Democracy is a core value of the European Union. Democracy needs to be nurtured and protected. In 2020 the European Commission presented its European Democracy Action Plan to empower citizens and build more resilient democracies across the EU.
What has the European Commission done?
The Defence of Democracy Package
The Defence of Democracy Package deepens measures taken under the European Democracy Action Plan . The package includes measures to develop civic space and citizen participation to bolster democratic resilience from within. It includes a proposal for a Directive on transparency of interest representation for third countries.
Find all documents and the press release on the package
Reinforcing democracy and integrity of elections
On 9 April 2024, the new Regulation on the transparency and targeting of political advertising, to reinforce democracy and protect the integrity of elections, entered into force. The Regulation aims to ensure that the provision of political advertising is in full respect of fundamental rights and that voters are better placed to make well informed choices.
On 25 November 2021, the Commission adopted a package of measures to reinforce democracy and protect the integrity of elections. The package includes a Communication, a legislative proposal on transparency and targeting of political advertising, 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 and municipal elections and a legislative proposal to update EU rules on the funding of European political parties and foundations. See also Factsheet and press release.
Find all documents on the reinforcing democracy and integrity of elections
In December 2020, the Commission presented its European Democracy Action Plan to promote free and fair elections; strengthen media freedom and counter disinformation. The Commission also regularly publishes its report on EU citizenship, which include Commission’s priorities in strengthening democratic participation. See also summary Factsheet: European Democracy Action Plan and Citizenship Report 2023.
In June 2020, the Commission published a report on the 2019 European Parliament elections and a staff working document which accompanies the report. This report reviews the conduct of the 2019 elections and the implementation of the Commission’s 2018 electoral package, including measures taken to enhance transparency, protect free and fair elections and promote the democratic participation of all European citizens.
Following 2019 elections to the European Parliament, the Commission received a large number of complaints concerning the possibility for mobile EU citizens to exercise effectively their voting rights in the UK. Please see the attached letter for more information concerning this issue.
Following 2019 elections to the European Parliament, the Commission also received a large number of complaints by Romanian citizens concerning the difficulties encountered in voting at Romanian consulates abroad.
Please see the attached letter for more information concerning this issue.
Securing free and fair European elections
In September 2018 the Commission issued a package of measures to support free and fair European elections, including a Communication; a Recommendation on election cooperation networks online transparency protection against cybersecurity incidents and fighting disinformation campaigns in the context of elections to the European Parliament; a Guidance document on the application of Union data protection law in the electoral context; and a Legislative proposal to provide sanctions for the deliberate misuse of personal data by European political parties and foundations to influence the outcome of the elections.
Find all documents on the securing free and fair European 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 in Article 22 of the EU treaty and Articles 39 and 40 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Municipal elections
The EU has 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 – this is very rare
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 Reinforcing Democracy 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).
European Parliament elections
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.
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 also 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 – this is very rare
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.
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.
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
European cooperation network on elections
The securing free and fair European elections package adopted by the Commission on 12 September 2018, in particular its Communication and Recommendation, encourages Member States to set up national election networks, involving national authorities with competence for electoral matters and authorities in charge of monitoring and enforcing rules related to online activities relevant to the electoral context. The national election cooperation networks appointed contact points to take part in a European cooperation network on elections, which serves as a platform to alert on threats, exchange on best practices, discuss common solutions to identified challenges and encourage common projects and exercises among national networks.
The European cooperation network on elections contributed to the preparation of a guide of good electoral practices addressing participation of citizens with disabilities in the electoral process and a compendium of e-voting and other ICT practices, which were published by the Commission as part of the 2023 Citizenship package.
The Guide presents disability-inclusive electoral practices from different Member States and aims to support the efforts of Member States to ensure that citizens with disabilities can exercise their electoral rights effectively.
The Compendium gathers e-voting and other ICT practices from several Member States to further support Member States in promoting the easy exercise of electoral rights and ensuring the resilience and security of their election technology.
On 21 November 2023, the Commission organised a table-top exercise on the cybersecurity of elections, funded by the joint election resilience mechanism rolled out by the Commission as of 2022.
Find all information on the European cooperation network on elections
Protecting journalists and human rights defenders from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)
The Commission is currently working on an initiative to protect journalists and human rights defenders from SLAPP. The initiative is part of the European Democracy Action Plan and aims to take action to protect journalists and civil society against strategic lawsuits against public participation.
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