European Elections 2024: Toolkit for civil society partners

Use your vote. Or others will decide for you.

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Read our guidelines, tips and example posts for sharing the #Useyourvote video with your networks on social media!

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It's time to remind your community that voting matters.

From 6-9 June 2024 over 400 million Europeans have the chance to play a role in shaping the future of European democracy. These elections are a unique moment. They’re the world's largest transnational elections, in which we can collectively influence the direction of the European Union.

Why should you get involved?

As part of the civil society, you can play a crucial role in inspiring and motivating your audiences, employees, members and co-workers to support European democracy. The message is clear: participate in the next European Elections. All significant decisions start with our vote. Those who choose not to vote, in a way, live in someone else's democracy – shaped by someone else's decisions.

People should understand the importance of their vote: because the political decisions taken will have a very real impact on their life. The European Parliament cannot reach all citizens in the Union. This is why we need you! Our role is to bring you in and empower you with the tools to help us spread the election message.

What we ask?

Stand up for democracy and support the power of voting to shape our collective future in Europe. Because the more people vote, the stronger democracy becomes.
Add your voice to the conversation. The same way you are already adding your voice on the issues important to you. Because you know that if you do not speak up, someone else might do so in your place – but from their point of view.
Share your own opinion on why voting at the European elections is important.
But above all let us share one common message together: #UseYourVote at the European Elections, 6-9 June 2024.

You can already easily play an important role by following these simple steps.

Remind your networks/audiences that voting at the European elections matters.
Remind everyone of the date of the European Elections: 6-9 June 2024. So no one forgets.
Get creative! Engage your members in European election actions.
Use your communication channels to share information and news on the European elections.

Scroll down and find 10 more concrete actions to promote the European Elections.

Resources

Election information

Visit the dedicated website on the European Elections 2024, with info on:

Why to vote
How to vote
Remind me to vote
Elections results
And more!

Visit the EE24 website

Download visuals and material in 24 languages

Together.eu

Newly released:

European Elections visuals

Download videos

Newly released:

Why you should join together.eu

#EUElections2024 communication strategy

European Parliament's strategy for #EUElections2024

10 Actions for Civil Society Organisations to promote #EUElections2024

1. Use your social media channels to talk to your audiences about the #EUElections2024. Remind them to vote on 6-9 June 2024 and spread the #UseYourVote.

2. Get inspiration from the elections website and invite your networks to sign up to be reminded to vote, share information on how to vote, and why to vote.

3. Write about the elections in your newsletters and emails to your members and audiences. Invite your readers to add the election dates to their calendar.

4. Consult the EP Partnership toolkit page and look for more ways to engage. If you are not yet one of our 400 partners, join together.eu, and promote your events and stay up to date with all the news about EE24. Collaborate with the EP centrally or in Member states as well as other organizations in spreading the information about EE24 and applying each other's voices.

5. Europe Day on 9 May marks 1 month ahead of the elections. Take this opportunity to remind your networks that the best way to support European values and democracy is by voting.

6. Update your signature with an #EUElections2024 visual from the download centre of together.eu.

7. Dedicate a few minutes of every event you organise or participate in to remind participants to vote in the #EUElections2024. You can use materials from our download centre, such as leaflets, leaving them in strategic locations to catch people’s attention.

8. Find compelling examples about some of the things the EU does or has done for your audiences, on the revamped ‘What Europe does for me’ website to show the impact of the EU on their lives. The recently updated website contains hundreds of short and easy-to-read notes with examples of how the EU has changed people’s lives for the better. You can find out what Europe does for your region, your profession, or your hobby.

9. Create a dedicated communication toolkit with your own elections campaign material inviting your members to use it on their channels / networks. Do you have an EE24 campaign you would like the world to see? Let us know and we will help you to promote it.

10. Share the emotional #UseYourVote video with your communities. Here's an example of what you can post:

Democracy is fragile. It is up to all of us to pass it on to the next generation. Use your vote. Or others will decide for you. Find out how to #UseYourVote on elections.europa.eu #EUelections2024

Here is to making history, one vote at a time #UseYourVote

Accessible European Elections

Making information on the elections available and accessible to all European citizens is a priority for the European Parliament. Check out the following easy to read guides, dedicated to the elections and to together.eu:

European Elections Easy-to-Read Guide

Together.eu Easy-to-Read Guide

Are you wondering how to make campaigns accessible for people with disabilities? Have a look at these useful checklists below.

Communications and Events checklists

What Europe Does For Me - EP Research service information

Are you planning to communicate about the importance of the EU?

Would you like to communicate on the impact of Europe on our everyday lives and need specific and updated information?

This website presents a series of short notes exploring EU deliveries and actions from the individual’s point of view. In a one-page format, these notes are available for you to read, share or reuse. And if you want to dig deeper, have a look at our longer briefing papers on EU policies in focus.

Check What Europe Does For Me

Our offer to civil society partners

Meet the EP Partnerships Team

Within the Civil Society Outreach Unit (DG COMM) of the European Parliament, the EP Partnerships Team collaborates with civil society organisations and other multipliers in order to create synergies in the area of communication.

