STORY
The Council has adopted updated rules intended to strengthen the right of EU citizens to vote and stand as candidates in municipal elections when they live in another member state. The revised directive is aimed at “mobile EU citizens”, who are entitled under EU law to participate in local elections in their country of residence under the same conditions as nationals.
The new rules are designed to improve information for citizens, simplify registration requirements and prevent people from being automatically removed from electoral rolls in their country of origin when registering abroad. The Council said there were still barriers for many mobile citizens, including unclear information and burdensome procedures.
The legislation will enter into force twenty days after publication in the EU’s Official Journal, with member states given two years to transpose most of its provisions into national law. The measure forms part of the EU’s broader democracy package and reflects continuing concern about electoral participation, mobility and trust in democratic institutions.