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Questionnaire on the conduct of the 2024 European Parliament Elections - For Member States

Fields marked with * are mandatory.

The Commission will issue a report on the conduct of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament no later than one year after such elections.

Beyond looking at turnout and implementation of relevant EU law as previous reports that followed elections to the European Parliament, the upcoming report will also follow-up on the Commission recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament (the ‘Recommendation’), adopted on 12 December 2023 as part of the Defence of Democracy package.

Information provided by Member States in response to this questionnaire will inform the Commission in the preparation of the post-elections report. It will also provide useful material for future discussions among Member States in the context of the European Cooperation Network on Elections (ECNE).

Following point 44 of the Recommendation, Member States are invited to transmit to the Commission, within 6 months after the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, information on the conduct of those elections in their territory, including on the measures implementing the Recommendation and, where applicable, relevant information on election observation by citizens.

You are kindly invited to reply to the following questions on behalf of your Member State as soon as possible  .ideally by 18 November 2024

Please select your country: AT - Austria BE - Belgium BG - Bulgaria HR - Croatia CY - Cyprus CZ - Czechia DK - Denmark EE - Estonia FI - Finland FR - France DE - Germany EL - Greece HU - Hungary IE - Ireland

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IT - Italy LV - Latvia LT - Lithuania LU - Luxembourg MT - Malta NL - Netherlands PL - Poland PT - Portugal RO - Romania SK - Slovak Republic SI - Slovenia ES - Spain SE - Sweden

Please indicate the name of the authority on whose behalf you are replying to this questionnaire:

Please add your email address:

PART 1 – Follow-up to Commission recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament

1. Supporting voter turnout and inclusive participation in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament

The Commission’s recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament included a call on each Member State to take a series of steps to support voter turnout and inclusive participation in elections. In this regard:

1.1. Please indicate the measures you took to facilitate, where applicable, voter and candidate registration for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

providing a dedicated website sending information to members of electorate by mail online registration of voters or candidates electronic collection of support signatures for candidates other (please complement below) voter and candidate registration is not necessary in my Member State

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1.1.1. If other, please explain.

1.1.2. If applicable, please briefly describe the measures referred to in point 1.1 and how you ensured that they were easily accessible and user friendly.

1.2. Did you introduce or use complementary voting methods for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

advance voting mobile voting postal voting e-voting other did not introduce or use complementary voting methods

1.2.1. If applicable, please describe briefly the complementary voting methods introduced or used.

1.3. When using ICT systems, also known as election technology, for example for monitoring the vote, counting the vote, communicating the results, or voting electronically, which of the measures described in the Commission’s compendium on e-voting and other ICT practices and new cybersecurity compendium did you take?

using state of the art ICT using trusted vendors including cybersecurity requirements in procurement and outsourcing contracts seeking broad consultations ensuring effective testing and auditing providing clear and easy-to-understand public information making the use of ICT in elections easily accessible and user-friendly ensuring that no state, region or municipality is in a situation of long-term electoral dependency on a specific private provider ensuring respect for data protection requirements supporting confidentiality of the vote ensuring the existence of a protocol where an individual identifies an error to protect the secrecy of the vote ensuring that election officials receive appropriate training relying on secure digital identification introducing specific measures to protect voters against potential coercion, such as the right to regret one’s vote on election day

1.3.1. If applicable, please describe in more detail the measures taken.

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1.4. What measures did you take to support gender equality in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Please elaborate.

1.5. Do you encourage gender balance in the governing bodies of electoral management bodies? Yes No

1.5.1. If so, please explain how.

1.6. How do you monitor, support and evaluate progress on gender equality in electoral processes? Please elaborate.

1.7. Are you aware of any assessment/reports/information gathered at national level by relevant civil society organisations in relation to inclusion in elections?

Please upload your file(s)

1.8. Could you describe the electoral rights of persons with a disability in your Member State?

1.9. Did you take specific measures to support the electoral participation of persons with disabilities as voters in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

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Yes No

1.9.1. If so, could you describe them?

1.10. Did you take specific measures to support the electoral participation of persons with disabilities as candidates in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

1.10.1. If so, could you describe them?

1.11. Did you take specific measures to support the participation of persons with disabilities as election officials in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

1.11.1. If so, could you describe them?

1.12. Did you make use of the guide of good electoral practices in addressing the participation of citizens with disabilities in the electoral process, prepared by the Commission and Member States in the framework of the European Cooperation Network on Elections?

Yes No

1.12.1. Did you take any of the following measures before or during the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Develop disability action plans, including checklists for accessible elections and involve representative organisations of persons with disabilities in the preparation of such plans. Ensure that persons with disabilities have access to electoral information, in multiple and accessible modes and formats. Ensure that election authorities’ websites are accessible. Conduct awareness-raising activities, training and education activities, including in cooperation with representative organisations of persons with disabilities.

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Choose polling station premises that are accessible, including by using checklists developed together with representative organisations of persons with disabilities. Design ballot papers to be easy to read and use assistive tools. Design accessible polling stations, going beyond physical accessibility. Ensure that voting machines are equipped with software that can easily incorporate accessibility features. Design voting booths and ballot boxes that are accessible to a wide range of voters. Purchase tools to improve accessibility, such as magnifying glasses, lamps, tactile and/or Braille templates for paper-based ballots, tactile stickers for ballot boxes, large grip pens, large printouts, audio files (i.e., DAISY (95)), video files with full transcription, captioning, sign language interpretation. Provide complementary voting methods and other specific arrangements, including postal and online voting, advance voting, mobile voting, curb-side voting, proxy voting and the option to choose another polling station. Mainstream disability considerations in manuals for election officials. Consult representative organisations of persons with disabilities when preparing election rules and involve them in developing codes of conduct, including inclusive practices for compiling candidate lists.

1.12.2. Did you take any of the following measures during the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Raise awareness among electoral and other relevant authorities. Disseminate electoral information in multiple and accessible modes and formats. Make electoral debates and events accessible. Support accessibility of political advertising, including in cooperation with representative organisations of persons with disabilities and providing training to media providers. Support candidates with disabilities, including by providing sign language interpreters, and conduct debates in accessible formats. Help persons with disabilities to participate as election officials, including by providing access to sign language interpretation. Support participation of voters, including by providing voting assistance by a person of their choice and implementing queue jumping policies. Announce election results in accessible formats. Ensure that election dispute resolution procedures are accessible to persons with disabilities. Support observation of elections by persons with disabilities and observe the accessibility of elections.

1.12.3. Did you take any of the following measures after the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Collect data on the participation of persons with disabilities in elections. Evaluate the accessibility of elections and involve representative organisations of persons with disabilities in such evaluation. Review legal, institutional, and administrative barriers. Review the accessibility of electoral websites, including in cooperation with representative organisations of persons with disabilities. Publish the results of the evaluation in accessible formats. Simplify, automate and provide access to the various preregistration processes, including voter registration, how to request accommodation, and give persons with disabilities access to the documents they need. Reinforce partnerships between election authorities, representative organisations of persons with disabilities and other stakeholders, to address identified gaps related to the overall accessibility of the electoral environment.

1.12.4. Briefly elaborate on the measures taken before, during or after the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

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1.13. Did you take specific measures to support turnout of different groups of citizens based on their specific needs?

Yes No

1.13.1. If so, could you describe them?

1.14. Are you aware of citizens from your country having specific difficulties to take part in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament (e.g., difficulties linked to identification documents)?

Yes No

1.14.1. Did you take specific measures in this context?

2. Encouraging election integrity and fair campaigning

2.1. Are you aware of pledges and codes of conducts in your Member State by political parties and campaign organisations on election integrity and fair campaigning in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Please elaborate.

Please upload your file(s)

3. Promoting election observation

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3.1. Did you take specific measures to facilitate the observation of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament by citizens and/or international organisations in your Member State?