We facilitate a community of communication professionals to exchange on how to better communicate Europe and the European Parliament’s work to citizens.

Our network of partners has grown over the years and now counts with more than 350 partners and over 800 individuals, operating only at pan-European level.

For youth-led and cultural organisations dedicated teams are ensuring tailored engagement:

- Youth Outreach Unit: youth@ep.europa.eu

- Cultural Outreach Unit: art@ep.europa.eu

Download our Intro Presentation

How to keep in touch with us & monthly newsletters

If you have questions, or simply wish to catch-up, we encourage you to reach out to us via ep-partners@europarl.europa.eu

Don't miss our monthly newsletters, where we share updates on the elections campaign, what's in the spotlight at the European Parliament, all the activities and initiatives that you could get involved in as partner organisations, and last but not least, interesting news from the community of partners.

Might have missed out something? Download the latest newsletters here:

2024

2023:

Your questions, our answers

How to co-host events together in the European Parliament?

We are delighted to offer our partners the opportunity to co-organize events at our facilities within the European Parliament in Brussels. Below are the guidelines to ensure a seamless collaboration:

1. Early Planning: Contact us as soon as you embark on event planning, preferably at least 2 months in advance. This allows us to check venue availability and assist you in making the necessary arrangements.

2. Event Information: Please provide detailed information about your event, including the requested date and timing, expected number of participants, and whether it is an in-person or hybrid event. Inform us about any plans for refreshments, share a draft program, and keep us updated on any changes.

3. Welcome remarks from the team: As part of the co-hosting agreement, we ask partners to include a 10 to 15 minutes introductory presentation on the European Parliament's communication flagship initiatives and updates on the elections campaign. Ideally, this should occur at the beginning of the event.

4. Available Conference Spaces: We offer two different conference spaces:

• Info Hub is a public space in the European Parliament that offers a vast array of resources and interactive activities. There are two meeting rooms with capacities of 80 and 30 persons respectively. This space is well equipped for hybrid events, there is a Wi-Fi connection, and drinking water is provided free of charge for all visitors. The space offers limited catering possibilities, with coffee breaks subject to space availability. Lunch is allowed only for all-day events with less than 50 participants. No accreditation is required as it's a public space. You can find more information on the Info Hub here.

• Zweig Visitor Centre is a newly designed, modern conference space with the direct access from the Esplanade Solidarność. There are 12 meeting rooms with various capacities, the largest one can accommodate up to 100 participants. Catering is possible (subject to availability of the space). The meeting rooms are not equipped with cameras for hybrid events. Accreditation is required to access the Zweig Visitor Centre, and we need a list of participants two weeks before the event, with amendments allowed later. There is a Wi-Fi connection, and drinking water is provided free of charge for all visitors. Both spaces are wheelchair accessible.

5. Catering Options: Partners can choose from the following EP-authorized catering providers:

• Sodexo: Roze Gashi – roze.gashi@sodexo.com Tel.: 02/28 30837

• Compass: restauration-reservation-compass-bruxelles@ext.europarl.europa.eu Tel.: 02/28 34554,

• Les Filles - Carine Mordant - carine@lesfilles.be Tel.: 02/28 33444

6. We kindly request that election candidates are not invited as speakers for our co-hosted events.

In our efforts to provide all candidates in the European elections with equal opportunities and in line with the impartiality of the administration of the European Parliament, unfortunately, at this stage we cannot co-host events that provide individual candidates with a platform to present their positions, as doing so may compromise the impartiality and fairness of the electoral process.

Please note that after 25 April MEPs cannot be invited as speakers.

7. Site Visits: If you wish to inspect the venue before the event, feel free to contact us to arrange a site visit. We'll be happy to show you around and address any questions or concerns.

8. In the spirit of collaboration we kindly request that you consider sharing our tools and initiatives with your partners and networks following the event. Your endorsement and outreach will significantly contribute to the wider reach and impact of our efforts.

We look forward to collaborating with you and ensuring a successful and impactful co-hosted events. For any further inquiries or to initiate the co-hosting process, please contact us at EP-Partners@europarl.europa.eu.

How to join together.eu

Together.eu will play an essential role in the run-up to the elections, both in the creation and mobilisation of a vibrant community of engaged European citizens. Therefore, we would like to make sure that you have all the necessary information to start using the platform for your upcoming activities and to start boosting external registrations as soon as possible.

We have created a very simple video with instructions on:

• how to join the together.eu platform

• how to create your organisation's profile (from 1:20')

• how to update your organisation's profile with your latest campaigns or communications activities, to make sure that your profile is always up to date during the whole duration of the project.

You also have the possibility to use your personal referral link when promoting external registrations on together.eu, so that you will be able to track how many registrations come from you and your projects. You can find your referral link in your 'Personal area' in together.eu, under the section 'My profile' at the very bottom of the page.

Video: 2024 European elections strategy

video title:

European Elections 2024
6-9 June

Contact us: ep-partners@europarl.europa.eu