Parliament’s Press Service organises a briefing for media on the practical details for covering the elections. It covers Parliament’s main legislative achievements during its ninth term, as well as unfinished business to be dealt with by the new Parliament. Media also is provided with practical information on the three key events in the run-up to the elections: One month to go (9 May); Eurovision debate with the lead candidates for the EU Commission Presidency (23 May); and Election night (9 June). The European Parliament’s 9th legislature - main legislative highlights and unfinished business by Jaume Duch Guillot, EP Spokesperson. Election events planned in May and June - Practical arrangements for the media by Neil Corlett, Press Service and Thibault Lesenecal, Audiovisual Service.

Brussels

statement

press conference

DUCH GUILLOT, Jaume (ES)

2024 European elections (T)

EE2024 campaign material (T)

2024 European Election campaign briefing: Main legislative highlights and unfinished business by Jaume Duch Guillot, EP Spokesperson; and election events planned in May and June by Neil Corlett, Press Service and Thibault Lesenecal, AV Service

SOUNDBITE (English), Neil Corlett, Press Service, Good morning, everyone. My name is Neil Corlett. I'm Head of Parliament's Press Service and I'm very happy to welcome you all this morning to the briefing on what happens between now and the elections, as well as the practical arrangements for registering for election night and the lead candidates debate. This briefing is also being streamed on Parliament's website and EBS, if you wish to watch it again. If you are unable to attend, but you wish to ask a question online, you can connect via interactive to the link was in the media advisory. We have interpretation today into English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Polish. If you wish to choose the correct channel. If you wish to ask a question online, please ensure you have a good quality microphone and turn on your camera so the interpreters can understand you clearly. All questions will be taken at the end of the briefing.

SOUNDBITE (English), Neil Corlett, Press Service, For those present here in the room, a press kit like this one, is available with copies of the media advisories, which we will be publishing later this morning that contains the information and links that we will present to you now, as well as a list of the proposals to be inherited by the next Parliament and a helpful infographics summarising all the electoral dates and rules in the 27 Member States. You'll also find a QR code linking to the elections press kit with all the information relevant to follow the pre and post election period. Parliament's legislative work over the past five years and useful links and press contacts to the European political groups and European political parties.

SOUNDBITE (English), Neil Corlett, Press Service, 'For those online, please make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list to receive a copy of the Media Advisory about Election night. If you received the invitation to this briefing, you are. If not, you can register online via the news section of Parliament's website or contact one of the press team. Details are also on the website. So as promised, at the media briefing that we held in February, marking 100 days to go, this is the follow-up briefing and the last one before the elections themselves. Now that we have more details to share with you, both for the debates with the lead candidates and the election night itself.

