Activities of Helmut SCHOLZ related to 2021/0373(CNS)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the Proposal for a Council Directive laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections by Union citizens residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals (recast)
Amendments (3)
Amendment 27 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In order to facilitate the exercise by Union citizens of their right to vote and to stand as a candidate in their country of residence, such citizens should be entered on the electoral roll in sufficient time in advance of polling day. They should ideally be entered automatically on the electoral roll upon registration for residence. These citizens should be able to receive information in parallel regarding this automatic registration, notably on the fact that it implies deregistration from the electoral roll of their place of origin. Alternatively, the country of residence should be able to allow the non- national Union citizens to decide and inform the authorities in due time. In both cases, the formalities applicable to their registration should be as simple as possible. It should be sufficient for the Union citizens concerned to produce a valid identity card and a formal declaration that include elements evidencing their entitlement to participate in the elections. Once registered, non- national Union citizens should remain on the electoral roll under the same conditions as Union citizens who are nationals of the Member State concerned, for as long as they satisfy the conditions for exercising the right to vote. Additionally, Union citizens should provide the competent authorities with contact information, enabling those authorities to keep them informed on a regular basis.
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The lack of adequate information, in the context of electoral procedures, affects citizens in the exercise of their electoral rights as part of their rights as Union citizens. It also affects the capacity of competent authorities to exercise their rights and to deliver on their obligations. Member States should be required to designate authorities with special responsibilities for providing appropriate information to Union citizens on their rights under Article 20(2), point (b), and Article 22(1) TFEU and the national rules and procedures regarding participation in and the organization of municipal elections. In order to ensure the effectiveness of communications, information should be provided in clear and comprehensible terms on a regular basis and ahead of elections. Member States should provide appropriate information to Union citizens on the right to vote, including technical arrangements in place for citizens with disabilities, the administrative steps to exercise that right as well as the nature of the political system and traditions.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Data regarding the exercise of rights and the application of this Directive can be useful in the identification of measures necessary to ensure the effective exercise of Union citizens’ electoral rights. In order to improve the collection of data for municipal elections, it is necessary to introduce regular monitoring and reporting of implementation by Member States, which should include, besides statistical data, information on the measures taken to support participation in elections of non- national Union citizens as well as technical arrangements in place for citizens with disabilities and possibilities of voting by way of advance physical voting or proxy voting. The Commission should assess the application of the Directive , including any changes in the electorate that have taken place since its entry into force and submit a report in this connection to the European Parliament and to the Council.