Dossier

The road to the 2024 European Parliament elections

Insights from the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung's offices and partners on the 2024 European Parliament elections, the next EU legislative term, and the "super election" year 2024 ✅🗳️🇪🇺

Highlights | Related events | Views from our offices | A "super election" year | Related content

En français

Placeholder Image for Video Content

Countdown to the EP 2024 elections

boell-thema-web.png

The EU and the European elections explained!

Read more
 
Official EU information campaign

Highlights

Insights from the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and partners on the EP 2024 elections and the next EU legislative term (2024-2029).

100-percent-renewables-action-plan-cover.png

The 100% Renewable Energy Action Plan for the next European Commission

Policy recommendations
The climate crisis and energy price explosion have made it clear: the EU cannot afford its dependency on fossil fuels anymore. How to deal with these enormous challenges? Our 100% Renewable Action Plan for the next European Commission describes what needs to happen after the 2024 European elections to harvest the benefits of renewables.
pdf
pop-zebra-wp81dxkud1e-unsplash_web.png

Trade unions, collective bargaining and the green transition in the next EU legislative period

Commentary
The climate emergency is the number one policy priority, requiring a fundamental overhaul of our economic system. During the Val Duchesse Social Partner meeting, the European Commission announced the creation of a Social Dialogue envoy. However, the roles of social dialogue and collective bargaining remain underappreciated, and the European Institutions need to focus on strengthening the role of trade unions in shaping the just transition throughout the next legislature.
By Béla Galgóczi
hbs-eu-newsletter-web-banner.png

Böll EU Newsletter 3/2024 - Letter from our Director

Newsletter
In late 2019, the European Green Deal was presented with pomp and circumstance, garnering widespread support. Just over four years later, as the current EU political cycle comes to an end, this support is withering. The European Commission has shelved parts of the Deal, scrapping proposals to halve the use of pesticides, for example. In the Council, the Nature Restoration Law hangs in the balance. And in the European Parliament, the conservatives have worked to reduce the ambition of the Green Deal, while  the liberals have called for a “regulatory pause”. Meanwhile, the social democrats are campaigning to put the social dimension front and centre.
By Roderick Kefferpütz
hbs_action-plan_web-cover-980x654.png

How the next European Commission could secure clean and affordable energy for all

Analysis
At the end of the current legislative term, the disagreement within the bloc of 27 EU Member States on many climate and energy issues can hardly be hidden. However, new momentum is urgently needed to cut EU emissions, keep industries competitive and protect prosperity. With our 100% Renewable Energy Action Plan for the next European Commission, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe, DUH) put forth priority actions for the following legislative term.
By Jörg Mühlenhoff
hbs_action-plan_web-cover-980x654.png

100% renewables: the way forward to fix Europe’s energy and climate issues

Analysis
When confronted with energy price explosions and the climate crisis, the EU cannot waste time and money on castles in the air. Instead of betting on unproven solutions far from market introduction, such as small modular reactors and the broad deployment of all kinds of carbon removal technologies, the EU should build on what works right now. Renewable energy sources have proven to be by far the most relevant and reliable solution. In our new 100% Renewable Action Plan for the next European Commission, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe) describe what needs to happen after the 2024 European elections to harvest the benefits of renewables.
By Jörg Mühlenhoff
Oxford University professor Timothy Garton Ash speaks during the Aspen Annual Conference 2023 in Prague, Czechia.

“We have to demonstrate that free societies do things better”

Interview
Timothy Garton Ash is one of the greatest political voices in Europe. In his latest book “Homelands,” he tells the story of how Europe emerged from the ravages of war in 1945, recovered, rebuilt, and moved towards the ideal of a Europe that is “whole, free, and at peace” ‒ until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A conversation with Roderick Kefferpütz about shattered illusions, the war in Ukraine, democratic backsliding, and the fight for freedom.
By Roderick Kefferpütz and Timothy Garton Ash
barley-field-1684052_1280.png

Sustaining tomorrow: the imperative for the EU to uphold its 2030 goals for a sustainable food system

Analysis
The EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy was designed to ‘accelerate the transition to a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system’. It sets a range of targets to be met by 2030, underpinned by a mixture of new or revised laws, and non-legislative initiatives. As the current European Commission nears the end of its mandate, this article proposes how the next European Commission, from 2024–2029, should carry forward the goals of the Farm to Fork Strategy, and actions to meet its targets, especially as the EU is currently stalling many of its aspects in light of recent farmer protests.
By Harriet Bradley
terry-reintke-ep5_ceuropean-union-2022-epphotographer-c2022-eu-ep-scaled-aspect-ratio-16-11-scaled.png

"We all must fight for our democracy"

Interview
The Europe that will go to the polls in June 2024 is very different from that of 2019. Pandemic recovery, the climate and energy crisis, war in the continent, and the rise of the far right are all driving the narratives of the electoral campaign, but also mobilising progressive forces. Roderick Kefferpütz interviews MEP Terry Reintke, Co-President of the Greens/EFA Group and Spitzenkandidatin for the European Greens, on Green solutions for Europe in uncertain and volatile times.
By Roderick Kefferpütz and Terry Reintke
Read all our articles on the EP2024 elections

Related events

There are no EP2024-related for the moment. Stay tuned!

