Where are the Europeans?

 

Seven Europeans countries will hold referendums to approve the first unions constitution, but does Europe really care about Europe? The last European parliamentary elections cast serious doubts on the future of this super-democracy.

On Bastille Day, in his traditional annual speech French President Jacques Chirac announced that in 2005 his government would organize a referendum on the European constitution. Ireland, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Denmark will also subject this constitution to the approval of their population, while Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Greece and Germany will place the fate of the constitution in the hands of their parliaments. The 11 other countries have not decided yet who will approve or veto the constitution.

While it is unlikely that a majority of citizens will vote against the constitution, Chiracs decision, as well as that of other government leaders, in light of recent European elections, will have consequences in the vision and the future of the Union.

Last May, ten new countries joined the European Union, bringing the number of Member States to 25. It was the largest expansion since the Unions creation in 1951. At this point, Victor Hugos vision of the United States of Europe was well underway. Less than six weeks later, on June 13, 2004, the European citizens were asked to vote for their representatives in the European Parliament, an institution that presently holds great power over the economy and the future of its members. Only 45.5% of registered voters went to the polls: less than one out of two voters. These elections have confirmed the downward trend in voters participation where European Elections are concerned.

While democracy is an unattainable goal in many countries today, Europeans have the chance to live in democratic countries where they can exercise their right to vote and choose the orientation of the Unions policy. Most Europeans did not exercise this right. Who is to blame? The voters, the media or the politicians?

Every December 31st, thousands of French citizens line up outside city halls waiting to register to vote. If they fail to register, they are not allowed to vote the following year. Why wait until the last day to register? Civic duty tends to lose much of its importance in long-established democracies. As Kimiko de Freytas wrote in her article Euro Foot, Euro Elections, this lack of responsibility toward democracy "caused the leader of the Extreme Right Party Jean-Marie Le Pen to be the opposing candidate to President Jacques Chirac," in the second round of the French 2002 presidential elections.

Only after this shocking event, which saw hundreds of international journalists rush to France, did voters realize the importance of elections. The second round attracted 75% of voters.

Analysts and journalists thought that Le Pens success would be a wake-up call for citizens. Two years later they have been proven wrong.

Only 20.4% of Poles went to the polls. 38.9% of English, 43% of French and Germans. In the 15 old member-states, only 47.1% of registered voters took the time to vote. Only Belgium and Luxembourg managed to get 9 voters out of 10, but voting in these two countries is mandatory. Greece also has mandatory voting, as it was the case in other recent elections, but only 62.8% of Greeks went to vote. In the ten new member-states, this number fell to 26.4%.

In fact, the participation rate in European elections has been declining since 1979 when it reached 67%.

What make the voters fail to go to the voting booths? The results of this years election bring a tentative answer. CNN reported on the day following the elections that "voters across Europe have punished ruling parties in the first European Union parliamentary elections since expansion." Almost all opposition parties were favoured by the voters. Why is that?

A close study of the weeks preceding the elections shows that in many countries the focus of the press and of the politicians was not on Europe but mainly on punishing the governments in power. In France, the voters were called to send a second wake-up call to Chiracs government after the regional elections of April.

Britain and Italy were punished for their support of the Iraq war. In Germany, it was Chancellor Schroeders economic policy that was sanctioned in these elections.

National politics were the focus of these European elections, and the press picked up on these messages, taking even more coverage away from the real meanings of these elections.

The European Union is a community of countries and citizens who share the same values, history and destiny. By uniting themselves in an economic and social union, these countries become one entity capable of maintaining their competitiveness and political importance on the international scene.

However, some see this union as a threat to national sovereignty, sparking a rise in the success of anti-Euro political parties, especially in the United Kingdom where a majority of the population is skeptical of the Union.

Yet no matter which parties win these elections, citizens need to understand the importance of voting. They need to take the time to go to the polls to exercise this fundamental right.

Moreover, politicians need to talk about Europe; they have to explain the importance of the Union and what influence it has on everyones life. European elections should not be the pretext for political punishment on the one side or political advancement on the other.

When all that fails, the media has to play its role of Fourth Estate by making Europe the issue.

The 2005 elections will be the next test for the European Union. With at least seven referendums organized to approve the European Constitution, the results, as well as the participation rate, will tell us our future as citizens of Europe.