Since the introduction of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, EU citizens residing in other member states have been entitled to vote in elections to the European Parliament. But in 20 of the 27 countries, only a few of them have registered to do so, EurActiv has learned.

In Poland, only 313 foreigners have registered to vote in the EU elections in June, Polish national radio reported: a mere 3% of the 10,000 EU citizens who have taken up permanent residency in the country.

In Greece, the situation is slightly more positive. 6,505 citizens have registered, out of 140,000 identified in the last census in 2001, according to Interior Ministry figures.