Preparing for the next European Elections

After one year of the 2024 European Elections, the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) EU Office invited select stakeholders to a strategic roundtable discussion on the future of European democracy. The discussion was chaired by MEP Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, the S&D Group rapporteur of the AFCO committee. 

This high-level, closed-door event brought together Members of the European Parliament, leading academics, and key civil society representatives to reflect on lessons learned from the 2024 elections and to chart a path for meaningful electoral reform.

This event built on a two-year project by FEPS and FES EU Office, which included extensive research, working sessions with stakeholders across Europe, and the publication of two major policy studies:

• The great countdown: A guide on how to arrive prepared for the European elections 2029
• Ahead of the European elections 2029: Note to ourselves

The project’s findings underscore the importance of sustained debate and innovation in European electoral systems—not just in the run-up to elections, but throughout the legislative cycle.

Main topics include:

• Role of Europarties: How can Europarties and Euromanifestos foster stronger, more participatory European campaigns?
• Electoral Law Reform: What key reforms are needed to ensure a more inclusive and democratic electoral process in 2029?
• Sustaining Momentum: Strategies to maintain focus on electoral innovation and democratic engagement between election cycles.
• Transnational Lists: Exploring the potential and challenges of transnational electoral lists.

This event was by invitation only. For more information, please contact Ania Skrzypek, Director for Research and Training (ania.skrzypek@feps-europe.eu) and/or Céline Guedes, Coordinator of Partnership and Project (celine.guedes@feps-europe.eu).

Watch the video series “Ahead of the 2029 European elections”,  based on the policy briefs of the same title, explores key reforms to strengthen transnational EU politics and prepare for the 2029 EU elections with Members of the European Parliament including:

• Gabriele Bischoff on EU elections
• Brando Benifei on the Conference on the Future of Europe
• Juan Fernando López Aguilar on citizen participation in the EU
• Katarina Barley on representation of women in the European Parliament
• Andreas Schieder on transnational European parties