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Democracy and electoral rights

The Commission's activities to safeguard European democracy, promote free and fair elections and uphold electoral rights of EU citizens. 

Democracy is a core value of the European Union. Democracy needs to be nurtured and protected. 

European Democracy Shield Visual

European Democracy Shield

On 12 November 2025, the European Commission presented the European Democracy Shield, as announced in President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines. 

The European Democracy Shield aims to empower strong and resilient democracies. 

It presents a set of new measures in three priority areas: 

  • reinforcing situational awareness and support response capacity to safeguard the integrity of the information space;
  • strengthening democratic institutions, free and fair elections and free and independent media;
  • boosting societal resilience and citizens’ engagement.

To support better cooperation and coordination in addressing several aspects under these priority areas, a European Centre for Democratic Resilience will bring together expertise and capacities across participating Member States, EU candidate countries and potential candidates, and EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, as relevant. 

Under the pillar on safeguarding the integrity of the information space, the focus is on countering foreign information manipulation and interference and disinformation campaigns. This is essential to ensure that people can freely express their views and have access to reliable and trustworthy information. The Democracy Shield announces a series of actions in this field, building on existing legislation such as the Digital Services Act, the Artificial Intelligence Act and the Regulation on political advertising. Some examples of planned actions under this pillar are: 

  • the preparation of a Digital Services Act incidents and crisis protocol;
  • the set-up of a European Network of Fact-Checkers;
  • actions to counter foreign information manipulation and interference through external action.

Under the pillar on strengthening democratic institutions, free and fair elections and free and independent media, the focus is on supporting the fairness and integrity of electoral processes in the EU, and supporting free and independent media. Some examples of planned actions under this pillar are:

  • stronger cooperation with Member States under the European Cooperation Network on Elections;
  • preparation of guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence in electoral processes;
  • the set-up of a voluntary network of EU influencers;
  • a Recommendation and guidance of best practices on safety in politics;
  • a review of the Audio-Visual Media Services Directive;
  • reinforcing measures on the safety of journalists and combatting abusive legislation (anti-SLAPPs).

Under the pillar on boosting societal resilience and citizens’ engagement, the focus is on supporting citizenship education and skills for democracy, promoting citizens’ participation and engagement in the democratic life, in a whole-of-society approach. Some examples of planned actions under this pillar are:

  • measures in the field of education, such as updated guidelines for teachers and educators on disinformation and media literacy;
  • measures on media literacy beyond education;
  • preparation of an EU democracy guide for citizens;
  • the reinforcement of a network of national authorities on citizens’ participation, with a training package and a multilingual portal for resources at EU level;
  • support to the European civic tech sector (through a hub, a hackathon and pilot projects);
  • a high-level event on democracy and annual award for democratic innovation.

The European Democracy Shield will contribute to strengthening our democracies and empowering Europeans to exercise their rights, to freely form and express their opinions, and to have agency and participate in the democratic life of the EU actively and safely. Its actions will strengthen democratic institutions, protect the integrity of elections, and support media freedom and pluralism, so that our democracies remain strong, open and plural, and built on citizens’ trust.

Find all documents on the European Democracy Shield here.

What has the European Commission done before?

2023 Defence of Democracy Package  

In 2023, the Commission adopted a Defence of Democracy Package. The Defence of Democracy Package deepened measures taken under the European Democracy Action Plan. The package included a Communication, a legislative proposal for a Directive on transparency of interest representation for third countries, a Recommendation on inclusive and resilient elections, and a Recommendation on the participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making. 

Find all documents and the press release on the package 

2021 Reinforcing democracy and integrity of elections

In 2021, the Commission adopted a package of measures to reinforce democracy and protect the integrity of elections. The package included a Communication, a legislative proposal on transparency and targeting of political advertising (now enacted), two legislative proposals on the right to vote and stand as candidates of EU citizens residing in a different Member State from their state of origin in elections to the European Parliament (now adopted) and municipal elections and a legislative proposal to update EU rules on the funding of European political parties and foundations. 

