In about two weeks it is time to gather to the ballot boxes again, this time to vote new members for the European Parliament. The elections will be held in all 28 member countries at the same time, and it will be one of the largest democratic events in the world. However, when you are young and have plenty of other things in your mind (final exams, need I say more?) it’s not always easy to be in the know when it comes to politics. The concepts may seem difficult, all the parliamentary members look like dinosaurs, and you can’t help asking yourself if you’re the only one who doesn’t understand a word of all the political jargon. Needless to say, young adults aren’t the most active and enthusiastic voters. Only 29 percent of Europeans aged between 18 and 24 voted in the last European elections while the average voter turnout was 43 percent. Especially the European elections might seem too distant to get a hold of, and thus many people find it is easier to not vote at all than to try and figure out what it’s all about. What does it matter what they decide in Brussels, anyway? However, you might be surprised if you knew how much the European Parliament actually affects your life. Here are some reasons why you should take interest in the elections now and cast your vote.
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- Did you know that right now only 35 percent of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are female and only 126 seats out of the total of 751 are held by MEPs under the age of 40? Youth unemployment is a serious problem all over the Union at the moment and during the next five-year-term it will be determined how this is going to be tackled. Support your own – show that you care and cast your vote to someone who cares, too.
- Interested in your international prospects? How do you think the future of the freedom of movement will look like? How would you like it to look like? The Parliament is the one responsible for making decisions about how easy it is to travel, work or study within the Union. So far it has stressed that the financial crisis is not an excuse to restrict the freedom of movement and made sure that attempts to reintroduce controls within the EU’s internal borders are only allowed temporarily, under strict conditions and as a measure of last resort. If you dream of studying in England, spending a long holiday in Italy or applying for an internship in Paris and would like the borders to be open for you in the future, too, make sure that there will be members in the Parliament who value the same things and want you to have these opportunities.
- Want to have both a job and unspoilt nature to enjoy on your time off? One of the major issues in the Parliament at the moment is how to make EU’s economics robust but also ecologically sustainable. If we don’t stop global warming now, it will soon have some serious consequences – not only for the nature itself but also to us humans and our living conditions. Still, the financial crisis that started in 2007 and the Eurozone crisis beginning in 2010 have shaken our businesses and left us in serious need for new jobs. The Parliament has to resolve soon how economic growth can be combined with environmental protection. Think ahead and vote for the future.
- Love that your friends come from all sorts of backgrounds? The extreme right has gained popularity in many of the member countries, including Finland, in the past few years, and they are expected to win the most number of votes in many countries. When our economy is collapsing, it is understandable to be worried about your job, all the austerity measures that are to be executed and migration from abroad. However, that is also fertile ground for xenophobic and racist comments. What we need right now is finding solutions, not pointing our finger at anybody. Say no to hate speech and vote for a more open-minded and tolerant Europe.
- Ready to breathe new life into the Parliament? It is time to change things for the better and get some new and fresh ideas into our politics. Be the change you want to see in the future. Be the start of a more positive Europe.
In Finland the European Parliament Elections will be held on Sunday 25 May 2014. You can vote in advance between 14 and 20 May.
For more information, visitOpen Society FoundationsEuropean Elections 2014
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