Why the 2014 European Parliament elections will be about more than protest votes

European Parliamentary elections are due to be held in May 2014. Simon Hix and Christophe Crombez look ahead to the campaign, noting that the elections will not only provide an opportunity for Europe’s citizens to express their opinions over the handling of the Eurozone crisis, but will also allow them to take an active role in the selection of the next President of the European Commission. For the first time we could have genuine ‘European’ elections, with the potential to have a real impact in shaping European politics over the next five years.