European elections in Luxembourg

Contents

1. EU - the European Union
2. Who decides in the European Union?
3. Electing the European Parliament?
4. After the election
5. Dictionary

1. EU - the European Union

What is the European Union?

The European Union is an association of 27 countries

on the continent of Europe. The abbreviation is: EU.

The countries in the EU work closely together. But not all the countries in Europe are in the EU.

The United Kingdom left the EU in February 2020.

The process of the United Kingdom leaving the EU is called: Brexit. Before the United Kingdom left the EU, there were many discussions. The discussions were about this question:

How will the EU and the United Kingdom work together after Brexit?

What does the European Union do?

The EU wants to prevent war in Europe.

The EU wants to make trade between countries easier. For example: trade in food or cars.

The EU also wants to protect democracy. This means: the people decide.

The EU affects our daily lives.

For example, the EU deals with the following things:

• Protecting buyers

You can buy things from other countries.

There are common rules which apply to those things. That means: the rules are the same for all countries. The rules say:

- how to make things

- how to sell things.

The rules protect customers.

Example: sometimes your mobile phone stops working. Then the shop must repair your phone.

But only until 2 years after you bought the phone.

Or the shop gives you a new phone.

• Opening borders

In the EU there are ‘open’ borders for people and goods.

That means: there are almost no border checks between EU countries any more.

EU citizens can travel more easily from one country to another. They do not need to show an ID card.

They do not need to show a passport.

It is easier for them to work in another EU country.

• Protecting the environment

The EU looks after nature and the environment. That is why there are now special light bulbs.

These LED or energy-saving light bulbs need less electricity.

• Helping young people

EU-citizens can study anywhere in the EU.

Their degrees are recognised in the other EU countries. A programme helps students.

If they want to study in another country for a year.

The programme is called Erasmus: it gives money to students.

Europe does not take every decision

Countries and municipalities are responsible for many things themselves.

In Luxembourg this means: the Parliament (the Chambre des députés) and the municipalities.

Therefore, Luxembourg also holds these elections:

• For Parliament: general elections. Only Luxembourgers can vote in these elections.

• For the municipalities: local elections. Luxembourgers and non-luxembourgers can vote in these elections.

The EU does not deal with schools in Luxembourg.

The Parliament takes decisions on schools in Luxembourg.

Because schools are a national matter: a matter for the country itself. The Parliament knows best what the situation in Luxembourg is.

Example: what languages people learn at school.

The EU does not deal with permits to build new houses.

Local councils decide on this. Because this is a local matter.

The EU only decides on things that should be the same everywhere in Europe.

Example: You are travelling from Luxembourg to another country in the EU.

You can make calls in that country at the same price as in Luxembourg.

It should not be too expensive

to use your mobile phone abroad.

So, decisions are taken by: municipalities, countries and the EU.

That is why there are local elections, national elections and European elections.

Luxembourg is a small country. Luxembourg cannot do everything itself. Luxembourg needs other countries.

Luxembourg can talk with politicians from other countries.

Together, they decide the rules for the EU.

2. Who decides in the European Union?

There are different institutions in the European Union. A lot of people work in those institutions.

They decide what happens in the EU.

Decisions often take a long time in the EU.

Because there are a lot of countries in the EU which participate in decision-making.

Every country wants to achieve its objectives.

For that reason, countries discuss during a long time.

Now you get to know what the tasks of these institutions are:

1. the European Parliament
2. the Council of Ministers
3. the European Commission
4. the European Council

You can also read about who you can vote for.

The European Parliament

The European Parliament represents people in the Citizens from every country in the EU

elect a new European Parliament every five years.

In the 2024 elections, 720 people will be elected.

They are Members of the European Parliament, or MEPs. They are women and men.

They are from all the EU countries.

Large countries with lots of people have more MEPs than small countries.

A small country like Luxembourg has 6 MEPs.

A large country like Germany has 96 MEPs.

The meetings are in Brussels (Belgium) and in Strasbourg (France). The administration is in Luxembourg.

