Transnational democracy

In the next few days, the world will witness one of the most extraordinary events in democratic politics. It will directly concern 375 million people from more than two dozen different countries. And it will take place right here in Europe, on your doorstep.

I'm referring to the upcoming elections for the European Parliament - the biggest exercise in transnational democracy on the planet.

And your vote matters because the choice you make will help to shape the European Union's course of action for the next five years.

In fact, this time your vote could be more important than ever before.

There are two reasons for this.

First, because the world is going through its deepest economic crisis since the 1930s. Decisive, coordinated action across the EU is essential if we are to minimise job losses and re-build our economies to benefit from the growth areas of the future. And that can only happen with the support of Europe's citizens.

The second reason why your vote is so important is because the European Parliament is poised to become an even more powerful actor in the governance of Europe if, as I firmly hope, the Lisbon Treaty is ratified and enters into force over the coming months.

This is significant because as our societies evolve so too does the European Union. In the beginning, the goal of the EU was to promote peace and a higher standard of living. It has been stunningly successful at this. Not only has it reconciled ancient adversaries, it has also extended its zone of peace, stability and prosperity to every corner of our continent, through enlargement.

That goal remains central to what the EU is all about. But today we face new challenges that have no respect for national borders.

Financial crisis, climate change, energy insecurity, international terrorism and pandemics are just some examples. So even though many people now take peace for granted, there still really is no alternative to the nations of Europe continuing to work together, in partnership with the institutions of the EU.

The European Commission will continue to play its part by taking the political initiative and making the necessary proposals to deliver concrete results for citizens. It has always strived to keep Europe strong, open and fair by lowering barriers among Europeans through the internal market and promoting European interests in a globalised world. During my watch, it has also started to play a leading role in two issues of critical importance for the future: climate change and energy.

The Commission has also kept an unwavering focus on the need to mitigate the social costs of the current crisis. That is why, for example, we have accelerated the release of €16.7 billion from the European Social Fund for 2009-10 alone.

This will really help to keep people in work or get them back into work as soon as possible. It also explains why we have overhauled the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, in order to make it a more effective crisis response instrument. And it is what motivated us to lead global efforts to tackle the crisis, through the G20, for example, and battle against the emergence of protectionism, which would destroy European jobs.

But, at the end of the day, it is the European Parliament that makes the laws, together with the national governments, including your own, and the European Commission is accountable to the European Parliament.

Over the last five years I have worked with the European Parliament on an almost daily basis. I can testify to the commitment ant the competence of its members and the quality of their work. And, in fact, the role played by the European Parliament is becoming ever more significant and will increase further in the future.

Choose members of Parliament that reflect your views on how to tackle the challenges we all face because what Europe does will affect you and your daily life.

Mr Barroso is President of the European Commission.