Yes No

3.1.1. If so, could you provide examples?

3.2. Did you organise or support training activities for election observers ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

3.2.1. If so, what were the main topics covered by those training activities? participation in electoral processes of different groups election malpractice and fraud, including online the detection of covert and unlawful influence, including from third countries information manipulation, interference and disinformation other

3.2.1.1. If other, please indicate.

3.3. Did you cooperate, through your national election networks or other, with organisations of election observers?

to raise awareness on the importance of scrutinising election processes to develop policies furthering the integrity, resilience, and democratic nature of elections to understand how new technologies can be used to engage in information manipulation, interference and the spread of disinformation to the detriment of free and fair elections did not cooperate with organisations of election observers other

3.3.1. If other, please indicate.

3.3.2. If you cooperated with organisations of election observers, please briefly comment on such experience.

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4. Protecting election-related infrastructure and ensuring resilience against cyber and other hybrid threats

4.1. What measures did you take to ensure the protection of physical election-related infrastructure in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament (for instance, planning for contingencies that could have significant disruptive effects on the smooth running of elections)? Please elaborate your reply.

4.2. Have you identified the entities operating election-related infrastructure that are critical for the organisation and conduct of elections?

Yes No

4.2.1. If so, please list those entities.

4.2.2. Please describe measures taken to enhance the resilience of those entities and help them address the risks inherent in their operations.

4.3. Did you carry out or update risk assessments regarding the resilience of election-related infrastructure and of entities operating it ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

4.3.1. If so, please provide a non-confidential summary of your findings.

Please upload your file(s)

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4.4. What measures did you take to ensure a high level of cybersecurity in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

include an election cybersecurity taskforce or the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing & Analysis Centre in the national electoral network increase awareness on cyber hygiene of political parties, candidates, election officials and other entities related to elections perform cybersecurity risk assessments test crisis management and contingency plans provide adequate training to relevant stakeholders involved in those cyber exercises offer support and advice to the election stakeholders, including campaign organisations, parties and politicians (e.g., offer guidance on protection measures) cooperate with private entities involved in the cybersecurity of elections other

4.4.1. Please provide details.

5. Protecting election-related information

5.1. Please briefly describe the specific measures taken in your Member State to protect the information environment around the 2024 elections to the European Parliament including to ensure that voters receive correct information in a timely and intelligible manner.

5.2. Did you support projects, including from civil society, media organisations, research and education institutes and academia, to support resilience and public awareness, media literacy and critical thinking to address information manipulation, interference and disinformation related to the 2024 elections to the European Parliament or otherwise affecting free, fair and resilient elections? If so, please describe them.

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5.3. Did you provide specific support for independent media and fact-checking organisations in their activities addressing information manipulation and disinformation during the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

5.3.1. If so, please explain what kind of support you provided and to what type of organisations.

5.4. Did you take specific measures to support or facilitate the transmission of swift messages and responses to protect the information environment around the 2024 elections to the European Parliament (such as messages pre-bunking or debunking information manipulation and disinformation about election procedures)?

Yes No

5.4.1. If so, please provide examples of such measures.

5.5. Did you develop training for election or other relevant authorities to protect the information environment around the 2024 elections to the European Parliament and ensure preparedness to detect, pre-bunk and debunk disinformation about elections?

Yes No

5.5.1. If so, please elaborate.

5.6. In this regard, did you make use of tools such as the Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference toolbox to discuss appropriate responses and support the quick exchange of information, including in the framework of the Rapid Alert System?

Yes No

5.6.1. If so, please elaborate.

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5.7. Please share any best practices for identifying, mitigating, and managing information manipulation, interference and disinformation risks in electoral processes that you had in place for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

6. Measures regarding funding from third countries of political parties, political foundations, electoral campaigns and candidates

6.1. Did you recently modify your rules related to donations and other funding to political parties, political foundations, political candidates and campaign organisations from third countries or are you planning to do so?

Yes No

6.1.1. If so, please elaborate, explaining the changes and the reasons behind them.

7. Promoting easy access to exercise electoral rights for elections to the European Parliament

7.1. Did you promote initiatives aiming at increasing election accessibility and political engagement in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

awareness-raising initiatives information campaigns conferences debates other none

7.1.1. If so, please elaborate, including on the timing of such initiatives.

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7.1.2. Please also explain whether you placed a special focus on certain groups: young people first-time voters older people minorities other

7.1.2.1. If other, please explain.

7.1.3. Did you make use of the Commission’s Guide to EU citizenship?

7.2. During which days and voting hours could people vote in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in your Member State? Were there any differences with the voting hours and days during the previous elections to the European Parliament in 2019? If so, please explain those differences and the reasons for the change.

7.3. Did you conduct targeted information campaigns to increase mobile Union citizens awareness of their electoral rights and obligations, both as voters and candidates in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

7.4. Please elaborate on how you ensured that mobile Union citizens could easily access information about the progress and status of their registration.

7.5. Where local authorities are competent to enter mobile Union citizens on the electoral rolls, what steps did you take to support those authorities in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

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7.6. Did you take measures to inform your citizens living in third countries on how and where they could exercise their right to vote in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

7.6.1. If so, please explain those measures.

7.7. Which language selection did you use for explaining the electoral process to voters in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

7.8. Are you aware of citizens from your country having difficulties with registration formalities when seeking to vote and stand in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in other Member States, and if so, can you provide examples?

7.9. Did mobile Union citizens (voters and candidates) encounter specific difficulties with the registration process in your country? Please present data disaggregated by sex and disability. If such data is not available, please indicate this in comment.

Please upload your file(s)

7.10. What feedback (e.g., public consultation, user satisfaction surveys) have you sought and received from citizens, associations or non-governmental organisations in connection to the information and registration process of mobile EU citizens and what lessons do you draw from this feedback?

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8. Enhancing the European nature of the elections to the European parliament

8.1. How much time ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament was the announcement of candidates and the start of campaigning possible in your Member State?

Less than 3 months Between 3 and 6 months Between 6 and 9 months More than 9 months

8.2. Did you encourage or facilitate the provision of information to the public on the affiliation between national political parties and European political parties before and during the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

8.2.1. If so, please explain how.

8.2.2. Did you indicate such an affiliation on the ballots? Yes No

8.2.3. Did relevant competent authorities provide such information otherwise? Yes No

8.3. Did you take measures, if any, to facilitate the conduct of cross-border campaigns by actors at Union level (such as European political parties) or multi-national political parties in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

9. Addressing the risk of multiple voting in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament

9.1.  How did you inform mobile Union citizens on the rules and sanctions related to multiple voting ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

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9.2. Where, in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, a citizen of your Member State was removed from your electoral roll in order to vote in another Member State, what measures did you take to avoid that such a removal affected the registration of that citizen in electoral rolls for national elections? Please elaborate.

10. Strengthening election networks, electoral cooperation and reporting

10.1. Please briefly explain how your national election network (or election authority) cooperated in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament and the implementation of the Commission’s recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament.

10.2. Did your national election network or election authority engage with other stakeholders in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

media platforms researchers academia election observers human rights defenders Digital Services Coordinators other

10.2.1. If so, please elaborate.

10.3. Did your national elections network or election authority liaise with national Parliaments? Please elaborate.

10.4. Did you take any steps to promote or increase cooperation within your national election network in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Please elaborate.

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10.5. Have you increased resources and means for your national election network to conduct their activities recently or in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Please elaborate.

PART 2 – Participation and the rights of EU citizens

1. Entry in the electoral roll and Turnout

The following section aims to gather quantitative and qualitative data on voters in Member States.

National citizens

1.1. For each of the following lines, please provide as much as possible the total number, as well as data disaggregated by age (under 25, 25-39, 40-54, 55+), sex, and whether a person has a disability. If any disaggregated data is not available, please indicate it.

1.1.1. Number of own nationals residing in your country that entered in the electoral roll in your country to vote in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

1.1.2. Number of own nationals residing in your country who voted in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

1.1.3. Number of own nationals residing in other Member States that entered in the electoral roll of your country to vote in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

1.1.4. Number of own nationals residing in other Member States who voted in your country (i.e., voted for candidates in their country of nationality).

