commission

	Elections: policy and law
	Elections to the European Parliament
	What's new
	13.02.04:	Regulated period for European Parliamentary elections announced
	28.08.03:	Gibraltar should join South-West for elections to European Parliament
	2004 European Parliamentary elections (guide for candidates)
	Toolkit Document listing
	Public opinion and the 2004 elections October 2003

United Kingdom: HMSO: Acts of Parliament

	European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Act 2004
	European Parliament (Representation) Act 2003

United Kingdom: HMSO: Statutory Instruments

The European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004 SI 293/2004, March 2004

United Kingdom: House of Commons Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation

29.03.04:

Draft European Parliament (Disqualification) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) and Draft European Parliament (Number of MEPs) (United Kingdom and Gibraltar) Orders 2004

United Kingdom: Local Government Information Bureau

	18.03.04:	It's my party (regional and nationalist parties)
	The LGIB guide to the 2004 European elections
	Who's who in the June 2004 European Parliament elections

United Kingdom: London Elects

European Election

United Kingdom: Lord Chancellor's Department

08.05.03:

Press release: European Parliament (Representation) Act

United Kingdom: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

	Combining English LA, GLA and European Parliament elections in 2004: consultation
	Electoral pilots at the CEP and local elections. Consultation paper [pdf] 2003

Other relevant external sites

BBC News Online

	Europe home page
	16.04.04:	Polish bishops warn over EU polls
	15.04.04:	European press review: a French daily assesses the state of preparedness of EU members for June's European Parliament elections (le Monde)
	08.04.04:	Davies makes Euro comeback (Forward Wales party candidate)
	31.03.04:	Analysis: Tories Euro tactics
	30.03.04:	France's Eurorebel 'with a cause' (Philippe de Villiers)
	30.03.04:	Green campaign for Euro elections (Scotland)
	29.03.04:	Leaders draw EU battle lines (Blair-Howard)
	26.03.04:	Blair's EU constitution challenge
	20.03.04:	Bishop warns against BNP vote
	15.03.04:	Britain's new party goes online
	06.03.04:	Mayor is choice for Europe (Martin Morgan, SDLP)
	05.03.04:	Man-in-white stands for Euro seat
	05.03.04:	Anti-BNP front launches campaign
	25.02.04:	DUP opts for Allister
	22.02.04:	Greens launch Europe-wide party
	20.02.04:	Greens unveil Euro candidates (Scotland)
	20.02.04:	New Tory Arbroath 'declaration'
	02.02.04:	UK apathy deepens on Euro vote
	02.01.04:	UKIP and Greens gear up for vote
	21.11.03:	The EU's democratic challenge

Burson-Marsteller

	13.04.04:	Predicting the Future: the next European Parliament [pdf] by Simon Hix and Michael Marsh
	13.04.04:	President Cox launches European Election prediction - based on science, not opinion 'Predicting the Future: the Next European Parliament' (press release)

EUobserver.com

EP - elections 2004

EURACTIV

European Parliament elections 2004

European Policy Centre

	03.03.04:	Taking Europe's voters seriously
	27.02.04:	Possibilities for European Parties: 2004 and beyond

Epolitix.com

09.04.04:

Kennedy backs Tory calls for euro poll

icWales

05.04.04:

Euro elections 'will test public opinion on constitution'

Institute for Citizenship

Get the vote out

Parties and elections in Europe

Homepage

Politics.ie (Irish Politics Website)

European Elections 2004

Radio Free Europe

	EU: European Parliament preparing for historic election
	06.10.03:	Hungary's Fidesz signs pact with Romany Party

University College Dublin

	The determinant of turnout/abstention in European Parliament elections - a summary of research findings and a framework for policy development" [pdf] (April 2003)
	Democratic participation and political communication in systems of multi-level governance" (Fifth Framework Research Programme)
	'Surge and decline' in European parliament elections: A new challenge for a classic theory of electoral change" [pdf] (2000)

Journal and newspaper articles

Hix, Simon
Possibilities for European Parties: 2004 and beyond [pdf]
London School of Economics

Mast, Natalie
Squeezing the Minor Parties: EU Expansion and New Rules in the European Parliament [pdf]
Journal of European Affairs Vol.1, No.1, August 2003 p9-12

Cabinet to press ahead on e-voting in EU and local polls, Irish Times, 25.02.04

Searching for further information

To trace further web and print sources on the European Parliament elections carry out an 'Advanced Search' in European Sources Online by inserting '2.7.b European Parliament: President, Political Groups and elections' under the Subject list and combining with dates as appropriate.

Rohan Bolton
Researcher
Compiled: 16 April 2004

Background and reporting on the week's main stories in the European Union and the wider Europe.