AER calls on all European citizens to vote at EU elections

Strasbourg (F), 26 May 2009.

The Assembly of European Regions’ (AER) president, together with the presidents of all AER member regions, are mobilising European citizens to vote at the European elections taking place in June.

With the European legislative elections approaching, AER’s member regions are mobilising citizens to vote. Beyond partisan oppositions, the European elections represent a crucial moment for EU democratic life. They are also a symbol of success of the European project: approximately 375 million voters from 27 member states are going to vote for a parliament that is unique – the only trans-national, multilingual and directly-elected parliament in the world.

This is why, while opinion polls are showing that many citizens do not plan to vote, AER’s 270 member regions are calling upon European citizens to vote.

AER president Michèle Sabban said “the choices made by voters have real consequences on everyday life. Whether it is in relation to the big questions such as the economic crisis and climate change, or everyday subjects such as health and transport, Europe plays a major role.”

Today about 80% of all decisions of national parliaments are a consequence of strategic decisions previously taken in Brussels. The implementation and execution of these regulations is very much taken care of by local and regional authorities. It is therefore in the strong interest of regions and their citizens to influence the decisions coming from Brussels. Under the new Lisbon treaty, the European Parliament will have for the first time the full rights of a parliament, including budget rights.

Since these legislative elections depend on Europe mobilising itself for its citizens, the presidents of AER member regions call upon European citizens to have a say in the election of their political leaders, so that they can defend their opinions and put their ideas into practice.


AER Contacts: Richard Medic, Spokesperson / Director of Press and Communications, r.medic@aer.eu -Tel (mob) +33 678 695 235Francine Huhardeaux, Press and Communications Officer, f.huhardeaux@aer.eu - Tel./ Fax :  +33 3 88 22 74 49

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. Bringing together more than 270 regions from 33 countries and 16 interregional organisations, AER is the political voice of its members and a forum for interregional co-operation.