Please upload your file(s)

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Mobile EU citizens

1.2. For each of the following lines, please provide the total number, as well as data disaggregated by age (under 25, 25-39, 40-54, 55+), sex, and whether a person has a disability. If any disaggregated data is not available, please indicate it.

1.2.1. Number of non-national EU citizens in voting age residing in your country at the time of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, broken down by Member State of nationality.

1.2.2. Number of non-national EU citizens that entered in the electoral roll in your country to vote in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, broken down by Member State of nationality.

1.2.3. Number of non-national EU citizens that entered in the electoral rolls in your country and voted in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, broken down by Member State of nationality.

Please upload your file(s)

1.3. Have you analysed patterns related to protected characteristics in voters’ turn out/participation in the election and/or in running candidates, to uncover if such groups are participating in the election to the same or to varying degrees? If such patterns in participation were detected, could this inform future policymaking?

2. Right to stand as a candidate

2.1. For each of the following lines, please provide the total number, as well as data disaggregated by age (under 25, 25-39, 40-54, 55+), sex, nationality and whether a person has a disability. If any disaggregated data is not available, please indicate it.

2.1.1. Number of your own nationals that stood as candidates on the lists for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in your country.

2.1.2. Number of your own nationals that are part of minority groups (e.g. Roma) and stood as candidates on the lists for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in your country.

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2.1.3. Number of non-national EU citizens that stood as candidates on the lists for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in your country.

2.1.4. Number of non-national EU citizens elected from the lists of candidates for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in your country.

Please upload your file(s)

2.2. Were any applications from nationals of other Member States to stand as a candidate in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament refused by your electoral authorities? If so, how many, from which nationality and what were the reasons?

Directive 2013/1/EU amended Directive 93/109/EC to facilitate the process for non-national Member State citizens to register their intention to stand as candidates for European elections in their Member State of residence, and support the efficient communication among national authorities to ensure that citizens who have been deprived of the right to stand for such elections in their Member States of nationality are not registered as candidates in their Member State of residence, and that citizens are not registered as candidates in both their Member State of nationality and residence. In this regard:

2.3. Were there cases where your relevant national authorities did not receive replies from the authorities of the state of nationality with respect to this exchange of information? Do you have any further comments regarding this communication process?

2.4. Member State experts at the Commission’s expert group on electoral matters prepared an optional form to support the transmission of information regarding non-national EU citizens applying to stand as candidates in their Member State of residence foreseen by Directive 93/109/EC. Did your national authorities make use of this form? Do you have any further comments regarding this form?

3. Information exchange system (Article 13 of Directive 93/109/EC)

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Directive 93/109/EC foresees an exchange of information on non-national EU citizens registered to vote or stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament and intending to exercise their right to vote in their state of residence to help prevent citizens from voting twice. Member States have designated national contact points to conduct this exchange, and the Commission has facilitated the development of the process in its expert group on electoral matters, as well as provided a digital tool to ensure that the exchange of such data is secure.

3.1. How many non-national EU citizens (voters and candidates) did to their your authorities notify counterpart authorities through this process (please provide breakdown by Member State of nationality and for voters and candidates)? When did you begin and end sending data in this process?

3.2. For how many citizens of your Member State did registration information from your you receive counterpart authorities (please provide breakdown by Member State of residence and for voters and candidates), and among those notified, how many were removed from your national electoral rolls? When did you start and stop receiving data in this process?

Regarding the use of the crypto-tool:

3.3. Please provide your reflections on national experience with this data exchange process and the use of the tools provided by the Commission. Please consider in particular the following aspects: the type of data exchanged (compliance with the compulsory and optional data items and your reflections on how this could be improved), the XML file schema, the S-CIRCABC mediated process (the use of the secure national folders in the exchange of files), the encryption tool (usability and suitability), and the national single contact points.

3.4. How well do you think the information exchange system operated, in particular General comments: compared with the 2019 elections to the European Parliament? Do you have comments on the information exchange process and on its further improvement?

4. Elections reports

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Have you prepared a national report on the conduct of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? If so, please kindly attach it to your reply to this questionnaire.

PART 3 – Other remarks

Please add remarks/topics/issues/questions you would like to bring to the attention of the Commission, and which have not been addressed elsewhere in this questionnaire, in the context of the conduct of the 2024 European Parliament elections.

Please upload your file(s)

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Questionnaire on the conduct of the 2024 European Parliament Elections - For political parties

Fields marked with * are mandatory.

The Commission will issue a report on the conduct of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament no later than one year after such elections, as it did after previous elections to the European Parliament. Beyond looking at turnout and implementation of relevant EU law, this report will also follow-up on the Commission recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament, adopted on 12 December 2023 as part of the Defence of Democracy package.

The data gathered based on this questionnaire will be used by the Commission to prepare said report.

You are kindly invited to reply to the following questions on behalf of your political party by 6 September (*).2024 

(*) Some questions in this questionnaire are addressed to national political parties only, as indicated.

Please select the country of registration of your political party: AT - Austria EE - Estonia IT - Italy PT - Portugal BE - Belgium FI - Finland LV - Latvia RO - Romania BG - Bulgaria FR - France LT - Lithuania SK - Slovak Republic HR - Croatia DE - Germany LU - Luxembourg SI - Slovenia CY - Cyprus EL - Greece MT - Malta ES - Spain CZ - Czechia HU - Hungary NL - Netherlands SE - Sweden DK - Denmark IE - Ireland PL - Poland

Please indicate the name of your political party:

Please indicate the link to the website of your political party:

Please add your email address:

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Please provide evidence of registration as a political party in electronic format:

1. Supporting voter turnout and inclusive participation

1.1. Did you take specific steps to address the needs of different groups in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament (for instance, in your communication materials), such as persons with disabilities, young people or first-time voters?

Yes No

If so, please describe the measures you took, and the groups involved.

Did you place particular attention in your communication materials and political advertising to those groups (for instance, by using specific means, modes and formats of communication)? Please elaborate.

1.2. Did you take specific measures to encourage gender balance in your electoral lists? Yes No

If so, which specific measures did you take and what was their impact?

1.3. Did you take specific measures to encourage gender balance in the governing bodies of your party? Yes No

If so, which specific measures did you take and what was their impact?

1.4. Are you aware of any instances of violence (e.g., online or physical) against candidates to the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

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If so, please describe and comment on patterns affecting protected characteristics, such as the number of incidents or threats against women and men respectively, and if the nature/content of detected threats /incidents differ between women and men, if such analysis has been made, types of violence (such as, smear campaigns, harassment, threats, doxing, etc.), nationality of the victims, whether they have a disability, etc.

1.5. Did you have measures in place to prevent or fight online violence or threats against candidates to the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

If so, please describe them.

Were they targeted to specific groups (for instance, to women)? Please elaborate.

2. Encouraging election integrity and fair campaigning

2.1. If you adhered to the Code of Conduct for the 2024 European Parliament Elections facilitated by the European Commission, please explain in detail the measures you took to ensure the observation of the commitments laid down in such Code of Conduct.

2.1.1. Point 14 of such Code of Conduct for the 2024 European Parliament Elections foresees that signatories will discuss its implementation between European political party presidents and conduct a post- election review. Please describe in detail the measures taken to that purpose.

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2.2. Did you adopt/adhere to any other campaign pledges or codes of conduct on election integrity and fair campaigning ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

If so, please provide details.

Please upload your file(s) if needed.

If so, how did you ensure the observation of the commitments laid down in such pledges and codes of conduct?

3. Transparency measures for affiliations and political advertising

3.1. Did you provide information on your website or other on the organisations, foundations and other legal entities affiliated with you or campaigning on your behalf ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

3.2. Did you provide information on your website or other on your use of political advertising including on the amounts spent on political advertising and the sources of funding used ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

If so, please provide a link to the site where this information is reflected.

