A certain amount of disinformation has circulated concerning the problems which this registration could cause.

R&D therefore wishes to point out :

- that this right to vote was achieved as a result of the Treaty of Maastricht, (a treaty which has a direct relation to our work as European officials) and by the actions of a certain number of our colleagues ;

- that the recognition of this right was not a foregone conclusion, in particular in Belgium, where certain political parties spent a great deal of energy in delaying its application;

- that Belgian law gives important powers to local authorities, making it therefore all the more desirable that all Community citizens can participate in the elections for these bodies;

- that in certain local authorities in the Brussels Region and in the periphery, European officials are sufficiently numerous to have a certain bearing on the electoral arithmetic.

R&D therefore encourages all colleagues to register themselves and the members of their family.

don’t forget that the last day for sending registration requests is
31^st July2000.

In Belgium it is obligatory to vote, but that shouldn’t discourage anyone from registering : anyone who finds themselves unable to vote (holiday, mission etc) may vote by proxy.

A massive abstention by European officials could be badly interpreted.

The forms are available at the following address: http://www.blbe.irisnet.be

The Executive Committee

Pour adhérer à R&D/To join R&D :
NOM/NAME :

Address adm.

envoyez ce talon à/send this stub to: Marina OGLE L 102 7/12
Pour avoir plus d’informations sur R&D/To receive more information on R&D :
Le secrétariat politique : Olga PROFILI/Cristiano SEBASTIANI (55676/55656/99329)
Luxembourg, à Paul Van BUITENEN, EUFO 4255, ?33036 Michel THIERRY, JMO B3/26A, ?35843
CDR, à Sybren SINGELSMA (ARD 613, tél. 282.21.87)
CES, à Charles POTIER, 2 rue Ravenstein, 1000 Bruxelles (546.93.31)