The people know their voice does not count. It’s time for a European government accountable to the European Parliament.

Reacting to the results of the European Parliament elections, the Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe) express their concern about the much increased level of support for parties skeptical about the process of European integration, and the record low turnout across the continent.

“The clear message from these elections is that the European Union is presently not meeting its citizens’ needs,” stated Jon Worth, President of JEF-Europe.

“The European elections have proven to be too abstract, too distant.”

“No one knows what will change after voting one way or another in the European elections. That simply has to change.”

“No government is dependent on the support of the majority party in the European Parliament. The process of European integration seems to go on and citizens fear they have no control over the process.”

JEF-Europe has long campaigned for a truly federal structure for the European Union with the European Commission becoming a government for the EU, held to account by the European Parliament.

“We have to make sure the voice of the citizens is better heard at European level,” continued Jon Worth.

“As a first step, the European Parliament should be granted the power to elect the President of the European Commission, a decisive step to bring the EU’s executive under democratic control.”

“Looking further into the future, if the EU wishes to reform any of its policies, the power to do so should be in the hands of the European Parliament, not subject to lowest-common-denominator bargaining among national governments.”

“People rightly want something to change when they vote; only in a European federation would their vote have the value it deserves!”