Networks & Lobby
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS, JUNE 2009
(2009-2014 LEGISLATURE)
>> Elections' results (08/06/2009)
>> Analysis of the key EP political groups (02/07/2009)
I. Background
In June 2009, the citizens of the 27 EU Members States will be voting for a new European Parliament, the only Institution in the world elected by universal suffrage, making these the biggest transnational elections in the history. 736 Members of the European Parliament (out of 9.000 candidates) will be elected for a five-year term, to represent about 500,000,000 EU citizens.
The date of the election will vary from 4 to 7 June 2009, according to each Member State local custom. The UK and the Netherlands will vote on 4 June, while most of the other Member States, including Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland and Germany, will have the election on 7 June.
However, the EU Member States must follow certain electoral procedures and democratic rules: proportional representation (The seats in the European Parliament are divided proportionately to the population of each country, the maximum being 99 seats for Germany, and the minimum 5 seats for Malta); 18 years old as minimum voting age; gender equality (the proportion of female MEPs is expected to further rise in these elections); and secret ballot.
The first results are expected to be announced on the evening of 7 June.
II. EFN Members’ Actions
The European Parliament can play a very useful and crucial role to advance citizens’ interests at European level. As the MEPs are the only directly elected representatives, they are traditionally open to engage in a dialogue with citizens and to take into account the concerns of their voters. Therefore, the EFN members are taking this opportunity to raise awareness of the candidates on the issues that are essential for nurses and the nursing profession in their own country, and to ensure that the elected MEPs will be able to play a key role in ensuring that the nurses concerns, at national level, are also adequately addressed in the work of the European Parliament.
>> European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN)
Manifesto
With up to 6 million nurses within Europe, the EFN and its members are a significant voting force. They are, therefore, calling on MEPs to support three priorities and use their influence to help: Implement the European Directive which regulates the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications (DIR 36); Plan the EU Workforce for Health to meet citizens’ needs; and Deliver Quality and Safeguard Patient Safety.
To read the manifesto, click here.
***
>> CYPRUS - Cyprus Nurses and Midwives Association
(CYNMA)
Mr. Ioannis Leontiou, CYNMA President, met with the candidates to the EU Parliament in order to speak about the issues raised in the EFN manifesto, which was translate and distributed to their members.
To read the manifesto, click here.
***
>> POLAND - Polish Nurses Association
The Polish Nurses Association published a manifesto.
To read the manifesto, click here.
***
>> UK - Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
The RCN, a member of EFN, developed a manifesto highlighting the key issues its almost 50,000 members consider as the most important to lobby politicians standing for these elections in June: ensure enough nursing staff to meet patients’ needs; stop nurses getting injured at work; prevent health care associated infections; provide the best possible nursing care through excellent education and training.
To read the manifesto, click here.
Furthermore, Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green party MEP candidates received a grilling from nursing staff across the UK at Tuesday's European Election fringe event.
The parties fielded some of their strongest European talent to debate the RCN's key issues including Vice-President of the European Parliament Diana Wallis (Liberal Democrat); Vice-President of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Jean Lambert, (Green Party); Vice-President of the European socialist group, Linda McAvan (Labour) and Leader of the Conservatives for the European Parliament Timothy Kirkhope (Conservative).
European law has a huge impact on nursing, health care and working conditions and members weren't afraid to push politicians to make and keep promises.
The parties promised to push for better working conditions, to create a sustainable workforce, to try to standardise qualifications across the EU for our mobile workforce, to raise health issues such as hospital acquired thrombosis to a higher level and to have zero tolerance to violence against nursing staff.
For further information:
www.rcn.org.uk/europeanelections2009
III. 2009 European Political Parties manifestos at a glance
>> European People's Party (EPP)
>> Party of European Socialists (PES)
>> European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR)
IV. EU Elections 2009 - Useful links
>> EuroparlTV
>> European Commission - Elections' Forum
>> European Journalism Centre (EJC)
>> VoteWatch.eu
>> YouTube
V. Publications
>> Booklet "Europe for women"