MEPs have 3 main tasks:

• They keep an eye on the EU government.

This government is called: the European Commission.

• They discuss ideas for new laws in Europe. They decide the laws together with the Council of Ministers. That means: they vote on new laws. The laws then apply in all of Europe.

• MEPs decide the budget together with the Council of the European Union. The budget is a plan or a document.

It says how much money the EU gets. And how much money the EU can spend.

The Council of the European Union or Council of Ministers

The EU has a Council of Ministers.

It is also called: Council of the European Union. Ministers from the EU countries meet in the Council. Also ministers from Luxembourg.

Not all the ministers are there every time. It depends on the topic.

The ministers have for example the following tasks:

• They vote EU laws together with the European Parliament.
• They discuss decisions in their own countries. For example, the decisions concern the job market, youth or refugees. They try to make those decisions more consistent.

Every six months a different country takes over the leadership of the Council of Ministers.

We say: the country has the presidency.

That country organises the meetings of ministers. Luxembourg has the presidency in 2029.

The European Commission

The European Commission works like a government. The European Commission has these tasks:

• It suggests new laws for the EU.
• It makes sure that all the EU countries follow the laws.

The European Commission has a President. The members of the European Parliament elect the President.

For this election each European party choses one of their members. The party wants this member for President.

That member is the party‘s most important candidate. This candidate is also called leading candidate.

The European Commission has 27 Commissioners.

The Commissioners are the EU’s ministers.

Each Commissioner comes from a different country and is responsible for a different area.

For example, there is a Commissioner for agriculture and a Commissioner for the environment.

The European Council

The heads of state or heads of government

from the 27 EU countries meet in the European Council. Luxembourg’s head of government (Prime Minister) goes to these meetings.

In France, it is the head of state (President).

The members of the European Council normally meet four times a year.

The European Council has these tasks:

• It decides on the topics to be worked on in the EU.
• It sets the overall objectives for the EU, for example objectives for security in the EU.

Other EU institutions

The European Court of Justice is in Luxembourg-Kirchberg. The European Court of Justice makes sure:

-   that all countries follow EU laws and

-   that all countries respect the basic rights of citizens.

The European Court of Auditors is in Luxembourg-Kirchberg. It keeps an eye on money in the EU institutions:

How much money the EU gets

and how much money the EU spends.

It makes sure that the money is spent as planned.

The European Central Bank is in Frankfurt (Germany). It is responsible for the European currency, the euro.

3. Electing the European Parliament

Who can be a candidate?

Being a candidate means: wanting to become a member of the European Parliament.

Citizens can vote for candidates.

In Luxembourgish we also say: „sech opsetze loossen“.

A candidate must:

• be of legal age (at least 18 years old).
• have the nationality of an EU country.
• enjoy their civic rights.

That means: a judge has not banned them from voting.

• be resident in Luxembourg.

That means: be registered in Luxembourg on the day the list of candidates is submitted.

To be elected means that the candidate can be an MEP. Being an MEP in the European Parliament is a profession. That means that MEPs cannot have another job.

They have to quit the job they had before the election. MEPs receive their pay from the EU.

Who can vote?

You can vote in the European elections if:

• You are of legal age: at least 18 years old
• You possess your civil rights. In other words: The judge did not limit your civil rights. The judge has not forbidden you to vote.
• You have a legal guardian. But then you do not have to vote.
• You have the nationality of an EU country.
• You are a Non-Luxembourger.

Then, you must be registered in Luxembourg.

This is necessary on the day

you register on the electoral roll.

All voters are on the electoral roll. Every municipality has such a list. People on this list can and must vote.

It does not matter what nationality they have.

Non-luxembourgers can have their name removed from the electoral roll.

Luxembourgers cannot do this.

Luxembourgers are automatically on the electoral roll. They must vote.

Non-Luxembourgers must have the nationality of an EU country. They are not automatically on the electoral roll.

They must apply at the latest 55 days before the elections.

They must make an application to the municipality in which they live. They must write a letter.

