From May 22 to May 25, voters in 28 members countries of the European Union will elect some 751 members of a newly empowered European Parliament. Since the Treaty of Lisbon came into effect, the EP has gained “co-decision” rights in many policy areas, including agriculture, energy policy, immigration and EU funds. The EP must approve the budget and most visibly, the European Parliament has gained the right to endorse (or not) the members states’ nominee to be President of the European Commission. The Parliament also must give its approval to the Commission as a whole.
But it is the European Parliament’s role as a sounding board of public opinion—on the EU as well as on national governments—that will get the most attention this time. Across Europe—most recently in France—populist, nationalist and Eurosceptic parties have gained in elections, within mainstream parties and in public favor. If this trend is reflected in these “European” elections, the European Parliament may find itself with a significant number of members who are hostile to the goals and aims of the European project.

Audience participation is encouraged. Presenters include Catherine De Vries, University of Oxford; Kostantinos Kourtikakis, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne; Will Daniel, Francis Marion University; Borbala Goncz, Corvinus University of Budapest.