RCN European Elections 2014 Briefing - RCN Policy and International Department Policy briefing 17/14 June 2014
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RCN Policy and International Department
Policy briefing 17/14
June 2014
RCN European Elections
2014 Briefing
RCN Policy and International Department
020 7647 3723
policycontacts@rcn.org.uk
www.rcn.org.uk/policy
1/5RCN European Elections Briefing
Between 22 and 25 May 2014 voters went to the polls across the European Union to
elect MEPs to sit in a new European Parliament from 2014 to 2019. The dust has
now settled and a picture is starting to emerge of what the new European Parliament
will look like politically. This briefing sets out the UK results and what they mean for
the RCN as well as giving an analysis of the wider European context.
Background and RCN activity
The European Parliament elections are important for nurses and nursing. MEPs are
able to vote on legislation that impacts on nursing on issues as wide ranging as
tobacco controls, professional qualifications, working time and needlestick injuries.
UK MEPs are also represented on committees debating the detail of legislation and
producing their own subject area reports. Committees that impact on nursing include
the ENVI Committee (dealing with health issues), EMPL (employment and social
affairs) and IMCO (internal market).
The RCN played an active part during the UK European elections campaign to
ensure that all candidates standing in the elections were aware of the priorities that
matter to nursing staff. Activity included:
a seminar to identify key potential RCN European election priorities
a survey, which over 6,000 members responded to, in which members were
invited to select the core priorities within the RCN European election
manifesto
dedicated RCN European election manifesto webpages created to support
manifesto
a mailout to all candidates who were first or second on their party’s list in each
UK European elections constituency asking them to support the RCN’s
European election manifesto priorities and directing them to a website
designed to allow MEPs to sign up to the RCN’s priorities, which also
encouraged RCN members to directly email candidates with the RCN’s
priorities
extensive communication externally and internally including features in
magazines such as Nursing Standard, RCN Bulletin, Activate, Nursing Times
and Independent Nurse
publicised launch attended by three MEP candidates and hustings event
attended by four MEP candidates (of those who attended four were elected as
MEPs)
use of social media to encourage members to vote
2/5engagement with RCN stewards, learning representatives and safety
representatives at the RCN’s annual Joint Representatives conference
sign-up from over 30 candidates.
UK results1
The turnout for the European elections in the UK was relatively low compared with
general elections turnout, with 34 per cent of eligible voters choosing to vote. Across
the UK, there were significant gains for both UKIP and Labour, with UKIP topping the
poll and gaining 11 seats and Labour improving on a very poor result in 2009 by
regaining a number of seats. The Greens were able to secure an additional seat.
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats suffered losses, with the Liberal
Democrats coming close to losing all representation in the UK and only holding onto
one seat (South East MEP Catherine Bearder).
The BNP lost both of the MEPs that they had in the last European Parliament.
The percentage of votes received by each party and the number of MEPs is set out
in the table below.
Party Vote % Number of MEPs Change in
number of MEPs
since 2009
election
UKIP 27.49% 24 +11
Labour 25.40% 20 +7
Conservative 23.93% 19 -7
Green 7.87% 3 +1
Liberal Democrat 6.87% 1 -10
SNP 2.46% 2 0
Sinn Fein N/A 1 0
Democratic N/A 1 0
Unionist Party
Plaid Cymru 0.71% 1 0
Ulster Unionist N/A 1 0
BNP 1.14% 0 -2
Impact of campaigning and European elections results for RCN
The RCN was able to directly contact over a hundred candidates who received a
copy of its manifesto and priorities. Members were also encouraged to contact
candidates directly and ask them to sign up to the priorities for nursing staff. While
1
Results in table are only for those parties which either had MEPs in the previous or the new European
Parliament. As MEPs are allocated on a UK European election constituency basis, some smaller parties will
have elected MEPs due to a concentration of votes in one constituency area.
3/5many of the main parties encouraged candidates to avoid signing up to specific
declarations, the RCN was able to get over 30 candidates to sign up. Additionally a
number of MEP candidates who attended the launch/hustings indicated that they
would support our manifesto.
