The right and centre-right parties easily beat the socialists during the European elections on 4th-7th June after voting that was marked by a new record abstention rate (56.45%). According to estimates published by the European Parliament, the European People's Party (EPP), is due to win 267 seats out of a total of 736, far ahead of the socialists that have won 159 seats. The liberals are due to have 81 seats, the Greens 51, the far left, 33, the sovereignists 35 and 20 seats. 90 seats have not yet been distributed notably those of the British Conservatives and Czech who have decided to form a new group.

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At the European elections Jean-Dominique Giuliani analyses the consequences of the election in an editorial published on his site.

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The Robert Schuman Foundation has published a European Issue on the results of the European elections. Corinne Deloy, author of the European Elections Monitor at the Foundation and researcher at the Political Studies Institute of Paris (Sciences Po) reads into the first lessons to be learnt from the election: a rise in abstention, progression of the rightwing and to a lesser degree the ecologist parties.

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On 25th May the poll on the European elections was published by TNS Opinion. According to the poll undertaken for the European Parliament at the beginning of May, citizens' enthusiasm is rising. Whilst 34% of those interviewed said they were sure they would vote in the last poll in January/February they now total 49%. The number of those interviewed who have decided not to vote has declined from 19% to 12%. At the same time interest in the election has increased from 44% at the beginning of the year to 53% in May. It is unemployment and economic growth that are still the main concerns for 57% and 45% of the electorate respectively.

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All lists including the men and women running as candidates in the European elections in the 27 EU Member States are now available. By using the interactive map on our site devoted to the European elections (www.elections-europeennes.org) you can access all the lists in each country together with their programmes, campaign sites and slogans.

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Just a few days before the European election the Robert Schuman Foundation has published a study managed by Corinne Deloy that reviews the electoral campaign in the 27 Member States.

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Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, leading candidate on the Flemish liberals list in the European Elections in June, put forward his proposals on 12th May to bring Europe out of the economic crisis. He advised cleaning the European banking system of its toxic assets, the launch of an investment plan respresenting 6% of the European GDP and the creation of a European economic government. Moreover he accused the European Commission of being inactive and inert in the face of the crisis and he called on the European Parliament to refuse the appointment of the next President of the European Commission if the latter did not put forward to a real European recovery strategy.

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On 11th May, the Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation Jean-Dominiue Giuliani was guest on the parliamentary TV channel LCP in a debate hosted by Arnaud Ardouin . At the beginning of this campaign the fear of record abstention rates loom and are being interpreted in several ways. Jean-Dominique Giuliani believes that the "French will vote when they perceive that there is a political issue at stake." It is therefore necessary to explain the European Union to the citizens and show them the influence their vote will have, for example in the appointment of the next Commission President.

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On 10th May French President Nicolas Sarkozy travelled to Germany to discuss the European Elections with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. They warned of a borderless Europe and clearly took a stance against accession to the EU by Turkey, stating their preference for a privileged partnership. The two leaders condemned the opponents of the Lisbon Treaty but who are calling for the enlargement of the European Union. They believe that the Union should be strengthened before any new enlargement is undertaken, so that it can continue to function.

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The on-line broadcaster YouTube and the TV channel Euronews launched a new service on 5th May to bring voters and candidates into contact with each other before the European elections on 4th-7th June next. The project "Questions for Europe" is attempting to encourage candidates, voters and experts to enter dialogue by means of on-line videos.

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French President Nicolas Sarkozy launched the European electoral campaign in France with a speech on 5th May in Nîmes. He called for a voluntarist policy to face the economic crisis and to rise to other challenges. He recommended greater cooperation between EU members; in his opinion "Europe was weak because it was not united enough". The President re-iterated his hostility to "unending enlargement" and to Turkey's membership insisting on the need for a Europe that protects and reassures.

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The Robert Schuman Foundation published a study directed by Corinne Deloy which explained the Electoral Campaign in the 27 Member States one month before the elections.

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Nane publishing has released another issue of "Expliquez-moi ... le Parlement européen" with a preface by European Parliament President, Hans-Gert Pöttering.

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On 29th and 30th April the European People's Party (EPP) rallied at a congress in view of the European elections. Its 74 members adopted the electoral manifesto for this election together with numerous Heads of State and Government in attendance. A slogan "Strong for the People" was also adopted. In addition to this on 28th and 29th April the party's parliamentary group held a working session. Several subjects such as the market economy and prosperity, demographic challenges, security and even the eastern partnership were addressed. The EPP officially announced that it supported a second mandate on the part of the present President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso. The decision to re-elect him or not is due to be taken during the next European Council in June after the European elections.

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In a web video on Figaro.fr, Robert Schuman Foundation Chairman Jean-Dominique Giuliani highlights the need for real political debate on the major European issues during the electoral campaign for the elections 4th-7th June next.

