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DRAFT REPORT (2025/2012(INI))

On the stock-taking of the European elections 2024

AFCO-PR-768033

Committee on Constitutional Affairs · Rapporteur: Ľubica Karvašová

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This draft report takes stock of the 2024 European elections and proposes reforms to strengthen European democracy, increase participation, and protect electoral integrity. It calls for harmonising electoral rules, including a uniform voting age and common voting day, and for empowering European political parties. It urges stronger action against foreign interference and disinformation, and stresses the need to protect media freedom and combat political violence.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes a resolution that welcomes the 2024 election turnout, calls for electoral reform and stronger action against disinformation, and urges treaty changes to enhance democracy.

Key points

  1. Welcomes the 50.74% turnout in the 2024 European elections, the highest in 25 years, but notes wide variation among member states.
  2. Calls for increased efforts to boost participation of young people and under-represented groups, including alternative voting methods.
  3. Reiterates support for the 2022 proposal for a new European electoral law and calls for its swift approval by the Council.
  4. Regrets that rules for 'mobile citizens' were not adopted in time and calls for removing barriers to their voting rights.
  5. Supports the lead candidate process and proposes direct election of the Commission President to increase accountability.
  6. Calls for empowering European political parties by revising Regulation 1141/2014 to allow them to campaign effectively.
  7. Urges the European Council to convene a convention to discuss treaty changes, including reversing roles of Council and Parliament in Commission President nomination.
  8. Condemns foreign interference and disinformation, especially from Russia, and calls for full implementation of the Digital Services Act.
  9. Calls for strengthening media freedom and combating political violence, including attacks on journalists and politicians.
  10. Condemns the rise of anti-EU parties and hate speech, urging constructive dialogue and proactive communication about EU benefits.
  11. Commits to evaluating legal frameworks through the Democracy Shield committee and calls on the Commission to enforce regulations fully.

Who is affected

  • EU citizens, especially young people and under-represented groups, who are encouraged to participate in European elections.
  • Mobile citizens (EU citizens living in another member state) face barriers to voting; the report calls for their removal.
  • European political parties are restricted by current rules; the report calls for their empowerment.
  • Online platforms, including X, are urged to comply with EU regulations to prevent disinformation and interference.

Figures and deadlines

  • 50.74% turnout in 2024 European elections, up from 50.66% in 2019.
  • Turnout ranged from 89.01% in Belgium to 21.35% in Croatia.
  • Two million additional eligible voters under 18 due to lowered voting age in Belgium and Germany.
  • Up to 25 million young people voted for the first time.
  • Youth turnout (under 25) fell from 42% in 2019 to 36% in 2024.
  • Around 18,400 candidates and 490 candidate lists stood in the elections.
  • Around 11 million EU citizens living in another member state were eligible to vote.
  • EUR 43 million worth of advertising was achieved for free in 2024.

Legal basis: Articles 10, 14 and 17(7) TEU; Articles 20 and 22 TFEU; Articles 21, 39 and 52(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights.