Stories in the Telegraph and Mail among others are not correct. The UK cannot be “forced” to hold the 2014 European elections on Sundays. The European Commission has issued a non-binding recommendation that Member States should agree on a single day for the European elections. But it has no powers to -and does not want to- force anyone to do this. Neither can anyone “require” – as the Mail puts it – UK political parties to support a candidate for the European Commission Presidency. Though many people across Europe do feel that having a candidate from each of the political grouping standing at the elections would enhance the democratic process at EU level and that it could increase turnout.

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