A process for manufacturing a multilayer element with a transparent surface electrode, an electro-luminescent lighting film, and a second surface electrode. To form the transparent surface electrode, a thin-film multilayer system, including at least an electrically conducting part film and thereafter a dielectric part film, is applied to a substrate. An EL lighting film and at least the second surface electrode are applied one after the other on the thin-film multilayer system by screen printing. The two surface electrodes are respectively connected to an electrical connection element for connection to the voltage source.