Identification sheet of the survey
Increase in youth participation at EP election: impact of an European Citizenship project on Slovak students.

Teaser :
Slovak Republic achieved the lowest voters turnout in the European Parliament elections both in 2004 (16.9%) and in 2009 (19.6%). The slight increase in the turnout that was recorded in 2009 was with the first-time voters aged 20-23. The evaluation of the voters mobilization has been done by experts who claimed that the only difference between the pre-election campaigns in 2004 and 2009 were mobilization projects focused on students. These projects were financially supported by the European Parliament and the European Commission. One of them was the project SEP (Student European Parliament) of the Department of Political Science, University of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava. During 6 months this project developed activities focused on broadening the student’s knowledge about the European Union and the European Parliament.

News :
The aim of the SEP project was to explain, in a playful and interactive manner: - The position and the mission of the European Parliament within EU institutions, - processes of accession of Slovakia to the EU since 2004; the accession process is conceived as an important factor of transformation towards democratic governance in Slovakia, - information about activities of 14 Slovak members of the European Parliament in 2004-2009, - youth policy in the EU and in Slovakia (youth mobility, voluntary organisations, educational programmes, programmes supporting activities with the youth).The project consisted in a knowledge test about EU conducted among secondary school graduates and the organization of Committees of the Student European Parliament (SEP) with university students in each of the regional capitals, and one Plenary meeting of Student European Parliament. During SEP meetings students played the roles of EP members and therefore expanded their knowledge on EP functions, missions, and powers. Slovak students expect that members of EP will be attentive to their opinions, and that some students´ proposals will become their agenda and be delivered in committees of real European Parliament in 2010. The visit of 10 Slovak students (secondary school students and university students) to the EP in Strasbourg in February 2010 serve to support this aim.The impact of this youth participation project promoting the mobilisation of first-time student voters in the European Parliament election of 2009, was measured through two sociological surveys which were conducted with the target group. The results of the surveys and the comparison of results show that young people – first voters´ participation in the elections can be influenced. The results of the project, together with an analysis of the situation of youth in Slovakia are provided in the leaflet attached.

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