2020 European Democracy Action Plan

In 2020, the European Commission presented its European Democracy Action Plan to empower citizens and build more resilient democracies across the EU. The European Democracy Action Plan focused on promoting free and fair elections; strengthening media freedom and countering disinformation. See also here. 

Other

In September 2018 the Commission has also issued a package of measures to support free and fair European elections. You can find more information here and here. 

You can also find more information on the work done under the priority ‘A new push for European Democracy’ between 2019 and 2024 here.

The Commission also regularly publishes its report on EU citizenship, which include Commission’s priorities in strengthening democratic participation. For more information on EU citizenship see here. 

Corruption undermines democracy and trust in our institutions and should therefore be prevented and combatted. You can find more information on the work on anti-corruption here.

European cooperation network on elections

The European cooperation network on elections (ECNE) brings together representatives of Member States’ authorities with competence in electoral matters. It allows for concrete and practical exchanges on a range of topics relevant to ensuring free and fair elections, including data protection, cyber-security, transparency and awareness raising. The network, launched in 2019, also supports cooperation with other European level groups and bodies and stakeholders, thereby fostering mutual support and a wider and effective dissemination of relevant alerts and other information. 

A Commission Communication and Recommendation from 2018 had encouraged Member States to set up national election networks, who appointed contact points to take part in the European cooperation network on elections. 

The European cooperation network on elections has contributed to a range of products and tools. 

Find all information on the European cooperation network on elections

Electoral rights

EU citizens' electoral rights

All EU citizens have the right to vote for and stand as a candidate in European Parliament elections in their country of origin, or if they live in another EU country, they may choose to vote and stand there, under the same conditions as the nationals of that country.

EU citizens who live in another EU country also have the right to vote and stand as candidate in local or municipal elections in the country they live in, again under the same conditions as the nationals of that country.

This is provided for in Article 14(3) of the Treaty on EU, Article 22 of the Treaty on the functioning of the EU  and Articles 39 and 40 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

European Parliament elections

When it comes to the right to vote and stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament for EU citizens living in an EU country which is not their country of origin, the EU has issued a directive to explain the detail of how this right should work in practice.

It also includes some limited exceptions, principally

  • you may not vote in more than one EU country in the same European elections (this can also be a criminal or administrative offence in national law)
  • national governments may require a minimum period of residence for EU citizens to participate in European elections, if more than 20% of the voting population is made up of non-nationals.

As part of the Reinforcing Democracy and integrity of elections package adopted on 25 November 2021, the Commission made a proposal for a recast of the directive on European elections, which has been adopted by the Council in June 2025. These rules will make it easier to exercise these rights. Member States have until September2027 to transpose the Directive into national laws.

More information on European Parliament elections can be found below.

Municipal elections

The EU has also issued a directive which explains the detail of how the right to vote and stand as a candidate in local and municipal elections in the country in which you live works. It includes some limited exceptions, principally

  • national governments may decide that the leaders of local and municipal governments (mayors, heads of local authorities etc – this is defined in the directive) can only be one of their own nationals.
  • national governments may require a minimum period of residence for EU citizens to participate in local elections if more than 20% of the voting population are non-nationals.

The Commission publishes reports on the implementation of EU law in local and municipal elections and ways to promote electoral rights. The most recent was announced in February 2018.

As part of the Reinforcing Democracy and integrity of elections package adopted on 25 November 2021, the Commission made a proposal for a recast of the directive.

Voting rights of expatriates in national elections

In January 2014 the European Commission published two guidance documents for EU countries on the loss of voting rights for citizens in national elections. In some EU countries, EU citizens can lose their voting rights in national elections simply because they decide to live in another EU country.

Whilst EU countries are competent to determine who can benefit from the right to vote in national elections, such practices can negatively affect citizens' right to free movement (recommendation, communication).

