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EUROPEAN REVIEW

ISSUE 27 - Page 4

Apathetic electorate main worry as new parliament shows little change

DESPITE MUCH BALLY-HOO IN BRITAIN concerning the rise of the UK Independence Party and attempts by the EU to drum up enthusiasm for the elections to the European Parliament, apathy was a much greater factor than anti-Europeanism in the recent vote. While voter participation actually rose in the UK, helped by local elections being on the same day in much of England and Wales, over the whole of the Union turnout dropped from 49.8% in 1999 to 45.5%. Among the 10 new entrant countries, taking part in their first European election, a disastrous 26.4% was recorded.

Comparative turn-out figures showing better UK performance in 2004

Various factors were blamed: outgoing European Parliament President Pat Cox said eastern and central European countries had successfully mobilised large majorities to vote in favour of EU membership in referendums last year. However, he went on, 'I think a lot of public opinion felt, "But we voted for that last year, why are you asking us again?"'. While Polish leader Aleksander Kwasniewski described his country's apathy, in a result where his party gained only 9% of the vote, as 'a disease we will have to look at', adding that there was a need to analyse 'why we are so far from civic values'. The European Commission said that a 'huge effort to mobilise resources and energy is needed to put Europe back at the centre of political debate in these Member States'.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - KEY TO PARTIES PES - Socialists EPP-ED - Conservatives ELDR - Liberals UEN - Eurosceptics EUL/NGL - Communists etc. GREENS/EFA - Greens/Nationalists EDD - Eurosceptics OTHERS - Independents, yet to join group etc.

As far as the balance between the parties goes the change at this election is hard to judge as the number of MEPs is now reduced. The only major grouping to have increased its representation is the liberal ELDR. Although avowedly anti-European parties did well in Britain their numbers are slightly reduced in the new parliament where they form under 6% of MEPs. A new group to be known as 'Independence and Democracy' is likely to replace the EDD as the main Eurosceptic party while the liberal ELDR is set to attract like-minded MEPs from other groups in a new 'Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe' formation.

Now attention will turn to horse trading over who will be the new President of the parliament, a matter in which the electorate has no say. Josep Borrell, a Spanish socialist, is the current favourite to go first in a deal between the two largest groups.

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