Are you all set for the next three years of elections which will kick-off with the European Elections for your MEP’s (Members of the European Parliament) on the 4th June 2009, followed by the General Elections for your MP’s (Members of Parliament) in May 2010 (I guess) and then the Local Elections, here in Darlington at least, for your Local Borough Councillor’s in May 2011.

Your 2009 Euro Elections MEP candidates for the North East are;

Conservatives
Martin Callanan
Barbara Musgrave
Emma Moore

Labour
Stephen Hughes
Fay Tinnion
Nick Wallis

Liberal Democrats
Fiona Hall
Chris Foote-Wood
Neil Bradbury

Green Party
Chris Haine
Shirley Ford
Mike Toms

UK Independency Party
Gordon Parkin
Sandra Allison
John Tennant

Why the EU elections are important
The European Parliament has a crucial role to play in forming European Union (EU) policies that work for the world's poor. Together with the European Council, the Parliament decides on budgets and scrutinises aid programmes including Country Strategy Papers. On trade, the European Parliament has to ratify all European agreements and has the power to raise issues with the European Commission.

Moreover, as the watchdog of European institutions, the European Parliament can put political pressure on issues over which it does not have decision making powers.

If the Lisbon Treaty is adopted, it would reinforce the role of the European Parliament. The European Parliament will have increased decision making power and the link between national parliaments and European Parliament would be strengthened.

In June 2009 half a billion EU residents in all 27 Member States will elect 736 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in the biggest trans-national election in history. From the UK, 72 MEPs will be elected.