Right of mobile EU citizens to join a political party 

Political parties play a crucial role in the system of representative democracy. To be able to exercise effectively their electoral rights in municipal and European elections effectively, EU citizens residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals must have equal access to the means available to nationals of that Member State for the purpose of exercising those rights, which includes membership of a political party.

On 13 November 2024, the Court ruled in Cases C-808/21 and C-814/21 that denying EU citizens residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals the right to become a member of a political party infringes EU law.

European Parliament elections

Common EU rules

The main responsibilities regarding elections are for the Member States. The common rules and principles for European Parliament elections are explained in the EU treaties, which also include a specific Act on elections.

They guarantee that Members of the European Parliament represent the citizens of the European Union, and are elected by proportional representation, by direct universal suffrage, and by a free and secret ballot.

EU countries regulate how these elections are run according to their own laws and voting traditions, provided that they do so in ways that are compatible with these general EU laws and principles.

The Court of Justice confirmed that it is up to EU countries to regulate aspects of the European Parliament electoral procedure that are not harmonised at EU level.

EU action in support of free and fair elections offers important added value. As part of this work, the 2023 Commission Recommendation on inclusive and resilient elections provides an important blueprint to support the preparations for and conduct of elections. It is addressed to Member States, European and national political parties, political foundations, and campaign organisations in the context of preparation for elections in the EU, including elections to the European Parliament.

Reporting on the elections to the European Parliament

Reporting on the conduct of the elections to the European Parliament is an established practice of the Commission. 

2024 European Parliament elections

On 6 June 2025, the Commission adopted a Communication and Staff Working Document on the 2024 elections to the European Parliament. It covers a wide range of topics including turnout, participation of specific groups, cooperation in support of free, fair and resilient elections, measures taken to protect the integrity and resilience of the elections, the European dimension and the exercise of EU electoral rights, and election observation.

Previous European Parliament elections

Code of Conduct for the 2024 European Parliament Elections

The Code of Conduct serves as a comprehensive checklist for political parties, candidates, media, and citizens to monitor ethical behaviour throughout the election campaign. Through this code of conduct, European political parties and any member parties signing up to it commit to maintaining the integrity of the 2024 European Parliament elections, aligning with the recommendation to adopt campaign pledges and codes of conduct on election integrity and fair campaigning in the Commission Recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament (2023).

Read the Code of Conduct for the 2024 European Parliament Elections

Transparency and targeting of political advertising

Regulation (EU) 2024/900 on the transparency and targeting of political advertising provides for common standards addressing the increasing complexity and cross-border nature of political advertising, the rapid increase in online political advertising, as well as the use of advanced targeting techniques and the threat of information manipulation. The Regulation entered into full application on 10 October 2025. 

Find all information on the transparency and targeting of political advertising and related guidance and webportals here.  

Citizens' engagement in public policy-making

New and meaningful methods of citizen participation, deliberation and engagement, across all generations, provide additional ways for citizens to get involved in democratic debates and in public policymaking, enriching deliberations with diverse perspectives and reinforcing representative democracy based on elections. The 2023 Commission Recommendation on civic engagement promoted the engagement of citizens in public policy making processes.

Protecting journalists and human rights defenders from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

A cornerstone of healthy and thriving democracies is a pluralistic debate. Citizens must have access to reliable information and be able to form their own judgements in a public space where diverse views can be expressed. Journalists and human rights defenders play a crucial role in nurturing this public debate including by investigating and informing citizens on and highlighting issues of public interest. 

In this context, the Commission adopted the Anti-SLAPP initiative on 27 April 2022, consisting of a Directive (in force since 6 May 2024) and a Recommendation which is directly applicable.

Find all information on the initiative to protect journalists and human rights defenders from SLAPPs

Knowing your rights and where to get help

  • Your Europe - Information and advice on the electoral rights of EU citizens and their family
  • SOLVIT – Get help when working with your national authorities if you encounter difficulties
  • Contact the EU