Eurothinkers is the blog of the Centre for European Studies, the official think-tank of the EPP.

Currently citizens are engaging in alternate methods of participation in politics. Protest votes, citizen abstention and the increase of voter distrust towards politics mark this phenomenon.

The Centre for European Studies aspires to be a vital tool in connecting citizens with the policy makers, this blog being a perfect example.

These trends proliferate from the disaffection which citizens feel towards the traditional forms of political participation. Social mobilization has thus become a day-to-day phenomenon in the media and politics. Do these changes translate into a growing disinterest of the citizens towards politics? Rather do they not reveal a certain disenchantment with the current organisation of representative democracy? In this campaign, Europeans must be informed through numerous modes of communication, of the policy issues being tackled on European level particularly in terms of the concrete solutions and concrete achievements Europe can offer. Europeans are currently faced with extraordinary and uncertain times posing an even greater challenge than could have been imagined to the upcoming elections. If average voter turnout drops to the projected thirty percentage mark it might reflect disinterest and disengagement of Europeans from the Union’s institutions. It might alternatively reflect dissolution, lack of adequate knowledge, or a protest against unpopular national governments. The constant decrease of participation since the 1979 European Parliament elections, calls for a thorough pan-European debate which aims to find a new consensus and define a Europe which is able to meet its citizen’s needs.

The question is not how ineffective the EU may turn out to be if voters abstain but, instead, how to mobilize voters. The EPP’s strategy aiming to secure voter turnout in the framework of the three D’s: Dialogue, Debate and Democracy is an excellent starting point. In view of the current financial and economic crisis, the debate should focus on ways of creating prosperity for everyone as well as highlighting initiatives which are taken at the Community level to make Europe a safer place, without forgetting the challenges of an aging Europe. The EU can address these issues with a supranational strategy which national governments cannot provide. Appealing to the young and old, the rich and poor, men and women, the unemployed and entrepreneurs, the election campaign aims to encompass the widest range of citizens possible in order to boost voter interest. Citizens must be given a reason to vote, they must exercise their responsibility and participate. This can only be achieved if that individual believes in the democratic system in addition to believing that their vote will actually have an effect on their life.

The run-up to the European elections involves a vicious cycle of sorts, where communication, awareness, engagement, dialogue and debate are all linked and inter-reliant. A tricky balancing act between these elements needs to be performed by those in power in order to achieve the utmost results, whilst remembering that dialogue does not only involve speaking but also listening.

In the upcoming months, CES will introduce its first ever poll whereby citizens will have the opportunity to express their opinions on topical issues to their European leaders, and we will head a number of pioneer initiatives to build a consistent bidirectional bridge between European citizens and European processes of policies.

Whilst it is essential to inform citizens of their rights and duties, time must be found to listen to their opinions thus making civil dialogue more democratic.

Europe is not experiencing a political crisis as such, but a shift in the political modus vivendi.

We invite you to actively participate in this blog to make of this shift an opportunity to make your voice heard. Your opinion matters.

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