The Importance of European Elections

On June 9th, the European elections will take place, which are intended to elect the 705 deputies that make up the European Parliament (EP). The election of MEPs by universal, direct and secret vote took place, for the first time, between the 7th and 10th of June 1979, with an electorate of around 191.8 million voters, belonging to 9 member states, and had a voter turnout of 63%. This was the beginning of the European elections.

From that time until today, every 5 years, the voting citizens of the EU member states, today 27, are called upon to fulfil their civic rights and duties.

The School has a fundamental role in training, informing and raising awareness among students about the informed exercise of their right to vote. Participating in these specific elections must be understood by them as a moment that happens every 5 years, in which all voters will be able to collectively decide on the future of the European Union. 

The School must demonstrate to students, ensuring that they disseminate it to their families and peers, that the results of the European elections have a relevant impact on the daily lives of all citizens and institutions of the European Union, especially after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, which strengthened the legislative powers of the European Parliament. 

The School must teach students that the legislation produced by the EP has repercussions on the lives of all EU citizens, on an increasing number of subjects, such as: migration, the energy network, the environment, security, social policies or consumer rights. 

The School is also responsible for demonstrating that voting is a powerful weapon available to everyone and that it can effectively shape the future in the way the majority desires. The vote is the sovereignty of the people in action and, when used, it reinforces democracy, a fragile political regime, but the one that best defends the dignity of the human person. The more people vote and get involved in public life, the stronger democracy will be. The European Union increasingly needs to be strong and cohesive to provide the best response to the globalization of economies and the digitalization of society in general. Unity is strength!

Ourém Vocational School, therefore, associates itself with this date, and in addition to its students using the first Europe Day Celebration kit, on May 9th, within Jean Monnet Network of VET Schools EURO4VET project, it is actively promoting a campaign to appeal to voters in upcoming elections in June, as can be seen in the attached photo.

Here are some testimonies from students about the importance that the European elections have for them.

"In my opinion, the European Elections are quite important, as these elections represent the opportunity for citizens of all member states to choose representatives for the European Parliament. These representatives have influence on legislative decisions that directly or indirectly affect the lives of citizens, such as economic policy, citizens' rights and also external relations, among other areas. I consider it important to choose the appropriate representatives, as it is crucial to ensure that citizens' voices and interests are properly represented in decisions that affect our lives. I consider that voting in European elections is a fundamental act of citizenship, which allows everyone to shape the future of the European Union!

"Although I wasn't born in Europe, I live here and I believe, like many foreigners, that here we will have more opportunities and new experiences.  We've all come in search of a fair and beneficial land for everyone and I believe that the role of the elections is to elect not just people, but an idea, a hope for an even better Europe."

“The European elections are of high importance to me, because they reflect democratic values, and allow collaboration between countries to influence the future of the European Union, promoting justice, social values ​​and unity. They represent the voices of European citizens and are crucial to strengthening ties between the countries of the union, leading countries towards a better and more prosperous future.”

“In my opinion, people should vote in the European elections because many rules that apply to us are created by the bodies of the European Union and not by the ones of each member state, in areas that affect the lives of millions of people. Therefore, we consider that it is very important to have a responsible and politically aware attitude when voting to elect our representatives.”

“In my opinion, the European elections are important because we need to choose the members of the European Parliament so that, together, they can make important decisions on the economy, energy and development of the member states. Voting is our way of indirectly collaborating in these decision-making”

“Participating in European elections represents the opportunity for European citizens to choose representatives, who will make decisions on behalf of the European Union that directly affect the future of millions of people. Voting is exercising Democracy, which must be protected and cherished.”