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3.3. Did you take specific measures to ensure that your political advertising is identified as such, including when it involved material prepared internally for dissemination using online social media? Please elaborate.

If so, did you make specific information available (about the identity of the political party which sponsored the advertising and where applicable, did you give any information about the targeting of the advertising, and on the use of artificial intelligence systems in the preparation of the content or the dissemination of the advertising)? Please elaborate.

3.4. Did you participate in any notable practices in the run up to the elections to the European Parliament in your country that you could describe and recommend? Did you become aware of examples where such transparency could be improved in the country or countries you campaigned in?

3.5. Did you encounter any obstacles to campaigning in the Member States? Please specify.

4. Promoting election observation

4.1. Did you cooperate with election observers to facilitate their election observation activities in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

If so, please provide details of such cooperation.

5. Cybersecurity of elections for the European Parliament

5.1. What special technical and organisational measures did you take to understand your exposure to the risk of cyber incidents and that of your members in the context of the European elections?

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5.2. What did you do to prevent cyber incidents and protect yourself and your members against cyberattacks?

5.3. Did you receive any assistance from other stakeholders (national or European authorities, IT companies) with respect to this issue, and if so, what?

5.4. Did you encounter any relevant cyber incidents in the course of the election period? If so, please provide a short description of the incident and the follow up.

6. Measures regarding funding from third countries of political parties, political foundations, electoral campaigns and candidates

[To national political parties] Did you conduct a specific risk assessment of the potential risks stemming from donations from third countries and donations potentially linked to criminal activity including corruption, money laundering and organised crime in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

If so, please provide details on the conduct and results of such risk assessments, including the steps and measures taken, whether it covered electoral campaigns and the identification of donors and whether it addressed actual or foreseeable negative effects for free and fair elections and included measures to address identified risks.

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7. Enhancing the European nature of the elections to the European parliament

7.1. [To national political parties] Did you provide (publicity or other) information before the start of the European Parliament electoral campaign on which European political party you are affiliated with or in the process of affiliating with?

Yes No

If so, how (for instance, by providing this information on your website)?

7.2. [To national political parties] What measures did your party take aimed at increasing the knowledge of your members about the elections to the European Parliament?

7.3. [To national political parties] Does your national legislation permit displaying on the ballot (paper) the name or the logo of any affiliated European political party?

Yes No

7.4. Did you display the logo of such affiliates on your materials (website, online/offline advertising, brochures, leaflets, ballot papers)? Please specify and provide examples.

7.5. What other means did you use to increase the visibility of the European dimension of European elections?

8. Data protection

8.1. What measures did you take to comply with data protection rules? Please describe.

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9. Awareness raising activities

9.1. Did you conduct specific awareness raising activities nationally to increase the transparency of elections and increase trust in the electoral processes? Were such activities designed and implemented with a gender perspective, and/or targeting any specific groups? Please present data disaggregated by sex if applicable and when possible.

9.2. Did you conduct awareness raising activities nationally to increase the reach  out and participation of remote vulnerable communities in a trustful electoral process?

9.3. Did you engage with third parties, including national authorities, media, online platforms and information technology providers, in this respect?

Yes No

9.3.1. If so, please provide details.

10. Right to vote and stand as a candidate

For the following questions, please present the total number as well as data on individuals disaggregated by age (under 25, 25-39, 40-54, 55+) and sex. If such data does not exist, please comment on that fact.

10.1. [To national political parties] Number of non-national citizens of the EU elected to the European Parliament from the list of candidates for the elections to the European Parliament supported by your party.

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10.2. Number of candidates belonging to national minorities (e.g. Roma) and number of candidates with disabilities elected to the European Parliament from the list of candidates for the elections to the European Parliament supported by your party.

10.3. [To national political parties] Were any applications from nationals of other EU Member States to stand as a candidate refused by your electoral authorities? If so, how many and of which nationality?

10.4. [To national political parties] Did you take any specific measures (leaflets, direct mailings) to inform citizens from other EU Member States of their right to vote in elections in your Member State?

10.5. Are you aware if any non-national EU voters and candidates encountered any specific difficulties with the registration process?

Any other remarks

Please raise any other relevant remarks/topics/issues/questions you would like to bring to the attention of the Commission, and which have not been addressed elsewhere in this questionnaire, in the context of the conduct of the 2024 European Parliament elections.

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Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË. Telefon: +32 229 91111.

EUROOPA KOMISJON ÕIGUS- JA TARBIJAKÜSIMUSTE PEADIREKTORAAT

Direktoraat C – õigusriik, põhiõigused ja demokraatia

Brüssel JUST.C.4/MZ/ms (2024)5713625s

Justiits- ja siseküsimuste nõunikele: 2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimisi

käsitlevad küsimustikud liikmesriikidele ja erakondadele

Lugupeetud kolleeg

Komisjon on koostamas aruannet 2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimiste kohta, nagu

oli välja kuulutatud demokraatia kaitse paketis, mis võeti vastu 12. detsembril 20231.

Töötasime kõnealuse aruande koostamise huvides koos Euroopa valimiskoostöö

võrgustiku liikmetega välja käesolevale kirjale lisatud küsimustiku. Oleme palunud

võrgustikus esindatud riiklikel ametiasutustel täita see hiljemalt 18. novembriks 2024.

Nimetatud küsimustik on lisatud vaid teabeks.

See küsimustik oli suunatud riiklikele ametiasutustele, aga nüüd palun Teil veel edasi saata

käesolevale kirjale lisatud küsimustik, mis on suunatud riigi tasandi erakondadele.

Küsimustik avaneb järgmise lingi kaudu:

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/2024EPelectionsPoliticalParties.

Oleksin tänulik, kui see link jõuaks Teie liikmesriigi erakondadeni, kes osalesid

2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimistel. Kui võimalik, peaksid erakonnad selle

küsimustiku täitma 6. septembriks 2024.

Vaid teabeks – paralleelselt konsulteeritakse Euroopa tasandi erakondadega.

Käesolevale kirjale on lisatud küsimustikud.

Küsimused tuleks saata aadressil [email protected].

Tänan Teid ette abi eest selles küsimuses ning jätkuvate jõupingutuste eest Euroopa Liidus

vabade, ausate ja probleemikindlate valimiste toetamisel.

Lugupidamisega

Julien Mousnier

(1) Komisjoni 12. detsembri 2023. aasta soovitus (EL) 2023/2829 kaasavate ja probleemikindlate

valimisprotsesside kohta liidus ning Euroopa Parlamendi valimiste Euroopa mõõtme ja tõhusa

läbiviimise kohta (C/2023/8626).

2

Lisa:

- Küsimustik 2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimiste läbiviimise kohta –

liikmesriikidele.

- Küsimustik 2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimiste läbiviimise kohta –

erakondadele.

Elektrooniliselt allkirjastatud 24/07/2024 14:44 (UTC+02) vastavalt komisjoni otsuse (EL) 2021/2121 artikli 11

1

Questionnaire on the conduct of the 2024 European Parliament Elections - For Member States

Fields marked with * are mandatory.

The Commission will issue a report on the conduct of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament no later than one year after such elections.

Beyond looking at turnout and implementation of relevant EU law as previous reports that followed elections to the European Parliament, the upcoming report will also follow-up on the Commission recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament (the ‘Recommendation’), adopted on 12 December 2023 as part of the Defence of Democracy package.

Information provided by Member States in response to this questionnaire will inform the Commission in the preparation of the post-elections report. It will also provide useful material for future discussions among Member States in the context of the European Cooperation Network on Elections (ECNE).

Following point 44 of the Recommendation, Member States are invited to transmit to the Commission, within 6 months after the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, information on the conduct of those elections in their territory, including on the measures implementing the Recommendation and, where applicable, relevant information on election observation by citizens.

