Have you ever heard of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament?
From their job title, it’s clear that they play a crucial role in Parliament and must be important political figures. 
But do you know what the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament really do, who they are and how they are elected?

Jargon Jungle: the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament

It’s time to vote! Between 6 and 9 June this year, millions of EU citizens will help shape the future of the European Union by voting in the European elections. The European Parliament is the only directly elected EU body and the European elections are one of the biggest democratic events in the world. Join us in this episode as we’ll give some tips on how to find reliable sources in the running - up to the elections.

The European elections explained: how to find reliable sources

European elections represent a crucial moment: they give EU citizens a say in the political direction of the European Union. After declining ever since the first European direct elections in 1979, electoral turn out increased in the 2019 elections to reach 50.6 % largely due to youth participation (according to a post-election Eurobarometer survey). Echoing the 2019 motto 'This time I'm voting', the 2024 one might be: 'I did it again!' The 2024 European elections could be a turning point for youth engagement for several reasons

EPRS Policy Podcast - Young Europeans go to the polls: Issues to watch in 2024

Launch of the 20 KM of Brussels race

Fottball tournament with player Amadou Onana

Europe Direct Information centres. Annual general meeting. Meet, Ask, Discuss and join the European Elections Campaign!- Interinstitutional cooperation on the elections – panel discussions

Europe Direct Information centres. Annual general meeting. Meet, Ask, Discuss and join the European Elections Campaign!

' Results of the Eurobarometer Survey : Democracy on the move - One year before the 2019 European Elections '

European Election Ballot

EE2014 - Athens - A man walks in front of a European election campaign kiosk of leader of Democratic Left party Fotis Kouvelis in Athens.

After carefully reviewing candidates, your representatives in the European Parliament have approved the next EU Commission, the bloc’s executive body.
Ursula von der Leyen put forward her new team after being re-elected as Commission President in July. Members of Parliament gave it the green light following a debate in Strasbourg on 27 November.
Earlier in November, MEPs questioned the prospective Commissioners at special confirmation hearings to assess their skills and track records.
The Commission works on proposing policies and laws central to the lives of 450 million Europeans. Parliament will now keep a close eye on its members, to make sure they deliver on voters’ needs and expectations.

How the European Parliament approved the new EU Commission 9:16

How the European Parliament approved the new EU Commission 16:9

The European Parliament is encouraging people from across the EU to get involved in the democratic process.

Together.eu is a community powered by the European Parliament where you can meet - online and offline - people who care about democracy and make your voice heard on European issues.

Like Mireya in Madrid and Cille in Denmark, together.eu volunteers from across the EU meet, debate, exchange ideas and organise events to highlight what EU institutions do for citizens and why democratic participation is vital.

Meet your community and join them on together.eu.

Get involved in strengthening EU democracy! Meet Mireya and Cille

What’s better than a chat about democracy? A chat about democracy with a free coffee!
Meet Cille, a together.eu volunteer who set up a coffee truck in Copenhagen to encourage democratic participation in the EU. 
Together with her team, she organises EU-related events throughout the year to get people talking about what the EU can do for them and how EU institutions play a role in everyone’s life. 
Together.eu is a community of people who care about the EU and its future. By supporting the together.eu community, the European Parliament is encouraging people from across the EU to get involved in the democratic process.

Boosting democratic participation with Cille, a together.eu volunteer 9:16

In June, millions of Europeans turned out to vote in the world's largest transnational election. Now the votes have been counted and new MEPs elected, let’s see what the new European Parliament looks like. How many MEPs are there in each political group? How many MEPs are there per country? Who did they elect as President of the European Parliament and European Commission?

What is the composition of the new European Parliament?

In June, millions of Europeans turned out to vote in the world's largest transnational election. Now the votes have been counted and new MEPs elected, let’s see what the new European Parliament looks like. 
 
How many MEPs are there in each political group? How many MEPs are there per country? Who did they elect as President of the European Parliament and European Commission?

What is the composition of the new European Parliament ? - 9:16

In July 2024, the European Parliament confirmed Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as Commission President. She’ll lead a team of commissioners – one from each EU country – who will propose and monitor the implementation of EU laws over the next five years.    
 
Electing the President of the European Commission is one of the first jobs of the Parliament after the European elections. 
    
The leaders of EU countries nominate a candidate for Commission President taking into account the results of the European elections.    
   
The candidate needs to receive approval from Parliament with the support of a majority of its component Members plus one in a secret vote.   
   
If the candidate does not receive the required majority, the European Council must propose an alternate candidate within a month.   
   
To learn more: https://elections.europa.eu/en/commission-president/

European Parliament re-elects von der Leyen as Commission President

Who is Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament who was elected for a second time in July 2024? How was she chosen and what is her role? 
 
Every two and a half years, the European Parliament selects someone to represent it when dealing with other EU institutions and the wider world. Parliament’s President is elected in a secret ballot that takes place in the first plenary session after the elections.
 
The candidate who receives the absolute majority of the votes cast gets the post. 
 
The President also directs Parliament’s activities, chairs plenary sessions and declares the EU budget finally adopted. The role also includes setting out Parliament’s point of view at the beginning of every European Council meeting. 
 
Check our article to learn more: https://elections.europa.eu/en/parliament-president/

European election

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