Of those candidates who signalled support for our priorities, seven were elected as
MEPs. Additionally, two of the candidates who attended our events and were very
supportive of aims were also elected. Two others sent positive emails in response to
our call for sign-up. A full table of those new MEPs who support our priorities is as
follows:
Name of MEP Party Region/Country
Jean Lambert Green London
Charles Tannock Conservative London
Richard Corbett Labour Yorkshire and Humber
Jill Evans Plaid Cymru Wales
Keith Taylor Green South
Judith Kirton Darling Labour North East
Molly Scott Cato Green South West
Annaliese Dodds2 Labour South East
Seb Dance Labour London
It should be noted that UKIP was unable to support our priorities as it was unable to
endorse priorities which gave any form of competence to the EU. UKIP also declined
to attend the hustings and launch.
Opportunities and challenges for the RCN
This is the first time that the RCN has asked candidates to publicly endorse the RCN
European manifesto and agree to support its priorities. The election of nine
candidates who have given public support will mean that the RCN will be able to
work closely with these MEPs in particular, to take forward its priorities within the
European Parliament and in particular in committee sessions where detailed debate
takes place on legislation. At the time of writing it is not known which committees
these MEPs will be on (this will be decided from July onwards). Depending on the
committee they are allocated to, the RCN will in particular seek to develop strong
links with those MEPs on relevant committees for the RCN’s European Parliament
priorities.
The RCN will benefit from having MEPs from a variety of parties who have signed up
to the priorities but will also continue to work with all UK MEPs to seek support for its
European priorities. There is also a helpful spread in both party representation and
regions/countries for those MEPs who supported the RCN’s priorities.
2
Neither Annaliese Dodds or Seb Dance formally signed the manifesto but they indicated their full support for
the priorities at RCN engagement events
4/5One considerable challenge for the RCN will be that the increase in UKIP MEPs and
UK anti-European sentiment more generally will mean that some of the European
priorities that the RCN is keen to take forward may not gain support from a
significant proportion of MEPs and potentially some sections of the wider public. The
RCN will need to work closely with those that support EU action in the areas aligned
to our priorities, while continuing to seek support from all MEPs where appropriate.
The RCN will also look to build its links with those MEPs and parties who have not
specifically signed up to our priorities but who are sympathetic to them.
The wider European picture
Taken as a whole, a few themes emerged from the results of the European elections
across Europe. Within the European Parliament, elected MEPs form wider political
groups with MEPs from other parties, in order to secure majorities for legislation.
The EPP (centre-right grouping) will continue to be the largest political grouping,
albeit with a much reduced number of MEPs. No political party in the UK is aligned to
this group. The S&D (centre left grouping) made small gains and will be the second
largest group (Labour is part of this group). Other pro-European grouping such as
ALDE (which includes the Liberal Democrats) and Greens EFA (which includes UK
Greens) gained seats overall. The current ECR grouping (which contains UK
Conservatives) has expanded in number. Those parties that are opposed to
European integration also made significant gains, although the rivalry between anti-
EU parties means that there may be a number of small anti-European political
groupings, rather than one coherent political grouping. For example UKIP and the
Front National in France will not be in the same political grouping at the time of
writing.
In relation to the European Commission, despite opposition from the UK
Government, Jean Claude Junker (Luxemburg) is highly likely to be confirmed by the
European Parliament as the next President of the European Commission. The UK
had raised concerns about the potential federalist tendencies of Junker, although in
recent days has signalled that it will attempt to work with him in shaping Europe over
the coming months and years.
In the next European Parliament there is an increasing likelihood that rather than the
political battle between centre-left and centre-right groupings, the make-up of the
new Parliament will mean that the political battle will be between pro-European and
anti-European party groupings. The political battlefield will remain unclear for some
time as new alliances are emerging and will not be fully realised until the autumn.
Although new agendas will start to emerge from the Commission towards the end of
2014 it is clear that treaty change and the relationship between the EU and the UK
will be high on the political agenda. Other issues that will impact more directly on
nursing include the potential referendum on the UKs continued membership of the
EU by 2017, the TTIP negotiations which are aiming to be finalised by 2015, further
5/5public health and employment initiatives and the ongoing future health workforce
work. The RCN will continue to pursue the objectives within its own manifesto as
well as following the developments outlined above and update accordingly.
For further information about the European elections and our work with the European
Parliament please contact Matthew Hamilton on 0207 647 3595 or
matthew.hamilton@rcn.org.uk
Royal College of Nursing
June 2014
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