EU Belong With Me: Brussels woos Taylor Swift to draw young voters

The US pop icon will bring her blockbuster ‘Eras Tour’ to Paris on May 9, a month before EU voters head to the polls to elect the next European Parliament lawmakers

EU officials are keen to increase youth participation as polls show the elections in June could see a rise in backing for the far-right across the bloc

Reading Time:2 minutes

Taylor Swift performs at Soldier Field during her “Eras Tour” on June 2, 2023, in Chicago. Photo: TNS

Published: 2:00am, 11 Jan 2024Updated: 2:32am, 11 Jan 2024

The EU on Wednesday called on US pop icon Taylor Swift to help young voters shake off any apathy and head to the polls at European elections in June.

The chart-topping American diva will bring her blockbuster “Eras Tour” to Paris on May 9, a month before voters in the EU’s 27 nations head to the polls to elect the next European Parliament lawmakers.

And Brussels is hoping she can use some of her stardust to help convince younger voters to cast their ballots – much as she did in the United States last year.

European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

“Taylor Swift last September, she made a social media call to young Americans to register to vote and the day after her post, 35,000 young Americans registered,” European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas told journalists.

“Now, Taylor Swift on May 9 – Europe Day – will be in Paris for a concert, so I would very much hope that she does the same for young Europeans.”

He added: “I very much hope that someone from her media team follows this press conference and relays our request to her.”

Swift – last month named Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2023 – has a huge global following, and her diehard superfans are known as “Swifties”.