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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Elections to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage Introduction by Schelto Patijn Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee Secretariat Directorate-General for Research and Documentation EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Elections to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage Preface by Emilio Colombo Introduction by Schelto Patijn Report, resolutions and debates of the European Parliament SECRETARIAT DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION July 1977 COLOMBO, Emilio Italy Christian-Democrat Group President of the European Parliament Born - 11 April 1920 in Potenza Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy since 1946 Parliamentary Group: Christian-Democrat 19 5 5-1962: Held ministerial office as Minister of Agriculture, of External Commerce, and of Industry and Commerce 1963-1969: Minister of the Treasury 1970-1972: Prime Minister 197 2-1 97 6: Minister of the Treasury 197 6-1977: Chairman of the Political Affairs Committee of the European Parliament 4 PREFACE by Emilio Colombo President of the European Parliament By solemnly signing in Brussels on 20 September 1976 the Act on the election in May-June 1978 of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, the Nine responded to one of the most enduring and popular European aspirations. The most enduring because, since it was first put forward at The Hague Conference in 1948, the idea of a European Parliament elected by direct universal suffrage has never lost its attraction. Although it has frequently been disparaged and held up to derision, it could never be completely stifled. The most popular, because the present organization of Europe - although a necessary stage in its development - has none the less failed to elicit the wholehearted support of its peoples who saw it as something remote from their everyday life. The election of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage provides an opportunity of bringing the debate on Europe into the public forum and of enlisting the active support of the man in the street for the construction of Europe. Is the direct election of the European Parliament an end in itself? Obviously not; no more than the election of a national assembly, but certainly no less. The eternal question of the purpose of Parliament is no more relevant to the European Parliament than to a national assembly. Like a national Parliament, a European Parliament elected by universal suffrage will, above all, be the custodian of fundamental liberties. It will also exercise control, not only over the Community budget, now financed by resources directly levied from the European taxpayer, but also over the Community executive, thereby preventing the Community from drifting into technocracy. That is what democracy means. For the vast majority of men and women in Europe, parliamentary democracy remains, in the last analysis, the best possible system. Thanks to the patient and stubborn efforts of a handful of pioneers, the plan to elect the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage has surmounted the innumerable political, legal and technical obstacles in its path. It is now for the governments, parliaments, political parties and the people of Europe to do all in their power to ensure that the Act is ratified and that the electoral laws are enacted on time. The pages which follow contain the most important documents on the direct election of the European Parliament and are published as part of its contribution to the achievement of these goals. 5 PATIJN, Schelto Netherlands Socialist Group Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee since 197 3 Born: 13 August 1936 at The Hague. Doctor of Law Member of the Second Chamber of the States-General since 1973 Parliamentary Group: Partij van de Arbeid 6 INTRODUCTION by Schelto Patijn Member of the European Parliament Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Rapporteur on direct elections to the European Parliament The political significance of direct European elections lies in the fact that they are to take place. It lies in the creation of a direct link between the citizens and 'their' European Community. It is the citizens - not the governments - who must influence the further development and the policies of the European Community through the democratic processes which are vital to all Member States. This will be possible with the help of a directly elected European Parliament - even with the powers it at present possesses. For too long now, opponents of direct elections have claimed that the European Parliament must be given wider powers before such an election can take place, while ironically denying Parliament these powers on the grounds that it has not been directly elected. The European Parliament has broken out of this vicious circle and made it clear that the one does not depend on the other. Naturally, we must continue to fight for greater powers for the European Parliament and, in particular, for legislative powers within the European Community. That, however, is not germane to the issue of whether we will shortly be able to meet as the peoples' representatives with a mandate given us by the European peoples instead of one conferred on us by our national parliaments. Once we derive legitimate authority from a direct link with the European electors, our claims for such powers will be correspondingly more legitimate. To gain these rights we are contending not with the national parliaments, but with the Council, which meets behind closed doors to take its decisions. The national parliaments are our allies in the endeavour to bring uncontrolled power under the democratic control of democratically-elected representatives in the European Community. There is also a purely practical aspect. As long as we are subject to the pressure exerted upon us by our dual mandate - on the national and the European levels - we remain amateurs here in the European Parliament. We fulfil our legislative and supervisory tasks in Europe in so far as our duties in the national parliaments or in our constituencies allow us to do so. A large part of our responsibility still lies within our countries and we can only carry out our tasks here by dint of superhuman efforts. This must stop. The development of the European Community requires a professional parliament to oversee and participate in it. European elections are a means to this end and nothing more. The publication of the texts of the decisions and negotiations on preparations for direct elections should give the public a clearer picture. The national legislative bodies are called upon to ratify the Decision and Act of 20 September 1976 and introduce the legislation necessary for their implementation - especially the electoral law - so that the elections may duly take place in 1978. This interplay of national and Community parliaments illustrates 7 our claim that it is not a question of reducing the democractic rights of any parliament. The democratic process at Community level will be strengthened by these elections. This is in the interests of the people and, therefore, in the interests of all the democratic institutions of the Member States and of the Community. The connection between direct elections and close cooperation by the elected European Parliament with the Parliaments of the Member States is a constantly recurring theme in the debates of the European Parliament. Last but not least there is the broad political consensus among the various political groups in the European Parliament in favour of such elections. It is to be hoped that this consensus of opinion will also hold good in the Member States and help to arouse the interest of the electors. 8 COUNCIL DECISION (76/787 /ECSC, EEC, Euratom) 1 The Council, composed of the representatives of the Member States and acting unanimously, Having regard to Article 21 (3) of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, Having regard to Article 138 (3) of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Article 108 (3) of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, Having regard to the proposal from the Assembly, Intending to give effect to the conclusions of the European Council in Rome on 1 and 2 December 1975, that the election of the Assembly should be held on a single date within the period May/ June 1978, Has laid down the provisions annexed to this Decision which it recommends to the Member States for adoption in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements. This Decision and the provisions annexed hereto shall be published in the Official journal of the European Communities. The Member States shall notify the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Communities without delay of the completion of the procedures necessary in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements for the adoption of the provisions annexed to this Decision. This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official journal of the European Communities. t OJ L 278 of 8. 10. 1976. 9 Udfrerdiget i Bruxelles, den tyvende september nitten hundrede og seksoghalvfjerds. Geschehen zu Briissel am zwanzigsten September neunzehnhundertsechsundsiebzig. Done at Brussels on the twentieth day of September in the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy-six. Fait a Bruxelles, le vingt septembre mil neuf cent soixante-seize. Arna dheanamh sa Bhruiseil, an fichiu Ia de mhi Mhean F6mhair, mile naoi gcead seacht6 a se. Fatto a Bruxelles, addl venti settembre millenovecentosettantasei. Gedaan te Brussel, de twintigste september negentienhonderd zesenzeventig. For Radet for De europreiske Frellesskaber Fiir den Rat der Europaischen Gemeinschaften For the Council of the European Communities Pour le Conseil des Communautes europeennes Thar ceann Chomhairle na gComhphobal Eorpach Per il Consiglio delle Comunita europee Voor de Raad van de Europese Gemeenschappen Formand Der Prasident The President Le president An t-Uachtaran Il Presidente De Voorzitter (\ 10 Le ministre des affaires etrangeres du royaume de Belgique De Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken van het Koninkrijk Belgie /------\ .