You are kindly invited to reply to the following questions on behalf of your Member State as soon as possible  .ideally by 18 November 2024

Please select your country: AT - Austria BE - Belgium BG - Bulgaria HR - Croatia CY - Cyprus CZ - Czechia DK - Denmark EE - Estonia FI - Finland FR - France DE - Germany EL - Greece HU - Hungary IE - Ireland

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IT - Italy LV - Latvia LT - Lithuania LU - Luxembourg MT - Malta NL - Netherlands PL - Poland PT - Portugal RO - Romania SK - Slovak Republic SI - Slovenia ES - Spain SE - Sweden

Please indicate the name of the authority on whose behalf you are replying to this questionnaire:

Please add your email address:

PART 1 – Follow-up to Commission recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament

1. Supporting voter turnout and inclusive participation in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament

The Commission’s recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament included a call on each Member State to take a series of steps to support voter turnout and inclusive participation in elections. In this regard:

1.1. Please indicate the measures you took to facilitate, where applicable, voter and candidate registration for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

providing a dedicated website sending information to members of electorate by mail online registration of voters or candidates electronic collection of support signatures for candidates other (please complement below) voter and candidate registration is not necessary in my Member State

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1.1.1. If other, please explain.

1.1.2. If applicable, please briefly describe the measures referred to in point 1.1 and how you ensured that they were easily accessible and user friendly.

1.2. Did you introduce or use complementary voting methods for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

advance voting mobile voting postal voting e-voting other did not introduce or use complementary voting methods

1.2.1. If applicable, please describe briefly the complementary voting methods introduced or used.

1.3. When using ICT systems, also known as election technology, for example for monitoring the vote, counting the vote, communicating the results, or voting electronically, which of the measures described in the Commission’s compendium on e-voting and other ICT practices and new cybersecurity compendium did you take?

using state of the art ICT using trusted vendors including cybersecurity requirements in procurement and outsourcing contracts seeking broad consultations ensuring effective testing and auditing providing clear and easy-to-understand public information making the use of ICT in elections easily accessible and user-friendly ensuring that no state, region or municipality is in a situation of long-term electoral dependency on a specific private provider ensuring respect for data protection requirements supporting confidentiality of the vote ensuring the existence of a protocol where an individual identifies an error to protect the secrecy of the vote ensuring that election officials receive appropriate training relying on secure digital identification introducing specific measures to protect voters against potential coercion, such as the right to regret one’s vote on election day

1.3.1. If applicable, please describe in more detail the measures taken.

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1.4. What measures did you take to support gender equality in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Please elaborate.

1.5. Do you encourage gender balance in the governing bodies of electoral management bodies? Yes No

1.5.1. If so, please explain how.

1.6. How do you monitor, support and evaluate progress on gender equality in electoral processes? Please elaborate.

1.7. Are you aware of any assessment/reports/information gathered at national level by relevant civil society organisations in relation to inclusion in elections?

Please upload your file(s)

1.8. Could you describe the electoral rights of persons with a disability in your Member State?

1.9. Did you take specific measures to support the electoral participation of persons with disabilities as voters in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

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Yes No

1.9.1. If so, could you describe them?

1.10. Did you take specific measures to support the electoral participation of persons with disabilities as candidates in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

1.10.1. If so, could you describe them?

1.11. Did you take specific measures to support the participation of persons with disabilities as election officials in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

1.11.1. If so, could you describe them?

1.12. Did you make use of the guide of good electoral practices in addressing the participation of citizens with disabilities in the electoral process, prepared by the Commission and Member States in the framework of the European Cooperation Network on Elections?

Yes No

1.12.1. Did you take any of the following measures before or during the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Develop disability action plans, including checklists for accessible elections and involve representative organisations of persons with disabilities in the preparation of such plans. Ensure that persons with disabilities have access to electoral information, in multiple and accessible modes and formats. Ensure that election authorities’ websites are accessible. Conduct awareness-raising activities, training and education activities, including in cooperation with representative organisations of persons with disabilities.

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Choose polling station premises that are accessible, including by using checklists developed together with representative organisations of persons with disabilities. Design ballot papers to be easy to read and use assistive tools. Design accessible polling stations, going beyond physical accessibility. Ensure that voting machines are equipped with software that can easily incorporate accessibility features. Design voting booths and ballot boxes that are accessible to a wide range of voters. Purchase tools to improve accessibility, such as magnifying glasses, lamps, tactile and/or Braille templates for paper-based ballots, tactile stickers for ballot boxes, large grip pens, large printouts, audio files (i.e., DAISY (95)), video files with full transcription, captioning, sign language interpretation. Provide complementary voting methods and other specific arrangements, including postal and online voting, advance voting, mobile voting, curb-side voting, proxy voting and the option to choose another polling station. Mainstream disability considerations in manuals for election officials. Consult representative organisations of persons with disabilities when preparing election rules and involve them in developing codes of conduct, including inclusive practices for compiling candidate lists.

1.12.2. Did you take any of the following measures during the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Raise awareness among electoral and other relevant authorities. Disseminate electoral information in multiple and accessible modes and formats. Make electoral debates and events accessible. Support accessibility of political advertising, including in cooperation with representative organisations of persons with disabilities and providing training to media providers. Support candidates with disabilities, including by providing sign language interpreters, and conduct debates in accessible formats. Help persons with disabilities to participate as election officials, including by providing access to sign language interpretation. Support participation of voters, including by providing voting assistance by a person of their choice and implementing queue jumping policies. Announce election results in accessible formats. Ensure that election dispute resolution procedures are accessible to persons with disabilities. Support observation of elections by persons with disabilities and observe the accessibility of elections.

1.12.3. Did you take any of the following measures after the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Collect data on the participation of persons with disabilities in elections. Evaluate the accessibility of elections and involve representative organisations of persons with disabilities in such evaluation. Review legal, institutional, and administrative barriers. Review the accessibility of electoral websites, including in cooperation with representative organisations of persons with disabilities. Publish the results of the evaluation in accessible formats. Simplify, automate and provide access to the various preregistration processes, including voter registration, how to request accommodation, and give persons with disabilities access to the documents they need. Reinforce partnerships between election authorities, representative organisations of persons with disabilities and other stakeholders, to address identified gaps related to the overall accessibility of the electoral environment.

1.12.4. Briefly elaborate on the measures taken before, during or after the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

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1.13. Did you take specific measures to support turnout of different groups of citizens based on their specific needs?

Yes No

1.13.1. If so, could you describe them?

1.14. Are you aware of citizens from your country having specific difficulties to take part in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament (e.g., difficulties linked to identification documents)?

Yes No

1.14.1. Did you take specific measures in this context?

2. Encouraging election integrity and fair campaigning

2.1. Are you aware of pledges and codes of conducts in your Member State by political parties and campaign organisations on election integrity and fair campaigning in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Please elaborate.

Please upload your file(s)

3. Promoting election observation

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3.1. Did you take specific measures to facilitate the observation of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament by citizens and/or international organisations in your Member State?

Yes No

3.1.1. If so, could you provide examples?

3.2. Did you organise or support training activities for election observers ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

3.2.1. If so, what were the main topics covered by those training activities? participation in electoral processes of different groups election malpractice and fraud, including online the detection of covert and unlawful influence, including from third countries information manipulation, interference and disinformation other

3.2.1.1. If other, please indicate.

3.3. Did you cooperate, through your national election networks or other, with organisations of election observers?

to raise awareness on the importance of scrutinising election processes to develop policies furthering the integrity, resilience, and democratic nature of elections to understand how new technologies can be used to engage in information manipulation, interference and the spread of disinformation to the detriment of free and fair elections did not cooperate with organisations of election observers other

3.3.1. If other, please indicate.

3.3.2. If you cooperated with organisations of election observers, please briefly comment on such experience.

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4. Protecting election-related infrastructure and ensuring resilience against cyber and other hybrid threats

4.1. What measures did you take to ensure the protection of physical election-related infrastructure in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament (for instance, planning for contingencies that could have significant disruptive effects on the smooth running of elections)? Please elaborate your reply.

4.2. Have you identified the entities operating election-related infrastructure that are critical for the organisation and conduct of elections?

