The European Parliament elections 2014 – Watershed or, again, washed out?

The European Parliament elections are soon arriving, and the rumour mill has kicked into overdrive, suggesting that thses elections will be a game changer for European democracy. Against the backdrop of the on-going crisis and taking into account the fact that EU-level political parties will enter the 2014 campaign with ‘top candidates’ for President of the European Commission, turnout could increase and support for Eurosceptic political options may rise. Corina Stratulat and Janis A. Emmanouilidis analyse in this Discussion Paper the prospects and challenges for the 2014 EP vote. They argue that if the upcoming European elections are to herald significant change and avert latent risks, European and national political actors need to choose meaningful electoral messages and credible nominees for the Presidency of the Commission when going up against the anti-EU/euro parties.