SOUNDBITE (English), Neil Corlett, Press Service, 'As you know, Parliament's legislative work is not finished following last week's plenary session in Strasbourg, and we are now in the home straight to the elections with just 41 days to go. So I'd like to now begin with a brief look-back at the key moments of the ninth legislative and the so-called unfinished business, which will have to be taken up by the next Parliament that takes office in July. So, now I give the floor and Duch, Parliament's I invite Jaume Spokesperson and Director General of communication to take the floor.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jaume Duch Guillot, EP Spokesperson, Thank you all very much, Neil. Welcome, everyone. Thank you for joining us today as we launch into the final phase of our communication campaign for the next European elections. Last Thursday, 25th April, Parliament completed the last plenary of this term of this legislature. Today, we shift our focus from the legislative work to mobilising voters for the elections, officially launching the final phase of our institutional campaign.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jaume Duch Guillot, EP Spokesperson, In this final phase, we want to accomplish two things. First, to inform citizens about the importance of these elections, and secondly, to encourage them to to vote. My colleagues and myself will guide you through what's going to happen during the next 38 days, five weeks, including the revision debate of the Commission presidency candidates, What's planned for Europe Day in all Member States, 9th of May, mark your calendars, and of course the Organisation of the Elections night. We will also share some elements on protection against foreign interference and disinformation. As you all know, both are already very present in our public sphere and the communication surrounding the upcoming elections are obviously a target.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jaume Duch Guillot, EP Spokesperson, First, let's look at the last five years very briefly. As President Metsola said at the beginning of the last plenary session in Strasbourg, this legislature has been, yes, a difficult but also a very beneficial one. The term started with Brexit and was heavily impacted first by the pandemic and then by the Russian war against Ukraine. On these occasions the reaction of the EU institutions, including of course this Parliament, has been timely useful for citizens and aligned with the values and the purpose behind the idea of a united Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jaume Duch Guillot, EP Spokesperson, 'Despite this difficult context, during the last five years, MEPs have adopted over 450 legislative files. This includes key achievements on environmental regulations, the DSA and DMA package, the Artificial Intelligence Act, Rules on Pay transparency and Women on boards along with measures to boost EU competitiveness or manage migration. The European Parliament has championed democratic values by enacting legislation such as the Media Freedom Act and the anti-SLAPP Directive, ensuring the protection of the work of free media and the EU values. Additionally, significant results have been achieved on many concrete initiatives like the Common Charger, The Right to Repair or regulations on Packaging Waste and Waste Batteries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jaume Duch Guillot, EP Spokesperson, However, the challenges ahead are significant in new media. You are perhaps more aware of this, than many others. Key issues like the strategic autonomy in the fields of security and defence, ensuring access to energy and essential goods, revitalising the EU's industry, implementing migration rules, completing the internal market and preparing for a new enlargement will be at the top of the EU's list of priorities as early as the 10th of June. The election results and the composition of the new Parliament will not only be crucial for the election of the next European Commission President and all the other members of the college, but will also influence the EU's approach to all these important challenges.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jaume Duch Guillot, EP Spokesperson, Over the next 38 days, the communication services of the European Parliament, together with other EU institutions and many civil society organisations, will direct all efforts towards the final phase of the campaign. The message will be very clear. The European elections are not just an opportunity for citizens to influence the future of Europe, but also a chance to a strong democracy through active participation. Yes, democracy. In today's world, democracy is both, a privilege, our privilege and our responsibility. And voting is the most direct way for each of us to safeguard this crucial aspect of our society.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jaume Duch Guillot, EP Spokesperson, Central to this campaign will be the "Use your vote" video assets, starring a generation of Europeans who have experienced the transformative power of democracy first hand. These people, some of them for the first time, share personal stories that underline the importance of not taking democracy for granted and highlight how voting plays a critical role in shaping the future and upholding a free society. My colleagues will now guide you through the calendar of events that will bring us until the elections and will present the content of this new and last phase of our information campaign. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie De Hertog, EP Liaison offices, Thank you. Good morning, everyone. So indeed, I work at the Directorate that manages the Liaison offices of the European Parliament. These are located in the Member States. For the offices and in the EU countries, of course, each year we celebrate Europe Day on the 9th of May. We do that by organising citizens events, but also events for the media of course. Because on Europe Day we celebrate our shared European identity, our shared European values, democracy and peace. And of course in 2024, for us, Europe Day is extra special, specifically because of its timing. Because Europe, they will take place one month before the European elections are going to take place between the 6th and the 9th of June in the Member States.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie De Hertog, EP Liaison offices, 'And that is why we really want to seize the opportunity and create a pan-European momentum across the EU countries to mark and to raise awareness to the European elections. We are going to be doing that by illuminating buildings and landmarks across the EU countries. And this will happen symbolically on Europe Day. And of course, we will be drawing a  specifically attention to the European elections that will take place in only one month from that moment.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie De Hertog, EP Liaison offices, We are drawing attention to the importance of voting, to the importance of democracy. And what that will look like approximately, because it's still to happen. But you have an example on the screens that you can see. So, this is sort of like one of the buildings illuminated would look like. And some buildings will, of course, depending a bit on the context, will be illuminated by EU colours and the others will be illuminated with the one month to go logo or visual, and they will be specifically drawing attention to the date of these European elections.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie De Hertog, EP Liaison offices, 'And depending from country to country, this will of course look slightly differently because we've actually seen in the offices in the Member States really a great interest from a wide variety of partners and national authorities that want to join us in this effort. So, in some countries we will be having national Parliaments that will be illuminating on the 9th of May. In other cities will be local town halls. We also have got a few monuments and historical buildings. For example, in Malta, we've got Fort St. Angelo, in Cyprus, we've got, in Nicosia, the town hall will be illuminating. And in Italy, actually, in addition to quite a few town halls that are going to be illuminated on the 9th of May. We've also got the Colosseum. There will be illuminated, and we do hope to be adding a few other rather well-known names to that list.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie De Hertog, EP Liaison offices, 'Then, some practical info for yourselves. So, this illumination will in certain cases it will already start on the eve of the 8th of May and will continue until the ninth. And in the other places, the illumination will start on the 9th of May. But, all of this really creating this pan-European wave that is going to occur throughout the Member States. On the 6th of May, you will be receiving a press release that is going to outline all of these landmarks and buildings that will be illuminated, as well as when the timing of the illumination. And on the 9th of May, you will be able to access video and photo coverage of the highlights of this illumination carefully put together by our audiovisual crew, and that will be accessible via EBS. So, by satellite and the multimedia centre.