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Massive abstention is looming for the European Elections on 4th and 7th June. According to a Eurobarometer survey undertaken for the European Parliament amongst 27,218 citizens from the 27 Member States only 34% say they are going to vote. 53% say they are not "interested" in the European elections, 62% say that their vote will not change anything and 55% believe that "the European Parliament does not deal with enough problems that affect them." Poland and the UK are the two countries where disinterest seems to be the greatest, with respectively 13% and 22% of the electorate saying they will vote. Abstention may be high in Portugal (24%), in the Czech Republic (26%), in Spain (27%) and in Italy (30%). In France 47% say they will probably go and vote but 15% are already sure they will not fulfill their duty. Turn out is due to be high in Belgium (70%), because it is obligatory to vote and abstention is punished by a fine, likewise in Luxembourg (62%), Denmark and Malta (56%).

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On 8th April the European Commission and the TV channel MTV announced a joint initiative called "Can you hear me Europe?" to encourage young people to take part in the European Parliament elections in June. Turn-out of young people was extremely low during the last elections in 2004 and so this campaign should help them express what they think of the EU and what they are expecting of it. The campaign will be undertaken with televised clips to be broadcast all over Europe.

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The National Alliance (AN), the traditional rightwing party in Italy announced its dissolution on 22nd March in favour of a merger with Forza Italia this week (FI) led by Silvio Berlusconi, giving rise to a new party -the People of Freedom (Pdl). "National Alliance has ceased to exist, the People of Freedom is born and our love of the Italian people continues," says its leader Gianfranco Fini, president of the Chamber of Deputies concluding the work of the last AN congress. He created the National Alliance in 1995 transforming the Italian Social Movement (MSI), successor to the Fascists, into a traditional rightwing party. The founding congress of the Pdl will take place in Rome from 27th to 29th March.

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The CDU (Christian Democratic Union) published its programme on 16th March with regard to the European elections, in which it provides its support for the re-election of José Manuel Barroso as head of the European Commission. This programme focuses on five main themes: economic growth and employment, Europe's influence in the world, the stability of the euro and its funding, the internal and external security of the EU and finally the strengthening of the Union and the implementation of the subsidiarity principle. The CDU notably believes that its European identity and its institutions should be enhanced before any new members are accepted, Croatia excepted. The CDU's slogan is "A strong Europe for a safer future".

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On 17th March the Parliament revealed its campaign strategy for the European elections in June 2009. The two Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP-ED, ES) and Mechtild Rothe (PES, DE) presented several tools that will be used during the electoral campaign and the aim of which is to show how citizens can influence effective decisions by their vote.

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The Central Commission of the Austrian Parliament decided on 17th March that the upcoming European elections will take place on 7th June. For the fourth time the Austrians will be electing their representatives in the European Parliament who will total 17. With the Lisbon Treaty Austria will have 19 MEPs. For the first time all citizens aged 16 and over will be able to vote. Green MP Ulrike Lunacek, suggested the modification of the procedure employed to appoint an Austrian candidate to the post of commissioner: the government is suggesting a "trio" which would then be the subject of a hearing within the Central Commission at the Austrian Parliament

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On February 1st the Social Christian Party (CSV) led by Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker presented its electoral manifesto for the European elections on 7th June together with the candidates.

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With the European elections on the horizon between 4th and 7th June the European People's Party presented its electoral manifesto on 30th January; this will be its programme during the campaign. It has also opened a website to communicate with European citizens: Dialogue TV.

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According to the most recent survey by Eurobarometer dedicated to the European elections in June 2009 Europeans are increasingly worried about their social and economic situation (>40%). Within the context of the economic crisis Europeans point to economic growth, unemployment, inflation as themes to concentrate on during the 2009 campaign. Another consequence of the crisis: the euro takes the lead in terms of being a major element in European identity. Many more Europeans know the election dates. One year ago only 9% of those interviewed knew that European elections would take place in June 2009. They now total 26%. More than half of Europeans want the European construction process to continue. Parliament is the European institution in which Europeans are most confident.

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In an editorial published on his site, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, Chairman of the Foundation insists on the challenges of the upcoming European elections that will take place in the 27 Member States from 4th and 7th June 2009.

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British MEP Graham Watson, chairman of the ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) at the European Parliament declared on 7th January that he would run for the position of President of the European Parliament. This post is up for election after the elections in June. Graham Watson intends to put an end to the tradition whereby the position of president of the European Parliament is held by members of the Socialist group (PSE) or the Christian Democrats (EPP-ED) following deals between the two the most important political groups. At present it is German Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP-ED) who leads the European Parliament until the next elections in the June.

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