Stock-taking of the European elections 2024
TA-10-2025-0198 · P10_TA(2025)0198 · PE768.033
- Adopted in plenary on · Adopted 388–186–34 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2025/2012
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This resolution takes stock of the 2024 European elections, noting the highest turnout in 25 years at 50.74%, and calls for reforms to make EU elections more democratic, inclusive, and resilient against disinformation and foreign interference.¶¶¶ It urges the Council to act on pending electoral reforms, including a common voting day, uniform minimum voting age, and rules for mobile citizens, and supports the lead candidate process and stronger European political parties.¶¶¶ It condemns disinformation, foreign interference, political violence, and the rise of anti-EU parties, and calls for enforcing existing laws like the Digital Services Act and the regulation on political advertising.¶¶¶ It highlights concerns about democratic backsliding in Hungary and calls for measures to increase participation of young people, women, persons with disabilities, and minorities.¶¶¶
Key points
- Welcomes the 50.74% turnout in the 2024 European elections, the highest in 25 years, but notes wide variation among member states and calls for efforts to close the gap.¶¶
- Calls for a cultural shift and long-term strategy to strengthen European awareness and citizenship, and for national parties and media to inform citizens about EU governance.¶
- Urges member states to adopt policies to increase participation of under-represented groups, including young people, minorities, and persons with disabilities, and to fight racism and discrimination.¶
- Stresses that elections in Hungary might not have been fair, citing the OSCE finding of 'absence of a level playing field', and expresses concern about requests to lift MEPs' immunity.¶
- Calls for revising the EU electoral framework, including a single common voting day and uniform minimum voting age, and urges the Council to approve pending reforms.¶
- Regrets that rules for 'mobile citizens' were not adopted in time and calls on member states to remove barriers, including by enabling postal voting and ensuring access for elderly and disabled.¶
- Supports the lead candidate process and calls for making the appointment of the Commission President more transparent and accountable, possibly through direct election.¶
- Welcomes the agreement on the recast of the regulation on European political parties and calls for strengthening their role and that of political foundations.¶¶
- Calls on member states to ban foreign donations to political parties and candidates and to require reporting of such contributions.¶
- Condemns disinformation and foreign interference, including by Russian actors, and calls for a coordinated strategy to combat them, enforcing existing laws like the DSA.¶¶¶
- Condemns political violence and the rise of anti-EU parties, urging all political actors to engage in fact-based dialogue and respect democratic values.¶¶
- Calls for strengthening media freedom and cybersecurity, and for evaluating frameworks through the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- EU citizens, especially young people, women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and 'mobile citizens' living in another member state.¶¶¶
- National political parties and candidates in European elections, who are called on to inform citizens about EU governance and increase European visibility.¶¶
- European political parties and foundations, which are to be strengthened and given more resources.¶¶
- Online platforms and social media companies, which are urged to comply with EU regulations on disinformation and political advertising.¶¶¶
- The Hungarian government and MEPs, who are criticised for democratic backsliding and engagement with Kremlin-sponsored narratives.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 50.74% turnout in the 2024 European elections, up from 50.66% in 2019.¶¶
- Turnout ranged from 89.01% to 21.35% among member states.
- Two million additional eligible voters below 18 due to lowered voting age in some member states.¶
- Up to 25 million young people voted for the first time.
- Young people's turnout fell from 42% in 2019 to 36% in 2024.¶
- Around 18,400 candidates and 490 candidate lists stood in the elections.¶
- Women hold approximately 38.6% of seats, down from 40% in 2019.¶
- Young Europeans under 30 occupy only 10% of Parliament seats, while constituting 25% of the EU population.¶