Week 14: Debater calls for mobilization before the EU elections

The elections to the European Parliament in June are approaching. Due to that, several debaters write about the mobilization of progressive voices in Europe, inequality in the Union and the existence of corruption and disinformation.

A limping mobilization of pro-European voters and successes of anti-European parties. These tendencies ahead of the parliamentary elections could lead to a gloomy Europe, according to Pawel Zerka of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). He believes that the elections in June are a rare opportunity for European citizens to be involved and influence the future.

- Time to mobilize, he states in one debate article in Dagens ETC.

Although Sydsvenskan's editorial board writes about the EU's future. They believe that the fight for an equal union with the same opportunities for women and men has come a long way, but that there is more to do.

- Voters can contribute there by expressing a clear opinion and voting more women into parliament.

The EU's migration policy has also been discussed on the opinion pages. Annika Ström Melin, independent columnist at Dagens Nyheter, criticizes the EU's cooperation agreement with North African countries to curb migration to Europe. She points out that the population in Europe is decreasing, while it is increasing in many African countries, and that controls and camps will not stop people from trying to get to Europe. She believes that, among other things, what is needed is more opportunities to get into Europe, more legal work permits, more places at European universities and a policy that favors development in the countries on the other side of the Mediterranean.

- The EU simply needs to put migration policy in a larger context, she writes.

Corruption and disinformation

Several debaters also write about corruption and the spread of misinformation within the EU. Dagens Nyheter's editorial staff writes about that miscellaneous digital channels which spreads disinformation forms part of the Russian hybrid war against Europe. One such example is Voice of Europe - which at first glance looks like an EU-oriented news site - but which has both slanted content and has channeled millions of kroner from Russia to the election campaigns of EU politicians.

- The challenges for European democracy have only just begun, writes the editorial board.

Aftonbladet's editorial writer Susanna Kierkegaard writes about that EU parliamentarians are sought-after spies because they have parliamentary immunity which means they cannot be prosecuted, arrested or investigated before parliament has voted to lift immunity. The immunity of MEPs must be adapted so that it is possible to investigate them, says Susanna Kierkegaard.

- If the European Parliament wants to maintain its democratic credibility, this must become an election issue. Swedish members can lead by example, she writes.