B3-0433 and 0481/94

Resolution on obstacles to, and discrimination against, EU citizens participating in the European elections

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its earlier resolutions on the voting rights of EU citizens,

-having regard to the Treaty on European Union concluded in Maastricht, and in particular Article 8b(2) EC,

A.convinced that Article 8b(2) EC enshrines the principle of non-discrimination against EU citizens,

B.disturbed that in some Member States citizens of other EU countries entitled to vote, unlike the Member State's own nationals, must themselves take steps to ascertain the election date,

C.convinced that it is unacceptable, and clearly contravenes the preamble to Council Directive 93/109/EC of 6 December 1993, that many EU citizens have to apply in person - sometimes twice - to the relevant office in order to register as voters,

1.Considers that Union citizens resident in a Member State other than their country of origin are entitled to non-discriminatory treatment, and calls, therefore, on the Member States to put an end to all discrimination against EU citizens wishing to exercise their right to vote in European elections in their Member State of residence and not in their Member State of origin;

2.Calls for EU citizens entitled to vote who are resident in a Member State to be informed about the European elections on the same basis as nationals of the Member State in question, and in particular to receive letters of notification addressed to them in person, rather than having to overcome bureaucratic obstacles in order to be registered to vote;

3.Calls on the Commission, as the guardian of the Treaties, to examine immediately the implementing provisions aimed at transposing Council Directive 93/109/EC of 6 December 1993 into national law to ensure in particular that they do not discriminate against citizens of other EU Member States, to insist on corrections where necessary, and to inform Parliament of the results of its investigations;

4.Calls on the authorities of the Member States, as a matter of urgency, to remove the bureaucratic obstacles to the provision of adequate information to Union citizens by post and via the press, radio and television concerning their right to participate in European Parliament elections;

5.Calls on those Member States where, as a result of discriminatory measures, only a small number of nationals of other EU Member States have registered to vote, to set a new deadline for registration to vote or to extend the deadline to 31 May 1994;

6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and all regional state authorities responsible for transposing into national law the right of EU citizens to vote in European elections.