Or they can go on the Internet. There is a special website.

It is called: www.guichet.lu.

This website is not written in easy-to-read language. It is in German, French and English.

Non-Luxembourgers can only elect MEPs of one country: either MEPs in Luxembourg or MEPs in their home country.

The letter of invitation

Before the elections you will get an envelope by post. The envelope contains:

the letter of invitation.

The letter invites you to vote. The letter will also tell you:

• the date of the elections
• when and where you can vote
• the opening hours of the election office
• how many MEPs you can vote for.

 

The instructions:

These are the rules for voters.

The rules are in 3 languages: Luxembourgish, German and French.

Voters must follow these rules. Then the ballot paper is valid

An example of a ballot paper:

You can practise on that ballot paper in order to prepare yourself.

The vote by post

You can vote at an election office. You can also choose to vote by post.

The application is possible from 12 weeks

before the elections and at the latest:

• 25 days before the elections if the ballot paper is sent to an address in Luxembourg or
• 40 days before the elections if the ballot paper is sent to an address abroad.

You must ask your municipality for a form.

You can also find the form on the webpage www.guichet.lu.

You can fill in the form on paper.

Then you have to send the form to the municipality by post.

You can also fill in the form online on www.guichet.lu.

You must write an address on the form.

If you live abroad, you must also add a copy of your identity card. You will then receive a ballot paper by post.

The letter will contain:

• the poll card,
• the instructions for voters,
• an example of the ballot paper,
• the real ballot paper, which you send back,
• 2 empty envelopes.

You vote and send the real ballot paper through the post to the municipality.

The municipality sends the ballot paper at the latest:

• 15 days before the election to an address in Luxembourg or
• 30 days to an address abroad.

When do you have to send the vote by post? The letter must be delivered to the election office before 2 p.m. on the day of the elections.

Otherwise, your vote is not valid. The vote does not count.

For this reason, you should send the letter a few days in advance.

At the latest on Tuesday or Wednesday before the Sunday of the elections.

How to make a decision

Voting means choosing, taking a decision. You cannot vote for all the candidates.

When voting you must choose candidates.

Find out:

• What parties are there?
• What do the parties want to change?
• What are each party’s ideas?
• Who are the candidates?

That means: who can you vote for?

Each party writes an election manifesto.

The manifesto tells you what the party wants to do if it wins the European elections.

A party says, for example:

If our party wins, we will try to create more jobs in the EU countries.

This is called an election promise.

The parties inform people about their manifestos:

• The parties put their manifestos in your letter box.
• The parties inform on their websites and on social media (Facebook, Instagram, …)
• The parties have information stands. You can ask the candidates questions.
•  The parties hold election meetings. Anyone can go there. It is a good opportunity to meet the candidates.
• The parties put posters up. For example: in the streets.

There are reports about the parties on television, the radio and the Internet.

Television and radio organise discussions with the candidates.

On the Internet you sometimes find false information.

Always ask yourself this question: ‘Is what I am reading true or not?’

And ‘Where does this information come from?’

Election promises are sometimes difficult to keep.

Some parties promise more than is possible.

For that reason, you should ask the party exactly how it wants to keep its promises.

The ballot paper: How to vote

On the ballot paper, you vote for candidates or a party. In Luxembourg, 6 MEPs can be elected = 6 votes.

On each list there are 6 candidates.

Option 1:

You vote for a party.

That means: You give all your votes to one party. You blacken the circle above the list of your choice. In other words, you color the circle in black.

Or you draw a cross in the circle: + or x. Each person on the list then receives 1 vote.

Please note: You can no longer make crosses next to the candidates.

Example:

The voter can fill in or put a cross in the circle above a list.

Option 2:

You vote for candidates.

That means: you put a cross next to the names of the candidates who best represent your ideas.

You put a cross in 1 or 2 boxes after the names. You put a cross in as many boxes as you have votes.

You put a cross next to the names of the candidates on one list.

Or you put a cross next to the names of the candidates on several lists.

You have 6 crosses in total.