Yes No

4.2.1. If so, please list those entities.

4.2.2. Please describe measures taken to enhance the resilience of those entities and help them address the risks inherent in their operations.

4.3. Did you carry out or update risk assessments regarding the resilience of election-related infrastructure and of entities operating it ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

4.3.1. If so, please provide a non-confidential summary of your findings.

Please upload your file(s)

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4.4. What measures did you take to ensure a high level of cybersecurity in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

include an election cybersecurity taskforce or the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing & Analysis Centre in the national electoral network increase awareness on cyber hygiene of political parties, candidates, election officials and other entities related to elections perform cybersecurity risk assessments test crisis management and contingency plans provide adequate training to relevant stakeholders involved in those cyber exercises offer support and advice to the election stakeholders, including campaign organisations, parties and politicians (e.g., offer guidance on protection measures) cooperate with private entities involved in the cybersecurity of elections other

4.4.1. Please provide details.

5. Protecting election-related information

5.1. Please briefly describe the specific measures taken in your Member State to protect the information environment around the 2024 elections to the European Parliament including to ensure that voters receive correct information in a timely and intelligible manner.

5.2. Did you support projects, including from civil society, media organisations, research and education institutes and academia, to support resilience and public awareness, media literacy and critical thinking to address information manipulation, interference and disinformation related to the 2024 elections to the European Parliament or otherwise affecting free, fair and resilient elections? If so, please describe them.

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5.3. Did you provide specific support for independent media and fact-checking organisations in their activities addressing information manipulation and disinformation during the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

5.3.1. If so, please explain what kind of support you provided and to what type of organisations.

5.4. Did you take specific measures to support or facilitate the transmission of swift messages and responses to protect the information environment around the 2024 elections to the European Parliament (such as messages pre-bunking or debunking information manipulation and disinformation about election procedures)?

Yes No

5.4.1. If so, please provide examples of such measures.

5.5. Did you develop training for election or other relevant authorities to protect the information environment around the 2024 elections to the European Parliament and ensure preparedness to detect, pre-bunk and debunk disinformation about elections?

Yes No

5.5.1. If so, please elaborate.

5.6. In this regard, did you make use of tools such as the Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference toolbox to discuss appropriate responses and support the quick exchange of information, including in the framework of the Rapid Alert System?

Yes No

5.6.1. If so, please elaborate.

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5.7. Please share any best practices for identifying, mitigating, and managing information manipulation, interference and disinformation risks in electoral processes that you had in place for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

6. Measures regarding funding from third countries of political parties, political foundations, electoral campaigns and candidates

6.1. Did you recently modify your rules related to donations and other funding to political parties, political foundations, political candidates and campaign organisations from third countries or are you planning to do so?

Yes No

6.1.1. If so, please elaborate, explaining the changes and the reasons behind them.

7. Promoting easy access to exercise electoral rights for elections to the European Parliament

7.1. Did you promote initiatives aiming at increasing election accessibility and political engagement in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

awareness-raising initiatives information campaigns conferences debates other none

7.1.1. If so, please elaborate, including on the timing of such initiatives.

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7.1.2. Please also explain whether you placed a special focus on certain groups: young people first-time voters older people minorities other

7.1.2.1. If other, please explain.

7.1.3. Did you make use of the Commission’s Guide to EU citizenship?

7.2. During which days and voting hours could people vote in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in your Member State? Were there any differences with the voting hours and days during the previous elections to the European Parliament in 2019? If so, please explain those differences and the reasons for the change.

7.3. Did you conduct targeted information campaigns to increase mobile Union citizens awareness of their electoral rights and obligations, both as voters and candidates in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

7.4. Please elaborate on how you ensured that mobile Union citizens could easily access information about the progress and status of their registration.

7.5. Where local authorities are competent to enter mobile Union citizens on the electoral rolls, what steps did you take to support those authorities in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

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7.6. Did you take measures to inform your citizens living in third countries on how and where they could exercise their right to vote in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

7.6.1. If so, please explain those measures.

7.7. Which language selection did you use for explaining the electoral process to voters in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

7.8. Are you aware of citizens from your country having difficulties with registration formalities when seeking to vote and stand in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in other Member States, and if so, can you provide examples?

7.9. Did mobile Union citizens (voters and candidates) encounter specific difficulties with the registration process in your country? Please present data disaggregated by sex and disability. If such data is not available, please indicate this in comment.

Please upload your file(s)

7.10. What feedback (e.g., public consultation, user satisfaction surveys) have you sought and received from citizens, associations or non-governmental organisations in connection to the information and registration process of mobile EU citizens and what lessons do you draw from this feedback?

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8. Enhancing the European nature of the elections to the European parliament

8.1. How much time ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament was the announcement of candidates and the start of campaigning possible in your Member State?

Less than 3 months Between 3 and 6 months Between 6 and 9 months More than 9 months

8.2. Did you encourage or facilitate the provision of information to the public on the affiliation between national political parties and European political parties before and during the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

8.2.1. If so, please explain how.

8.2.2. Did you indicate such an affiliation on the ballots? Yes No

8.2.3. Did relevant competent authorities provide such information otherwise? Yes No

8.3. Did you take measures, if any, to facilitate the conduct of cross-border campaigns by actors at Union level (such as European political parties) or multi-national political parties in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

9. Addressing the risk of multiple voting in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament

9.1.  How did you inform mobile Union citizens on the rules and sanctions related to multiple voting ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

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9.2. Where, in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, a citizen of your Member State was removed from your electoral roll in order to vote in another Member State, what measures did you take to avoid that such a removal affected the registration of that citizen in electoral rolls for national elections? Please elaborate.

10. Strengthening election networks, electoral cooperation and reporting

10.1. Please briefly explain how your national election network (or election authority) cooperated in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament and the implementation of the Commission’s recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament.

10.2. Did your national election network or election authority engage with other stakeholders in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

media platforms researchers academia election observers human rights defenders Digital Services Coordinators other

10.2.1. If so, please elaborate.

10.3. Did your national elections network or election authority liaise with national Parliaments? Please elaborate.

10.4. Did you take any steps to promote or increase cooperation within your national election network in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Please elaborate.

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10.5. Have you increased resources and means for your national election network to conduct their activities recently or in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? Please elaborate.

PART 2 – Participation and the rights of EU citizens

1. Entry in the electoral roll and Turnout

The following section aims to gather quantitative and qualitative data on voters in Member States.

National citizens

1.1. For each of the following lines, please provide as much as possible the total number, as well as data disaggregated by age (under 25, 25-39, 40-54, 55+), sex, and whether a person has a disability. If any disaggregated data is not available, please indicate it.

1.1.1. Number of own nationals residing in your country that entered in the electoral roll in your country to vote in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

1.1.2. Number of own nationals residing in your country who voted in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

1.1.3. Number of own nationals residing in other Member States that entered in the electoral roll of your country to vote in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament.

1.1.4. Number of own nationals residing in other Member States who voted in your country (i.e., voted for candidates in their country of nationality).

Please upload your file(s)

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Mobile EU citizens

1.2. For each of the following lines, please provide the total number, as well as data disaggregated by age (under 25, 25-39, 40-54, 55+), sex, and whether a person has a disability. If any disaggregated data is not available, please indicate it.

1.2.1. Number of non-national EU citizens in voting age residing in your country at the time of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, broken down by Member State of nationality.

1.2.2. Number of non-national EU citizens that entered in the electoral roll in your country to vote in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, broken down by Member State of nationality.

1.2.3. Number of non-national EU citizens that entered in the electoral rolls in your country and voted in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, broken down by Member State of nationality.

Please upload your file(s)

1.3. Have you analysed patterns related to protected characteristics in voters’ turn out/participation in the election and/or in running candidates, to uncover if such groups are participating in the election to the same or to varying degrees? If such patterns in participation were detected, could this inform future policymaking?

2. Right to stand as a candidate

2.1. For each of the following lines, please provide the total number, as well as data disaggregated by age (under 25, 25-39, 40-54, 55+), sex, nationality and whether a person has a disability. If any disaggregated data is not available, please indicate it.

