The minimum age for voting

The minimum age for voting

Doc. 7456

15 January 1996

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION

presented by Mr KOLLWELTER and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The undersigned, members of the Parliamentary Assembly, draw attention to Recommendation 1019 (1985) on the participation of young people in political and institutional life, in which the Assembly said it was "convinced - if democracy was to survive and develop - of the importance of the active and effective awareness, understanding, participation and commitment of young people in political and institutional life at local, national and European levels".

2.       Through its systematic and ongoing youth policy, which is reflected, for instance, in the work of the European Youth Centre and the European Youth Foundation, the Council of Europe is engaged in permanent dialogue with Europe's young people and their representatives, and helps them develop a sense of responsibility through various bipartite and co-management structures.

3.       Through its Sub-Committee on Youth and Sport, the Assembly has consistently provided its support and co-operation in this policy, while proposing new ways of enabling young people to become involved in political and institutional life.

4.       The Assembly believes that the effective participation of young people in elected bodies at local, national and European level deserves close attention and, where appropriate, should be extended to new age groups.

5.       The Assembly stresses the importance of interesting - and involving - young people at the earliest possible age in the democratic institutions of the Council of Europe's 38 member states.

6.       The Assembly advocates the harmonisation of the various provisions in force in the member states concerning the minimum age for voting and standing for election.

7.       The Assembly believes that, at a time when large groups of young people are in danger of being excluded from society for economic or other reasons, there is a need to find new ways of offering them greater opportunities to participate in political and institutional life, for instance by enabling them to vote or to engage in the political process at a relatively early age, thereby treating them as partners with equal rights in today's society.

8.       The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers adopt provisions allowing young people to vote and stand for election at municipal level at the earliest possible age or, where appropriate, from the age of sixteen years.

9.       The Assembly further recommends that the Committee of Ministers harmonise the minimum age for voting and standing for election at national and European level at eighteen years.

Signed:[1]

Kollwelter, Luxembourg, SOC
Szymanski, Poland, SOC
Err, Luxembourg, SOC
Elo, Finland, SOC
Staes, Belgium, EPP
Robert, Switzerland, LDR
Karas, Czech Republic, EPP
Mocioi, Romania, UEL
Zingeris, Lithuania, EDG
Veidemann, Estonia, LDR

[1]    SOC : Socialist Group
        EPP : Group of the European People's Party
        EDG : European Democratic Group
        LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group
        UEL : Group of the Unified European Left