SOUNDBITE (English), Thibault Lesenecal, Audiovisual Service, Good morning. This is how the Eurovision debate looked late in 2019. It would be organised again by the European Broadcasting Union. We refer to it as the Eurovision debates. When will it take place? On 23rd of May, from 15 to 16:45 Brussels time. It will take place in the hamicycle which will be turned into an event place with a beautiful stage. And on 16 May here on the Agora TV set, Eurovision will proceed with the candidates to the drawing of the positioning of the candidates on the stage, the speaking order and Eurovision will come to answer all the questions regarding the rules of the debates and the organisation of the content of itself.

SOUNDBITE (English), Thibault Lesenecal, Audiovisual Service, 'The debates will be held in English with translation in 24 languages. It will be, of course, available on Europe by Satellite and Eurovision and our webstreamings will have 24 languages interpretation as well as international sign language only on webstreaming. For the accreditations, no chance the same link as usual. And there will be some seats available for media and journalists inside the hemicycle. Please fill in your request by May 16 on the links that will be provided in the media advisory. Please take note that during the event there will be no possibility of asking questions nor possibility of filming during the event, but there will be some photo opportunities just before the debate starts. We are trying to organise together with the candidates team some interviews after the event itself, but this is still to be confirmed. And if you need to book a parking, please write to book.your.parking@europarl.europa.eu.

SOUNDBITE (English), Thibault Lesenecal, Audiovisual Service, Next, big events from a visual and media perspective is the election days and nights from 6 to 9 of June. Again, this is how it looked like in 2019. And this year again, we will transform the hemicycle chamber into a vast press room with more than 300 working station from media and journalists. The press room or hemicycle turned as a press room will be open from the 6th of June already. You need to be accredited and if you would like to book a seat within the hemicycle, please use the links that would be in the media advisory that you will receive this morning.

SOUNDBITE (English), Thibault Lesenecal, Audiovisual Service, 'If you have any audiovisual media needs, such as use of the TV sets, teams stand up position will have more than 125 standard position in various places, various locations in the Parliament, around 15 in the hemicycle itself, some on the bridge and the third floor and some external. If you want to book such a position, please write to us bookingsee2024@europarl.europa.eu by May 24th. The night will be distributed on Sunday on Euope by satellite from around five until the end which could be quite late if the memories from 2019 serves.

SOUNDBITE (English), Thibault Lesenecal, Audiovisual Service, What you will be able to get during the election nights would be, of course, the first estimates stand out, the first projection of the hemicycle. You will have some political reactions on stage inside the hemicycle, possibility of interviews. We will provide images from all 27 Member States of what's going on around the polls. All the data about the results that we will provide will be available open source for you to use and transform. And the European Parliament will be open all night, but the entrance will be closed after 10 p.m. There is free access to the car park. On Monday, there will be probably press conferences by political groups. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (English), Matthias Jørgensen, Good morning. Thank you, Neal. Indeed, on election night, which means on the 9th of June, on Sunday, the European Parliament will aim to repeat the success of 2019, which will mean we will make our results available not only in the hemicycle, but also via a dedicated election results website. As we know, election results would come in only after voting has ended in the last Member States, which means Italy after 11 p.m. But even before that, the Parliament will make available election related data such as turn out exit polls, estimates and the first projection of the hemicycle of the 720 MEPs as in 2019, which means this data will be available and just after 8 p.m.

SOUNDBITE (English), Matthias Jørgensen, We will aim at providing a first projection of the hemicycle to the public based on first estimates. Important to note, of course. Because this will be a mix of results, meaning polls and estimates in Member States where we already have this data available. In countries where voting is still ongoing, we will rely on voting intention polls as estimates is, as the first prediction. There will be a second hemicycle estimates after voting has closed after 11 p.m., and based on the data of the national election authorities, as and when results come in from the Member States.

SOUNDBITE (English), Matthias Jørgensen, This website is publicly available and in case two technical teams are interested to use this data also for your own coverage, we will have certain dress rehearsals where your technical teams can participate, fetch the data and live and already test the systems. If everything works in terms of results and also in terms of this additional information available such as which national parties are projects in which European Parliament group, etc.. So, there are many details to be as attention points. So, I can only recommend and invite you to participate in the stress rehearsals If you wish to do so, you can get in touch with the media services or send us an email. We have the election results website where you can participate in our mailing list for this. And we will keep updating the results on election night until 1 or 2 a.m. And then again on Monday morning. And we'll keep updating to these after until the constitutive session. Thank you.