by Rodi Kratsa

The European Union (EU) is at crossroads. It faces the challenge of achieving a more cohesive, democratic and effective governance, with enhanced visibility. These changes and achievements can be realized through the Lisbon Treaty that we hope to be implemented within the new year 2010.

Within this framework, the legislative role and value of the European Parliament - the only european institution that is directly elected by the citizens - are significantly upgraded. On the days of the european elections 4-7 June, the citizens are called upon to respond to this challenge.

It is essential, on the occasion of this election, to clarify what each vote will mean for the present and the future of the EU. This clarification is even more imperative given the oxymoron that despite the high levels of trust that european citizens show to the european institutions and especially to the European Parliament (EP), only 34% of the european citizens have the intention of actually getting into the “trouble” to cast their vote, as demonstrated by the recent eurobarometer.

The problem seems to be that european citizens do not realize how important european elections are. They do not realise how much the European legislation and decision-making actually affects their every day life. Imagine that only 36% of the citizens have read, heard or watched on TV, news relating to the European Parliament. Lack of information and lack of direct connection with the european political arena is one of the major reasons that keeps european citizens away from the polls. Thus, this challenge needs to be redressed dynamically and responsibly with the action and contribution of the national and european political parties, the members of the EP (MEPs) themselves and the media, even more for this year’s elections. That is because the 2009 european elections acquire an added importance due to the strengthened legislative role that the Lisbon Treaty will accord to the European Parliament. Thus, this time an informed and responsible citizens’ vote is more important and more imperative than ever!

Moreover, the EP, ie. the citizens’ representatives, is given the responsibility to elect the President of the European Commission. What is most significant though is the enhancement of the cooperation among the European Parliament and the national parliaments. The national parliaments will have the right to responsibly express their positions on the necessity of european proposals, giving the national parliaments the possibility to better oversee the implementation of the principle of subsidiarity. These new powers accorded to the national parliaments are of high importance in promoting the common european reform strategies in economic, social or environmental areas, due also to the close relationship they have with their citizens and the local society. At the same time, the Treaty foresees more opportunities for people’s active participation, giving the possibility to 1 million citizens to call on the European Commission to submit a legislative proposal on a topic that falls under the Commission’s competence, instituting thus the principle of participatory democracy.

The Lisbon Treaty also brings about a legally binding Charter of Fundamental Rights. The competences of the EU as a whole are extended to crucial areas, such as climate change and civil protection, immigration and asylum, external borders control and energy security, in order to provide the base to better deal with the challenges of today. The Treaty also consolidates the social, economic and territorial cohesion of the EU, strengthens the role of the regions and provides a new legal basis for action to promote complementary measures for tourism at european level. Moreover, the Presidency of the EU becomes permanent for 2,5 years and a special position is created for the High Representative for the Union in Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who will also be Vice-President of the Commission. That will help increase the impact, the coherence and the visibility of the EU's external action in an area where the EU is in need of coordination and a common voice. This change will benefit the relations of the EU with our neighbours, our partners as well as with third countries. The EU should have a decisive impact of the international political scene.

However, the Lisbon Treaty is not a panacea. It constitutes a framework that provides new possibilities for the European Union, its Member States, its citizens and its partners. The development and the success of this process, as for every political process, depends on how much its citizens will embrace, enrich, utilize and support it. The participation in the european elections on 4-7 June provides a generous step for the building up of a new Europe, open, sufficient and useful for its citizens and the rest of the world.

Rodi Kratsa is the Vice-President of the European Parliament.