EP launches elections information campaign

The European Parliament has launched its communication campaign aimed at encouraging 375 million European voters to vote in the European elections, being held in the 27 member states in June.

It is the first time that the European elections are being publicised through a unique pan-European information campaign which shows voters the relevance of these elections for their personal lives.

During the campaign launch at the European Parliament in Brussels, Alejo Vidal Quadras and Mechtild Rothe, EP vice-presidents, said the campaign was non-partisan and was intended to provoke debate.

"This campaign reflects the importance of the Parliament especially as a legislator which, during the past five years, has effectively decided the final compromise on a number of European laws," Quadras said.

While the campaign was being presented in Brussels, the EP's office in Malta said that the central themes had been adapted in all member states according to the needs of the national and regional context.

EP Valletta head Julian Vassallo said that the main themes on which the campaign would focus in Malta were energy, work and family life balance, immigration and the issue of standardisation.

The campaign would be making use of media such as radio, television, newspapers and the internet. It would also use other means such as billboards, three-dimensional installations in prominent public spaces and an interactive choice box through which people wouldbe able to post recorded video messages that would be sent to Brussels.