Giving power to citizens' voices: The 1980s

The European Communities continued to develop in the 1980s, with more countries joining, the launch of the single market and foreign relations entrenched in the Cold War. What issues were affecting Europe’s voters?

1984: Empowering European citizens with a stronger Parliament

In 1984, citizens from ten Member States, including Greece, which joined the European Communities in 1981, voted in the elections.

EU citizens’ votes would now have an effect on Community finances: the European Parliament’s powers extended to the Community’s budget.

In anticipation of the elections, the MEPs drafted a constitution pioneered by the federalist activist Altiero Spinelli to reform the European Communities’ institutions, bringing them closer to the citizens. Though the initiative was not taken up by Member States, it demonstrated a significant effort by Parliament to make the European Communities more democratic.

1989: Moving to the Mediterranean

By 1989, Spain and Portugal were members of the European Communities and people there cast their vote in these elections.

Enlargement to southern Europe led to increased regional disparities between the Member States of the European Communities. A genuine cohesion policy was introduced to tackle this. Structural funds focusing on the poorest regions, the strategic targeting of investments and multi-annual programming were integrated into the policy of the European Communities. 

The European Community was increasingly faced with large-scale environmental disasters, including the Chernobyl catastrophe, alarming levels of air and water pollution, and the hole in the ozone layer. Public consciousness about environmental threats was growing and attention turned to the need for European-level environmental policy. This was also reflected in the growing popularity of Green parties across Europe.

Amidst these challenges, European integration continued to advance. The Single European Act (1986) to create a common market was adopted: barriers to trade in the Community were being removed and standards were being harmonised. The Parliament started to have a real say on legislation through procedures known as cooperation and assent – and it needed the democratic voice of citizens to guide it.

The Erasmus programme was launched. It would go on to give academic and professional training opportunities to around 13 million participants by 2022.  

The European Parliament launched the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1988. Parliament is dedicated to protecting democracy and freedom of expression, and awards the Prize to individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to human rights. The first Prize was awarded to Nelson Mandela and Anatoli Marchenko (posthumously) in 1988.