An interactive session about european union elections

New Year Eve (2019) is coming & the next Electionsto the European Parliament are expected to be held in 23–26 May. A total of 705Members of the European Parliament currently represent  million people from 27 member states(after the United Kingdom withdraws from the European Union ).

That’s why sessions for vote informing the citizens begun earlier. We had the chance to participate in one of them here in Cyprus.  On Friday 07.12.2018 an interactive session onEuropean elections which took part in home for cooperation started with anopening speech by the Deputy Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus, Thea Pieridou. She talked in English and explained the importancy of voting by saying : << European Union is not impersonal bureaucracy but everyday reality…A reality with new challenges and there is a way to deal with them with our vote.>> Second one the Head of the European Parliament Office in Cyprus,Andreas Kettis, gave a presentation on the European Elections instructed on how to vote, who is eligible to vote and how to vote if someone is abroad.And in the question why is important to vote?he replied:  << Because what is at stakeis democracy itself >>.

Then Cypriot MEP Neoklis Sylikiotis (GUE)  talked about presentation on eu elections and some of the important words of him : << reunification of our homeland & also since (1.5.2004)Cyprus enter in the European Union the vote restricts and avoids phenomena such as the rise of the  extreme right party.>>

Last but not least the volunteer of the institutional campaign of the European Parliament Zinonas Sokratous said : <<The EU is our home and our future>> and explain how we can vote by the internet and the importancy of the campaign.

It was really nice because the Interpretation in Greek and Turkish was available during the event. And the three languages (English,Greek andTurkish) translation during the session so each of the participants can understand and had the opportunity to make questions in the end by learning more specific details about Turkish-cypriot voting and in the same time how the participants –citizens are interested and have questions about their political rights. So after this informational session we are going to vote. What about you?