ESU Online Conference: “The European Elections: Results & Reflections”

On July 4, 2024, we organized our online conference to reflect on the recent European elections, attended by nearly 50 participants. The conference provided a platform for notable speakers to present their analyses and reflections on the election results and their implications for the future of Europe.

The conference began with a welcome address by Stefaan Vercamer, ESU President, who paid tribute to Guido Dumon, our former Secretary General. Vercamer also announced that Patrick Penninckx had been elected as the new Secretary General during the presidium meeting held on May 15-16.

The conference started with Peter Mach, former Head of Statistical Services in Slovakia and ESU Vice-President. He presented the statistical results of the European elections. Using data from the European Parliament, Mach highlighted voter turnout, electoral results of individual political parties, and their integration into the political groups within the European Parliament. He emphasized turnout trends by year and by country, providing a comprehensive overview of electoral engagement across Europe.

Herman Van Rompuy, former President of the European Council, delivered a keynote speech reflecting on the outcomes of the European elections. Van Rompuy discussed several critical issues, including economic stagnation, the democratic crisis marked by the rise of far-right movements in countries like France, climate change, and the impact of social media and digital transformation on individualism. He also emphasized the significant role that seniors play in contemporary society.

Dra. Lien Jansen, Assistant to Prof. Steven Van Hecke, provided an analysis of the 2024 European Parliament elections, focusing on what to remember and expect moving forward. Please find her presentation here. She discussed the position of Ursula von der Leyen and the perspective of the European People’s Party (EPP). Jansen noted that the EPP has secured its sixth consecutive election victory since 1979, following a period dominated by Socialists, and highlighted the decline of a ‘progressive’ majority from the EPP. She also pointed out that the EPP remains the only party with MEPs from all member states. To conclude we welcomed Heinz Becker, former MEP and ESU Vice-President. Becker summarized the election results by referencing the Martens Centre report titled “The EPP Is the Largest Across Key EU Institutions.” Becker also highlighted that the EPP has reaffirmed its position as the largest group in the European Parliament and has a significant presence in the European Council. He also noted the substantial increase in protest votes, with more candidates and parties not affiliated with any existing group. Becker mentioned that the final composition of political groups in the European Parliament will become clearer following potential consolidations and new formations among right-wing parties.

The conference concluded with a lively Q&A session moderated by Patrick Penninckx. highlighting the attendees’ keen interest and engagement with the topics discussed. We want to thank all participants for their contributions and presence. The conference successfully provided a forum for reflection and discussion on the recent European elections, offering diverse perspectives and in-depth analyses from prominent figures in European politics. The event highlighted the ongoing significance of senior voices in shaping Europe’s political future.