2.1.1. Number of your own nationals that stood as candidates on the lists for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in your country.

2.1.2. Number of your own nationals that are part of minority groups (e.g. Roma) and stood as candidates on the lists for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in your country.

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2.1.3. Number of non-national EU citizens that stood as candidates on the lists for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in your country.

2.1.4. Number of non-national EU citizens elected from the lists of candidates for the 2024 elections to the European Parliament in your country.

Please upload your file(s)

2.2. Were any applications from nationals of other Member States to stand as a candidate in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament refused by your electoral authorities? If so, how many, from which nationality and what were the reasons?

Directive 2013/1/EU amended Directive 93/109/EC to facilitate the process for non-national Member State citizens to register their intention to stand as candidates for European elections in their Member State of residence, and support the efficient communication among national authorities to ensure that citizens who have been deprived of the right to stand for such elections in their Member States of nationality are not registered as candidates in their Member State of residence, and that citizens are not registered as candidates in both their Member State of nationality and residence. In this regard:

2.3. Were there cases where your relevant national authorities did not receive replies from the authorities of the state of nationality with respect to this exchange of information? Do you have any further comments regarding this communication process?

2.4. Member State experts at the Commission’s expert group on electoral matters prepared an optional form to support the transmission of information regarding non-national EU citizens applying to stand as candidates in their Member State of residence foreseen by Directive 93/109/EC. Did your national authorities make use of this form? Do you have any further comments regarding this form?

3. Information exchange system (Article 13 of Directive 93/109/EC)

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Directive 93/109/EC foresees an exchange of information on non-national EU citizens registered to vote or stand as candidates in elections to the European Parliament and intending to exercise their right to vote in their state of residence to help prevent citizens from voting twice. Member States have designated national contact points to conduct this exchange, and the Commission has facilitated the development of the process in its expert group on electoral matters, as well as provided a digital tool to ensure that the exchange of such data is secure.

3.1. How many non-national EU citizens (voters and candidates) did to their your authorities notify counterpart authorities through this process (please provide breakdown by Member State of nationality and for voters and candidates)? When did you begin and end sending data in this process?

3.2. For how many citizens of your Member State did registration information from your you receive counterpart authorities (please provide breakdown by Member State of residence and for voters and candidates), and among those notified, how many were removed from your national electoral rolls? When did you start and stop receiving data in this process?

Regarding the use of the crypto-tool:

3.3. Please provide your reflections on national experience with this data exchange process and the use of the tools provided by the Commission. Please consider in particular the following aspects: the type of data exchanged (compliance with the compulsory and optional data items and your reflections on how this could be improved), the XML file schema, the S-CIRCABC mediated process (the use of the secure national folders in the exchange of files), the encryption tool (usability and suitability), and the national single contact points.

3.4. How well do you think the information exchange system operated, in particular General comments: compared with the 2019 elections to the European Parliament? Do you have comments on the information exchange process and on its further improvement?

4. Elections reports

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Have you prepared a national report on the conduct of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament? If so, please kindly attach it to your reply to this questionnaire.

PART 3 – Other remarks

Please add remarks/topics/issues/questions you would like to bring to the attention of the Commission, and which have not been addressed elsewhere in this questionnaire, in the context of the conduct of the 2024 European Parliament elections.

Please upload your file(s)

1

Questionnaire on the conduct of the 2024 European Parliament Elections - For political parties

Fields marked with * are mandatory.

The Commission will issue a report on the conduct of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament no later than one year after such elections, as it did after previous elections to the European Parliament. Beyond looking at turnout and implementation of relevant EU law, this report will also follow-up on the Commission recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament, adopted on 12 December 2023 as part of the Defence of Democracy package.

The data gathered based on this questionnaire will be used by the Commission to prepare said report.

You are kindly invited to reply to the following questions on behalf of your political party by 6 September (*).2024 

(*) Some questions in this questionnaire are addressed to national political parties only, as indicated.

Please select the country of registration of your political party: AT - Austria EE - Estonia IT - Italy PT - Portugal BE - Belgium FI - Finland LV - Latvia RO - Romania BG - Bulgaria FR - France LT - Lithuania SK - Slovak Republic HR - Croatia DE - Germany LU - Luxembourg SI - Slovenia CY - Cyprus EL - Greece MT - Malta ES - Spain CZ - Czechia HU - Hungary NL - Netherlands SE - Sweden DK - Denmark IE - Ireland PL - Poland

Please indicate the name of your political party:

Please indicate the link to the website of your political party:

Please add your email address:

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*

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2

Please provide evidence of registration as a political party in electronic format:

1. Supporting voter turnout and inclusive participation

1.1. Did you take specific steps to address the needs of different groups in the 2024 elections to the European Parliament (for instance, in your communication materials), such as persons with disabilities, young people or first-time voters?

Yes No

If so, please describe the measures you took, and the groups involved.

Did you place particular attention in your communication materials and political advertising to those groups (for instance, by using specific means, modes and formats of communication)? Please elaborate.

1.2. Did you take specific measures to encourage gender balance in your electoral lists? Yes No

If so, which specific measures did you take and what was their impact?

1.3. Did you take specific measures to encourage gender balance in the governing bodies of your party? Yes No

If so, which specific measures did you take and what was their impact?

1.4. Are you aware of any instances of violence (e.g., online or physical) against candidates to the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

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3

If so, please describe and comment on patterns affecting protected characteristics, such as the number of incidents or threats against women and men respectively, and if the nature/content of detected threats /incidents differ between women and men, if such analysis has been made, types of violence (such as, smear campaigns, harassment, threats, doxing, etc.), nationality of the victims, whether they have a disability, etc.

1.5. Did you have measures in place to prevent or fight online violence or threats against candidates to the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

If so, please describe them.

Were they targeted to specific groups (for instance, to women)? Please elaborate.

2. Encouraging election integrity and fair campaigning

2.1. If you adhered to the Code of Conduct for the 2024 European Parliament Elections facilitated by the European Commission, please explain in detail the measures you took to ensure the observation of the commitments laid down in such Code of Conduct.

2.1.1. Point 14 of such Code of Conduct for the 2024 European Parliament Elections foresees that signatories will discuss its implementation between European political party presidents and conduct a post- election review. Please describe in detail the measures taken to that purpose.

*

*

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4

2.2. Did you adopt/adhere to any other campaign pledges or codes of conduct on election integrity and fair campaigning ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

If so, please provide details.

Please upload your file(s) if needed.

If so, how did you ensure the observation of the commitments laid down in such pledges and codes of conduct?

3. Transparency measures for affiliations and political advertising

3.1. Did you provide information on your website or other on the organisations, foundations and other legal entities affiliated with you or campaigning on your behalf ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

3.2. Did you provide information on your website or other on your use of political advertising including on the amounts spent on political advertising and the sources of funding used ahead of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

If so, please provide a link to the site where this information is reflected.

*

*

*

*

*

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5

3.3. Did you take specific measures to ensure that your political advertising is identified as such, including when it involved material prepared internally for dissemination using online social media? Please elaborate.

If so, did you make specific information available (about the identity of the political party which sponsored the advertising and where applicable, did you give any information about the targeting of the advertising, and on the use of artificial intelligence systems in the preparation of the content or the dissemination of the advertising)? Please elaborate.

3.4. Did you participate in any notable practices in the run up to the elections to the European Parliament in your country that you could describe and recommend? Did you become aware of examples where such transparency could be improved in the country or countries you campaigned in?

3.5. Did you encounter any obstacles to campaigning in the Member States? Please specify.

4. Promoting election observation

4.1. Did you cooperate with election observers to facilitate their election observation activities in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

If so, please provide details of such cooperation.

5. Cybersecurity of elections for the European Parliament

5.1. What special technical and organisational measures did you take to understand your exposure to the risk of cyber incidents and that of your members in the context of the European elections?

