The Role of Local and Regional Authorities in Applying the EU Legislation Regarding the Election Rights of European Citizens

AbstractIn the context of present difficulties faced by the European Union and the majority of its member states, related to overcoming the negative effects of economic crisis, doubled by a sovereign debt crisis, maintaining the European citizen's attachment to the European project can be a rather difficult aim to achieve. The lower involvement in the democratic life, expressed through a weak presence in elections, is a worrying sign in this respect. Aware of this stake, promoting the EU citizenship and the citizen's rights, especially the EU citizens’ right to elect and to be elected at local elections and for the European Parliament, becomes a priority of the EU institutions