See more events
untitled-design-3.jpg

No carte blanche for Orbán - the European Parliament takes the European Commission to court

Event recording
The European Parliament made a decisive move on 11 March 2024 to initiate a lawsuit against the European Commission before the European Court of Justice, following the contentious release of €10.2 billion in frozen EU cohesion funds for Hungary. This occurred despite Hungary ceasing to be a democracy and continuing to suffer from systemic corruption and rule of law deficiencies according to experts, multiple indexes and the EP itself. This webinar took place on 20 March 2024, with Márta Pardavi (Hungarian Helsinki Committee), Kim Lane Scheppele (Princeton School of Public and International Affairs) and Prof. Laurent Pech (Sutherland School of Law), moderated by Adéla Jurečková, Director of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Prague.
By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Prague
europawahl-2024_1_web.png

Towards the 2024 European Parliament elections: How can EU reform and enlargement succeed?

Event recording
Why is EU institutional reform important and what are the priorities? What is the connection between EU reform and enlargement? How would a possible right-wing shift affect the EU’s ability to carry out internal reforms and how can reform and enlargement still succeed? This panel discussion took place in Berlin on 7 March 2024, with Dr. Thu Nguyen (Deputy Director, Jacques Delors Centre, Berlin) and Piotr Buras (Head of Office, European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), Warsaw), moderated by Jan Philipp Albrecht, President, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.
By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
shutterstock_1968328321_BC.png

Trump 2.0: How should the EU approach an isolationist America?

Event recording
The 2024 US presidential election will be closely watched. After all, the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House would have a significant effect on Europe’s security dynamics with profound implications for the European Union. This is raising some uncomfortable questions. Webinar with Max Bergmann (Center for Strategic & International studies), Jana Puglierin (European Council on Foreign Relations, Berlin), Steven Everts (EU Institute for Security Studies), moderated by Teresa Eder, Program Director Foreign & Security Policy, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Washington, DC.
By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Washington, DC

Views from our offices

Contributions from the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung's EU & North America Division offices and their partners, on the EP 2024 elections and the next EU legislative term.

18647877160_89e2d438a8_k.jpg

Press freedom in France is threatened by crisis, concentration, and a lack of independence

Commentary
France is an outlier among other major European democracies for the mediocrity of its media system and the strong position of the far right within mass media. Over the past fifteen years, the French media landscape has been radically transformed. While demand for information has never been so high, thanks to the digital revolution, the overall supply of information has never been so low, giving rise to growing concern among media professionals represented by journalists' societies, unions, associations and collectives.
By Fonds pour une Presse Libre (Fund for a free press)
6774831552_e4eb9fc800_k.jpg

Why Türkiye matters for Europe's migration challenges

Commentary
While the European Union is poised for alteration, it becomes important more than ever to remember why Türkiye matters for Europe’s migration challenges. The EU needs a stable Türkiye. A country in severe economic and political conditions, lacking sufficient support for refugees and migrants, perfectly illustrates the push factors that drive further migration where the EU is a near destination. A stable Türkiye benefits the EU, the population in Türkiye, and the surrounding region. This cannot be achieved with unfair policies.
By Deniz S. Sert

Agricultural crisis: causes and possible solutions in France, Germany and Greece

Event report
While thousands of farmers have been protesting for weeks on the streets across Europe, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung – the Paris Office in collaboration with the Thessaloniki Office – organised on 12 February 2024 a timely online discussion on the causes and possible solutions to the agricultural crisis. Representatives of farmers and researchers from France, Germany and Greece outlined the situation in their countries, illustrated their demands and contributed with suggestions.

The 'Eurosceptic Internationale' at the Gates of Brussels?

Study
Political Capital Institute’s latest study, in cooperation with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Prague, aimed to give a snapshot of the state of populist radical parties and their cooperation and the Hungarian government’s role in it, before the campaign starts for the 2024 European Parliament elections.
pdf

A "super election" year

About half of the world's population is expected to go to the polls throughout 2024. To name a few: USA, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Ukraine, United Kingdom and, of course, the EP2024 elections.

shutterstock_2409557123_web.png

Will Prabowo’s presidency chart a brighter future for EU–Indonesia relations?

