This is lesson 22 of the second module of EUPress Teacher Training, which covers the macro topic of ‘EU Citizenship and Democracy’.
This lesson will investigate the most crucial measures to increase the democracy level in EU elections.
The Commission presented a number of initiatives to reinforce
democracy and integrity of elections, including:
• a proposal for a Regulation on transparency of political
advertising;
• the update of the Regulation on the statute and funding of the
European political parties;
• two proposals updating the Directive on the electoral rights of
«mobile EU citizens»
Strengthening Democracy at the Ballot Box: How the EU Is Modernising Its Electoral System
From political advertising transparency to mobile citizen voting rights, the European Union is taking new steps to make its electoral process more democratic, accessible, and trusted. Building on lessons from the 2019 European Parliament elections and following priorities set in the European Democracy Action Plan, the European Commission has adopted several initiatives aimed at safeguarding electoral integrity and reinforcing democratic participation across member states.
A shared framework — with national variation
Since 1979, members of the European Parliament have been elected by direct universal suffrage under a proportional representation system. However, EU member states still retain the power to regulate many electoral details — including voting age, registration procedures, and ballot methods — as long as they remain compatible with EU law.
To strengthen the cohesion and transparency of the system, especially as democratic processes increasingly shift online, the Commission has put forward a set of legislative updates.
Key reforms to boost trust and participation
Several of these measures focus on increasing transparency and preventing interference:
- A regulation on political advertising transparency, requiring clearer identification of sponsors, sources of funding, and audience targeting criteria.
- Updates to the statute and funding rules of European political parties and foundations, aiming to close loopholes, improve financial viability, and strengthen oversight. Notably, the co-financing requirement for parties has been proposed to drop from 10% to 5%.
- Two legislative amendments to voting rights for mobile EU citizens, clarifying registration procedures and preventing the loss of voting privileges in their country of origin.
Empowering Europe’s “mobile citizens”
Around 13 million EU citizens live in a country other than their own — yet they often lack information about their right to vote or face procedural barriers. New measures aim to:
- Simplify registration in the member state of residence
- Ensure key information is available in multiple languages
- Prevent fears of losing voting rights in their home country
- Guarantee data-sharing mechanisms between member states to prevent double voting
These changes combine electoral fairness with greater inclusivity — ensuring citizens’ democratic rights don’t stop at national borders.
Adapting democracy to a digital era
As citizens increasingly receive political information online, the EU is facing new challenges: opaque campaign tools, unregulated targeting, and cross-border disinformation. The Commission’s initiatives aim to help secure electoral campaigns, foster pluralistic debate, and ensure voters are aware of who is speaking to them — and why.
The underlying goal is clear: make EU elections not only free and fair, but more visible, accessible and trustworthy for every citizen.
