Rules and regulations
The European elections are scheduled by 6 9 to June, will be decisive for the future of hunting and conservation in Europe. Currently, eighty percent of national rules and regulations affecting hunting and conservation come from Brussels. What is decided in Brussels also affects non-EU countries and often influences how the rest of the world approaches environmental policy issues.
European elections 2024
The next European Parliament will have the opportunity to promote policies that benefit biodiversity and rural communities. These policies can include reversing biodiversity loss, combating species decline, managing large carnivores and restoring habitats. Brussels' decisions will also influence the bird species that can be hunted and the management of large carnivores. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) may also be asked to make decisions on what types of firearms and ammunition can be used in the future. From 6 to 9 June, European citizens will elect 720 deputies for the next five-year political mandate. This is an increase from the current 705 deputies. The size of a member state's population determines the number of deputies. No member state can have more than 96 members or fewer than 6. Germany currently has 96 deputies, while Cyprus, Luxembourg and Malta have six each.
The decisions made
These elections will extend their influence beyond the European Parliament. This will also influence the election of the President of the European Commission, as well as the hearings and evaluations of European Commissioners. FACE recommends that European hunters go to the polls fully aware of what the politicians and political groups you elected have done during their time in Brussels. What important decisions have been made that affect hunters? Who are the candidates in the upcoming elections and where do they stand on hunting and conservation issues? What decisions on hunting and conservation do you expect from the next Parliament?
The importance for hunters to engage and vote
Despite the enormous influence that EU decisions have on our daily lives, interest and participation in European elections are relatively low compared to national elections. The average turnout in the Union was around 50% in the last elections (2019), from 88% in Belgium (where voting is compulsory) to a record turnout of 22% in Slovakia. A low voter turnout means that citizens who vote have a significant chance of shaping the future direction of EU politics. On the contrary, groups and interests that do not make their voices heard during campaigns or do not show up at polling stations risk having their lives dictated by opposing interests. In other words, the hunting community needs to engage in significant numbers in the next election (source: FACE).