Every five years, EU citizens elect their representatives to the European Parliament, the directly-elected body that advocates for their interests in EU decision-making. The TV advertising spot for the European Elections 2024 compiles experiences and testimonies from EU citizens of various generations, grandparents and grandchildren, sharing their perspectives on European democracy to emphasize the significance of voting.

interview

2024 European elections (T)

Interviews with the cast of the TV advertising spot for the European Elections 2024

External shot of the European Parliament in Brussels

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Franco PEDERCINI, member of the cast of the TV advertising spot, Since we are in an united and democratic Europe, there have been no wars between us for eighty years. So, I firmly believe in it, and I hope that young people will understand it. This is my little contribution.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Michele PERANI, member of the cast of the TV advertising spot, The subject, which is something we both have in common, is the handover from their generation to ours. They have seen the cost of democracy, because they fought for it, and they would like to pass it on intact to our generation.

SOUNDBITE (French), Monique MAUGAS-BAUZOU, member of the cast of the TV advertising spot, To vote, people have to get along with each other. We must vote to create Europe. And I, at the age of twelve, had invented democracy and Europe without doing it on purpose. I went on my mother's grave and told her I beg you, stop people from going to war with each other. And I invented that. I was twelve years old. Mom, I beg you! Do you want people to never go to war again? We didn't talk about that. Well you know, for a twelve year old kid to invent democracy at the age of twelve, you must have been put through the wringer. Now I am 96 years old and I haven't changed my mind. Don&rsquo;t fight anymore. Settle things down. Create democracy and vote!

SOUNDBITE (French), Robin BAUZOU, member of the cast of the TV advertising spot, I don't think we're on the brink. I don't think that democracy is absolutely in danger right away, but it is a possibility and I think that for it to be in the least danger possible, we must always cherish it as much as possible and get involved, vote and share your experience.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Samuel DE LEEUW, member of the cast of the TV advertising spot, My experience is that it is very important that we dwell on democracy; that we realise that elections are needed for a democratic Europe; that, if we did not, we would potentially fall back to where Europe once was. In a continent where people fought each other. France and Germany fought for power. That period is over. We are now choosing one unity. We are becoming one unit Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jarmila KROČKOV&Aacute;, member of the cast of the TV advertising spot, Unfortunately many elderly people think that EU is not important and they don't think that EU is giving us quite a lot of benefits. This should be mentioned and it should be strengthen.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mette Carla ALBRECHTSEN, Film Director, If I think of myself, from the 2019 elections and what I thought about the European elections until now, I have definitely changed my perspective. And I feel that it's extremely important to vote and to educate myself about what the European Parliament is actually doing.

Cutaways of the interviews of the members of the cast of the TV advertising spot (12 shots)