EU can’t always get what you want: Unpacking the European Parliament elections

Between June 6 and 9, over 350 million citizens of the European Union will cast their vote in the European Parliament elections. Against the backdrop of a darkening geopolitical landscape and with far-right populists polling well across the EU, these elections will affect coalition-building in the parliament as well as the composition of the bloc’s executive. This in turn will determine the direction of the EU’s policy on key issues such as migration, enlargement to Ukraine and other countries, trade, and climate policy. Because these elections are held at the national level, they also serve as informal referenda on incumbent governments.

On June 11, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings convened a panel of experts to discuss what the results mean for European democracy, defense and security, and trans-Atlantic relations.

Viewers submitted questions for speakers by emailing [email protected] and on X (formerly Twitter) using #USEurope.