Analysis
On 14 February 2024, more than 164 million people cast their votes in Indonesia’s presidential election, making it the largest single-day election in the world. Frontrunner Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s defence minister, won by a landslide. This article analyses what Prabowo’s victory means for Indonesia, as well as EU–Indonesia relations, by looking at the current state of the relations and Prabowo’s recent nationalistic discourse.
By Hans Nicholas Jong
hbs-eu-3qs-980-x-654-px-hannah-neumann.png

3 Questions on EU-Iran relations to MEP Hannah Neumann

3 questions
Supporting a range of militias in the Middle East and providing weapons to Russia in its war against Ukraine, Iran is increasingly in the geopolitical spotlight. At the same time, Iranian women are still fighting for their rights, while legislative voting took place on 1 March 2024. So, we asked three questions to MEP Hannah Neumann (Greens/EFA), Chair of the EP Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula, Member of the EP Delegation for relations with Iran, as well as Standing Rapporteur on Iran, regarding how she sees EU-Iran relations moving forward.
By Roderick Kefferpütz and Hannah Neumann

This external content requires your consent. Please note our privacy policy.

video-thumbnail Open external content on original site

Related content

csis-feb2024-cover.png

How European Transatlanticists Might Approach an Isolationist U.S. Administration

Policy brief
The 2024 U.S. elections will be closely watched around the world, especially in Europe. The United States is the European Union’s most important partner, guaranteeing Europe’s security through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). A potential shift toward a less internationalist and more isolationist U.S. foreign policy would have profound implications for the continent.
pdf
boell-thema-web.png

Böll.Thema 1/24: Europa - Ein Versprechen

böll.thema
War in Europe, the worsening climate crisis, Europe's position in the global power structure: the EU is facing historic challenges. The European elections in June 2024 will decide what happens next. Current surveys see right-wing populist parties on the rise. They stir up fears about the future and stir up sentiment against Brussels without themselves having answers to the problems of our time. But we need positive and courageous ideas for Europe. [Publication in German]
By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Actually European 2024 cover

Actually European!? 2024

Executive summary
The sixth edition of the long-term study Actually European!? examines how the German population views the European elections and what they expect from their government at the EU level, ahead of the 6-9 June 2024 European elections.
pdf
2024-02-19-09_54_15-settings.png

Women CSO leaders for systemic change

Study
This study aims to take stock of the progress of the last decade, as well as identify remaining barriers and new opportunities for women CSO leaders in achieving systemic change in Europe. The key findings indicate a concerning trend of burnout among women leaders in the CSO sector, hindering their efforts to drive systemic change.
pdf
2024-01-09-10_02_51-window.png

A roadmap towards greening the European Central Bank

Study
This study shows that climate change requires central bank intervention and that – in anticipation of climate risks – the ECB can and should double down on its pledges to green central bank activities. Against this background, the report identifies numerous concrete policy options, from enhancing green tilting approaches in asset purchasing programmes to offering favourable refinancing terms to banks engaged in green lending.
pdf
2023-02-28-10_40_54-to-do-dec-jan.docx-word.png

30 years of the European Single Market

Report
This collection of brief essays shows the diverse views on the European Single Market, whilst unveiling green visions for the next 30 years. What unifies these different takes — ranging from environmental and consumer standards, Brexit, lobbying and more — is the understanding that the European Single Market remains a cornerstone of European Integration.
pdf
2023-12-19-11_56_58-window.png

Towards a common European China strategy?

Study
The majority of EU Member States do not have any formal China strategy papers. Some EU Member States and specific government ministries have adopted internal China strategies and guidelines that have not been officially released to the public. Commonly referred to as ‘China strategies’, these documents outline national positions on China, rather than concrete strategies for managing bilateral relations. Jacob Mardell mapped out the state of play of these strategies in EU27, UK and Switzerland.
pdf

Enlargement uncertainty: Reframing EU-Western Balkans relations

Position paper
The core of the EU’s relationship with the WB lies in the promise of full accession with equal rights and responsibilities. As the EU enters a period of reflection and potential reform, it must reintroduce clarity, determination, and honesty into its interaction with WB6.
pdf

Who guards the guards?

Study
This legal opinion written by the non-profit organization front-LEX elaborates on the accountability of Frontex under EU law for ongoing violations of the fundamental rights of asylum seekers, committed in relation to its activities in Greek waters.
pdf
3.ceps02_hgl-report_cover-600x848.jpg

The Radicality of Sunlight

Report
The EU is going through a critical moment in its history, expected to deliver on many fronts at once, from long-term transitions to crisis after crisis that has threatened to seriously upset its stability. It would be wrong, however, to assume that the EU can afford to ignore its deepest perennial challenge, namely its own democratic credentials. To offer ideas for the debates that will necessarily unfold, especially as we move towards the 2024 European Parliament elections, SWP and CEPS set up a High-Level Group on bolstering EU democracy.
eu-targets-factsheet-cover.png

Getting back on track with new EU climate and energy targets for 2035 and 2040

Factsheet
It is very clear that if the EU wants to make a fair contribution to the effort to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, it will need to follow the recommendation of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and aim for achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2040 rather than by 2050. This means the new EU 2040 target should become a net-zero target. It makes sense for the EU to set a very ambitious 2035 target of around 95% net GHG emission reductions at the same time.
pdf
Read all our atlases

Contact

© Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung e.V.
Schumannstraße 8
10117 Berlin
T +49 (30) 285 34-0
F +49 (30) 285 34-109
www.boell.de
info@boell.de

back to top