The main focus will be on political rights attached to freedom of movement in the European elections. Belgium is innovating and taking the lead in European democratic reform having lowered the voting age to 16 in the European elections following Austria, Malta and Greece (from 17). This means involving a new cohort of 270,000 voters, who will be able to vote in the European elections on 9 June 2024. They will also be able to vote on 13 October 2024 in the local elections. Extending the franchise to vote in regional and national elections which also take place on 9 June would have required a change in the Constitution but should be kept on the agenda. How to reach these first-time voters and motivate them? Can first-time EU citizen voters who would be denied this right in their country of origin spread the word? Could this be a spark to ignite extension of the franchise throughout Europe? Germany is also introducing votes at 16 in the next European elections. If the main focus of this conference will be on first-time voters, it will not be exclusively on this group. The event will be in two parts: 1. Messages to Europe. The first part in the afternoon will focus on the preparations for the 2024 European elections and the measures needed to increase turnout especially among young mobile EU citizens living and working in Brussels. Could extending the franchise to 16-year-olds be a trigger? Whataretheirmainconcerns?SincetheEUInstitutionsarebasedin Brussels and are also a major employer of EU citizens, they should be involved. 2. Messages from Europe. The second part will take the form of an open Meeting of the Cross-Party Group of MEPs on European Citizenship.
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