Elections Archives - Shaping Europe

Drie steden, één parlement: een unieke zetelverdeling - Shaping Europe

Three cities, one parliament: a unique distribution of seats

Posted on 25 April 2024
by Julia van de Boel

The locations of the European Parliament, and the discussions regarding them. Although members of the European Parliament meet in Brussels most of the time, they also have to travel to Strasbourg for four days each month for plenary sessions. This is, in fact, the official…

Spitzenkandidaten 2024: who and what to expect?

Posted on 23 April 2024
by Hanna Krijgsman van Spangenberg

What is the Spitzenkandidaten procedure and who are the Spitzenkandidaten? Ursula von der Leyen, Nicolas Schmit, Valérie Hayer, Sandro Gozi, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Bas Eickhout, Terry Reintke, Raül Romeva, Maylis Roßberg and Walter Baier. Not all of these names will sound familiar to European citizens, but…

Kan Europa’s Taylor Swift opstaan alsjeblieft? - Shaping Europe

Can Europe’s Taylor Swift please stand up?

Posted on 19 April 2024
by Bram Breimer and Linda den Bol

The manuscript for fixing the European youth vote. Better reach and motivate young people to vote in European elections? If it is up to European Commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas, this should be done by harnessing the reach and popularity of US pop icon Taylor Swift.…

Storm clouds over a sunny archipelago?

Posted on 16 April 2024
by Viktoria Hodson

What are Malta’s biggest concerns ahead of the 2024 EP elections. Malta: the smallest European Union (EU) member state and one of the sunniest. This Mediterranean country, which used to be a British colony, has also been a film set for Game of Thrones and…

In gesprek met Sophie in ‘t Veld (Volt België): “Dat extreemrechts gaat winnen is geen onontkoombare waarheid” - Shaping Europe

In conversation with Sophie in ‘t Veld (Volt Belgium): “The far right does not have to win”

Posted on 11 April 2024
by Loes ter Horst and Hanna Krijgsman van Spangenberg

An interview with MEP and Volt Belgium party leader Sophie in 't Veld about the upcoming elections for the European Parliament and the ambitions of her party. Sophie in 't Veld has been a Member of the European Parliament (EP) since 2004. For a long…

EU Country Profile of Slovakia: corruption and voter turnout

Posted on 9 April 2024
by Viktoria Hodson

Continued disinterest despite controversial changes within the country? Welcome to the next country in Shaping Europe’s country profiles ahead of the European Parliament (EP) elections: Slovakia! This landlocked European Union (EU) member state is home to over 6000 caves and has the highest number of…

Profiel EU-lid Portugal: pionier op het gebied van duurzaamheid - Shaping Europe

Profile of EU member Portugal: Pioneer in the Field of Sustainability

Posted on 4 April 2024
by Hanna Krijgsman van Spangenberg

Major national political changes for the European pioneer in sustainability. Portugal is a Member State of the European Union (EU) in Southern Europe. The country was founded in 1143, making it one of the oldest nation-states in Europe. The Portuguese language is the official language…

Profile of EU member Austria: from centrist traditions to rising populism

Posted on 2 April 2024
by Ngan Ha Tran

From the Ibiza Scandal to the Rise of the Right-wing. Nestled in the heart of Central Europe, Austria is a landlocked country, which is bordered by eight nations, including Germany, the Czech Republic, and Italy. The home country of the most well-known classical composer, W.…

(G)een Ivoren Toren? Bijzondere EP-parlementariërs en -kandidaten - Shaping Europe

(Not) An Ivory Tower? Extraordinary EP Parliamentarians and Candidates

Posted on 28 March 2024
by Loes ter Horst

From a beekeeper and a Paralympian to a former Disney presenter and a TV chef. Recently, in this Shaping Europe article, you could read more about voting rights and candidacy for the European Parliament elections. Of course, it's crucial to know a lot about that,…

Country profile Romania: A year of elections

Posted on 21 March 2024
by Sabine Herder

Keep the current course or go in a different direction? Romania, the land of Transylvania and Dracula. The homeland of Francesco Illy, the inventor of the espresso machine, and Nadia Comăneci, the first gymnast ever to score a perfect 10 at the 1976 Olympics. Where…