On April 26, the European Parliament is expected to convene its final session of the current term. Roughly six weeks later, from June 6 to June 9, up to 450 million EU citizens will be invited to participate in the elections that shape Europe’s future. The community is described as central to the bloc’s trajectory, especially as it navigates a global landscape marked by geopolitical volatility and rapid change.
Analysts warn that a new distribution of parliamentary majorities could influence the direction of governance at a moment when the EU needs to advance its agenda. Jaume Duch, spokesperson for the European Parliament and director general of communications, cautioned at a conference in Strasbourg that the Parliament’s effectiveness could be affected if the administration’s course is altered by shifting coalitions.
Polls currently suggest a softening in the traditional coalition of conservatives, social democrats, and liberals, with smaller or more ideologically distinct parties poised to gain ground. Some ultra-right formations, analyzed in a report by the ECFR think tank, are positioned to emerge as leaders by winning seats in several member states, potentially anchoring a renewed second force within Parliament.
great difficulties
The dynamic described above could complicate decision-making as the EU faces a wave of challenges. Duch stressed that Brussels must embrace its responsibility with renewed seriousness to defend core interests. This emphasis has grown sharper since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and comes alongside considerations about reducing dependency on external powers, including debates about strengthening North American partnerships and NATO cohesion.
Other critical challenges include inflation, ecological and digital transitions, migration management, and the expansion of the internal market. These issues are expected to influence the bloc’s ability to deliver tangible benefits to its member states while preserving autonomy and accelerating reform from within. Sergi Barrera, director of the European Parliament’s office in Catalonia, noted that elections will act as a barometer of public sentiment and governance performance within the Union.
Countries seeking to join the European community include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. Stakeholders from these aspirant states are watching closely as negotiations advance and reforms progress, hoping for a clear path toward eventual membership.
Participants in the XXXIII European Conference of the Catalan Council of the European Movement agreed to view the legislative assembly’s results with optimism. The assembly is nearing its close after a period marked by major developments in 2013, including Brexit, the global pandemic, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, all of which have driven continuous price changes and economic strain. In the last five years, nearly 500 laws were approved, underscoring the Parliament’s legislative activity and its role in shaping EU resilience and adaptation.