The ETUC regrets the low turnout in the European elections, and declares that this is a clear signal for the European Union to make more progress towards Social Europe.

"The success of some far-right and nationalist parties is a reminder of the risk for Europe when there is little progress to show on social matters. It must be a Europe for the people and not only a business Europe”, declared John Monks, General Secretary of the ETUC.

The low turnout is disappointing. But it is also a clear signal: European citizens fail to see the concrete benefits of European activities in their daily lives. Political leaders have focused their campaigns too much on national issues. In many cases, Europeans have expressed their utter confusion and their criticisms on some European decisions, rather than necessarily taking an anti-European stand. This is also a signal to the coming Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), which will have to deliver a balanced Constitution containing a strong social dimension, likely to convince European citizens of the need for more Europe.

The ETUC will support the work of the future European Parliament, with a view to strengthening Social Europe rather than promoting mere competitiveness, and also bringing European citizens closer to the Union.