Cypriots will elect their six members of the European Parliament on May 26, with information campaigns being readied to secure the biggest possible voter turnout on the day.

At a press conference at the Europe Direct information centre of Larnaca Municipality on Tuesday, journalists were briefed on the role of the European Parliament and the importance of the forthcoming elections.

EP Cyprus office press attache Alexandra Attalides said the elections will be held in the 27 EU member states, post-Brexit. She also referred to the institutions of the EU, their area of responsibility and legal procedures as well as the political groups and operations of the European Parliament.
The turnout in Cyprus in the last European Parliament elections in 2014 was 43.9%. Attalides highlighted the importance of voters casting their ballots.

“It is important for people who believe in the European Union to go vote. The highest stakes at these elections is the voter participation as it is very important who will be elected MEPs and what policies they will follow,” she said.

Charalambos Metaxas, who heads the European Commission’s representation in Cyprus said that the joint objective of the Commission and the European Parliament is to increase voter participation as this legitimises the institutions of the EU.

The European Parliament has the lead in the campaign, he added with the Commission’s representation here playing a supportive role.

“We want to show that the European Union works for its citizens in many ways. Europe protects its citizens in a very difficult environment, given the unexpected developments such as the economic crisis, Brexit and the other issues facing the EU,” he added.
 
Myrto Katsouri, who heads the Europe Direct info centre of Larnaca Municipality said that the centre’s activities these years include highlighting the important role of the European Parliament and informing the public about the forthcoming European Parliament elections.

“The aim is for as many citizens to vote,” she said adding that a number of actions of Europe Direct this year would focus on this.
The European Parliament elections in EU member states will be held on May 23 to 26 next year.

Edited by Bouli Hadjioannou