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*

*

*

*

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6

5.2. What did you do to prevent cyber incidents and protect yourself and your members against cyberattacks?

5.3. Did you receive any assistance from other stakeholders (national or European authorities, IT companies) with respect to this issue, and if so, what?

5.4. Did you encounter any relevant cyber incidents in the course of the election period? If so, please provide a short description of the incident and the follow up.

6. Measures regarding funding from third countries of political parties, political foundations, electoral campaigns and candidates

[To national political parties] Did you conduct a specific risk assessment of the potential risks stemming from donations from third countries and donations potentially linked to criminal activity including corruption, money laundering and organised crime in the context of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament?

Yes No

If so, please provide details on the conduct and results of such risk assessments, including the steps and measures taken, whether it covered electoral campaigns and the identification of donors and whether it addressed actual or foreseeable negative effects for free and fair elections and included measures to address identified risks.

*

*

*

*

7

7. Enhancing the European nature of the elections to the European parliament

7.1. [To national political parties] Did you provide (publicity or other) information before the start of the European Parliament electoral campaign on which European political party you are affiliated with or in the process of affiliating with?

Yes No

If so, how (for instance, by providing this information on your website)?

7.2. [To national political parties] What measures did your party take aimed at increasing the knowledge of your members about the elections to the European Parliament?

7.3. [To national political parties] Does your national legislation permit displaying on the ballot (paper) the name or the logo of any affiliated European political party?

Yes No

7.4. Did you display the logo of such affiliates on your materials (website, online/offline advertising, brochures, leaflets, ballot papers)? Please specify and provide examples.

7.5. What other means did you use to increase the visibility of the European dimension of European elections?

8. Data protection

8.1. What measures did you take to comply with data protection rules? Please describe.

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8

9. Awareness raising activities

9.1. Did you conduct specific awareness raising activities nationally to increase the transparency of elections and increase trust in the electoral processes? Were such activities designed and implemented with a gender perspective, and/or targeting any specific groups? Please present data disaggregated by sex if applicable and when possible.

9.2. Did you conduct awareness raising activities nationally to increase the reach  out and participation of remote vulnerable communities in a trustful electoral process?

9.3. Did you engage with third parties, including national authorities, media, online platforms and information technology providers, in this respect?

Yes No

9.3.1. If so, please provide details.

10. Right to vote and stand as a candidate

For the following questions, please present the total number as well as data on individuals disaggregated by age (under 25, 25-39, 40-54, 55+) and sex. If such data does not exist, please comment on that fact.

10.1. [To national political parties] Number of non-national citizens of the EU elected to the European Parliament from the list of candidates for the elections to the European Parliament supported by your party.

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*

*

*

9

10.2. Number of candidates belonging to national minorities (e.g. Roma) and number of candidates with disabilities elected to the European Parliament from the list of candidates for the elections to the European Parliament supported by your party.

10.3. [To national political parties] Were any applications from nationals of other EU Member States to stand as a candidate refused by your electoral authorities? If so, how many and of which nationality?

10.4. [To national political parties] Did you take any specific measures (leaflets, direct mailings) to inform citizens from other EU Member States of their right to vote in elections in your Member State?

10.5. Are you aware if any non-national EU voters and candidates encountered any specific difficulties with the registration process?

Any other remarks

Please raise any other relevant remarks/topics/issues/questions you would like to bring to the attention of the Commission, and which have not been addressed elsewhere in this questionnaire, in the context of the conduct of the 2024 European Parliament elections.

*

*

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10

Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË. Telefon: +32 229 91111.

EUROOPA KOMISJON ÕIGUS- JA TARBIJAKÜSIMUSTE PEADIREKTORAAT

Direktoraat C – õigusriik, põhiõigused ja demokraatia

Brüssel JUST.C.4/MZ/ms (2024)5713625s

Justiits- ja siseküsimuste nõunikele: 2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimisi

käsitlevad küsimustikud liikmesriikidele ja erakondadele

Lugupeetud kolleeg

Komisjon on koostamas aruannet 2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimiste kohta, nagu

oli välja kuulutatud demokraatia kaitse paketis, mis võeti vastu 12. detsembril 20231.

Töötasime kõnealuse aruande koostamise huvides koos Euroopa valimiskoostöö

võrgustiku liikmetega välja käesolevale kirjale lisatud küsimustiku. Oleme palunud

võrgustikus esindatud riiklikel ametiasutustel täita see hiljemalt 18. novembriks 2024.

Nimetatud küsimustik on lisatud vaid teabeks.

See küsimustik oli suunatud riiklikele ametiasutustele, aga nüüd palun Teil veel edasi saata

käesolevale kirjale lisatud küsimustik, mis on suunatud riigi tasandi erakondadele.

Küsimustik avaneb järgmise lingi kaudu:

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/2024EPelectionsPoliticalParties.

Oleksin tänulik, kui see link jõuaks Teie liikmesriigi erakondadeni, kes osalesid

2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimistel. Kui võimalik, peaksid erakonnad selle

küsimustiku täitma 6. septembriks 2024.

Vaid teabeks – paralleelselt konsulteeritakse Euroopa tasandi erakondadega.

Käesolevale kirjale on lisatud küsimustikud.

Küsimused tuleks saata aadressil [email protected].

Tänan Teid ette abi eest selles küsimuses ning jätkuvate jõupingutuste eest Euroopa Liidus

vabade, ausate ja probleemikindlate valimiste toetamisel.

Lugupidamisega

Julien Mousnier

(1) Komisjoni 12. detsembri 2023. aasta soovitus (EL) 2023/2829 kaasavate ja probleemikindlate

valimisprotsesside kohta liidus ning Euroopa Parlamendi valimiste Euroopa mõõtme ja tõhusa

läbiviimise kohta (C/2023/8626).

2

Lisa:

- Küsimustik 2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimiste läbiviimise kohta –

liikmesriikidele.

- Küsimustik 2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimiste läbiviimise kohta –

erakondadele.

Elektrooniliselt allkirjastatud 24/07/2024 14:44 (UTC+02) vastavalt komisjoni otsuse (EL) 2021/2121 artikli 11

Saatja: <"Justiitsministeerium">

Saadetud: 26.07.2024 12:17

Adressaat: <"Justiitsministeerium">

Teema: FW: Webdesktop: 2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimisi käsitlevad

küsimustikud liikmesriikidele ja erakondadele

From: Merili Oja &lt;&gt; Sent: Friday, July 26, 2024 11:11 AMTo: Mariko

Jõeorg-Jurtðenko &lt;&gt;; Illimar Pärnamägi &lt;&gt;Cc: Hettel Varik

&lt;&gt;; Raili Lillemets &lt;&gt;Subject: Fwd: Webdesktop: 2024. aasta

Euroopa Parlamendi valimisi käsitlevad küsimustikud liikmesriikidele ja

erakondadele

Hei!

Edastan. Ma saan aru, et küsimustikku saab otse onlainis täita. Seega

andke siis palun lihtsalt teada kui erakondadele on info edastatud. Siis

saab VäMi süsteemis ka vastava märke teha.

Tervitades

Merili

Sent from mobile deviceVälisministeerium | Merili Oja | ----------

Forwarded message ----------

From: Raili Lillemets &lt;&gt;Date: 26 July 2024 at 08:50:04 CESTSubject:

Webdesktop: 2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimisi käsitlevad

küsimustikud liikmesriikidele ja erakondadeleTo: Hettel Varik

&lt;&gt;,Merili Oja &lt;&gt;,Merili Oja (Justiitsministeerium) &lt;&gt;

TereEdastan küsimustiku. Vastuseid soovitakse hiljemalt 6 septembriksReg.

number: 10.2-11/767Reg. kuupäev: 26.07.2024Sisu: Justiits- ja

siseküsimuste nõunikele: 2024. aasta Euroopa Parlamendi valimisi

käsitlevad küsimustikud liikmesriikidele ja

erakondadeleParimatRailiSekretärEesti alaline esindus Euroopa Liidu

juures