You can put fewer than 6 crosses.

But you cannot put more than 6 crosses.

Example:

The voter can put a cross in the box after a candidate’s name.

The rules for a valid ballot paper:

• You may only put crosses in as many boxes as there are MEPs to be elected.
• This means: you can put 6 crosses. But you can put fewer crosses.
• You may only put a cross in the boxes or in the circle.
• You may not cross anything out or write or draw on the ballot paper.
• You may not make any marks, which make it possible to recognise you.

For example: your signature

• You may not put any other piece of paper or object in the ballot paper.
• You may only hand in the real ballot paper.

Other rules:

• You can only vote once.
• You cannot vote on behalf of another person. If you vote for another person, you may have to pay a fine.

Or you have to go to prison.

• You will receive an example of a ballot paper at home.

You can practise on that ballot paper in order to prepare yourself.

You can take that an example of a ballot paper into the voting booth as a reminder.

However, you may not hand in that specimen ballot paper.

You may only hand in the real ballot paper that you get at the election office.

If you make a mistake, you can get a new ballot paper from a member of the staff.

The member will destroy the old ballot paper immediately.

Accessibility

A person with a disabilty can take a helper into the voting booth with them.

It is the law.

The voter alone decides who he wants to vote for. The helper must keep the vote secret.

A blind or visually impaired person can use a tactile ballot paper as a help to vote.

You get the tactile ballot paper from the CDV (Centre pour le développement des compétences relatives à la vue).

The telephone number is: 00352 45 43 06 1 The e-mail is: info@cc-cdv.lu

On election day

 

You can go to the election office between 8am and 2pm.

You show your identity card or your passport.

You receive the ballot paper with the names of the candidates.

Voting is secret.

That is why you go into the voting booth.

You should not show anyone who you are voting for.

In the voting booth you find a pencil.

You can also take your own pen or pencil. You mark the candidates or the list.

Do not draw anything else on the ballot paper.

Go to the staff of the election office.

They will show you a box. This is the ballot box.

Show the stamp on the ballot paper. Put the ballot paper in the ballot box.

The election office closes at 2 p.m. The staff of the election office counts the votes.

4. After the election

The election offices close at 2pm.

The the staff of the election office takes the ballot papers out of the ballot box and counts the votes.

There are reports on the elections on television, radio and the Internet.

The first results will be announced in the evening.

On the day after the elections,

the full results for Luxembourg are known.

The result is shown in the newspapers, on television and on the Internet.

For example, on the official website www.elections.public.lu

Who gets into the European Parliament?

6 MEPs from Luxembourg are in the European Parliament.

The party with the most votes gets the most MEPs.

The parties from the various EU countries form groups.

That means: a party from Luxembourg works with parties from other EU countries.

These are parties with similar goals.

The individual parties become European parties.

In the European Parliament, these groups are called European parliamentary groups.

The MEPs represent the people of Luxembourg and, at the same time, all people in the EU.

That is so until the next European elections in five years.

Until then, every citizen can watch what’s happening: Are the MEPs really doing what they promised to do before the elections?

You are not happy with what they are doing?

Then, at the next European election you can vote:

•  for another party.
• or another politician.

Who becomes member of the European Commission?

The President of the European Commission:

The European Parliament elects

the President of the European Commission. Normally, that is the leading candidate from the party with the most MEPs.

It can be a man or a woman.

The President of the European Commission suggests new Commissioners.

He does that together with the leaders of the EU countries. The Commissioners help the President of the Commission. Each Comissioner has his own task.

For example, there is a Comissioner for Transport. He is responsible for: trucks and truck-drivers.

The new Commissioners must present themselves to the European Parliament.

The European Parliament must accept the new Commissioners.

Then the new Commission can start working.

The Commission says what will be important for the years to come and what it wants to do.

5. Dictionary

More information

Websites:

www.guichet.lu

www.elections.public.lu

www.zpb.lu

www.klaro.lu

https://elections.europa.eu

Here is more information on the European elections. This information is in difficult language.