1994 European Parliament election

Last updated
1994 European Parliament election
Flag of Europe.svg
  1989 9–12 June 1994 1999  

All 567 seats to the European Parliament
285 seats needed for a majority
Turnout56.8% Decrease2.svg 1.7 pp
 Majority partyMinority party
  Pauline Green 20050423 (cropped).jpg Wilfried Martens.jpg
Leader Pauline Green Wilfried Martens
Party PES EPP
Leader's seat London North Belgium (Dutch)
Last election180121
Seats won198157
Seat changeIncrease2.svg18Increase2.svg36

European Parliamentary Election 1994.svg

President of the European Parliament before election

Egon Klepsch
EPP

President of the European Parliament after election

Klaus Hänsch
PES

The 1994 European Parliamentary election was a European election held across the 12 European Union member states in June 1994.

Contents

This election saw the merge of the European People's Party and European Democrats, an increase in the overall number of seats (567 members were elected to the European Parliament) and a fall in overall turnout to 57%.

The five years which had passed since the previous election had seen enormous political upheavals across the continent. These changes included the end of communism in Europe, German reunification, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Velvet Divorce in Czechoslovakia and the breakup of Yugoslavia. The integration of five former East German states and Berlin into the Federal Republic of Germany had constituted the first physical expansion of the EC since 1986. The end of the Cold War meant three politically neutral states in Europe had begun a process of acceding to the EU that would culminate in the 1995 enlargement of the European Union. The EU itself had assumed its current name through adoption of the Treaty of Maastricht in 1993.

Results

European Parliament election, 1994 - Final results at 18–21 July 1994
Group DescriptionChaired by MEPs
  PES Social democrats Pauline Green 198 European Parliament Composition 1994.svg
  EPP Conservatives and Christian democrats Wilfried Martens 157
  ELDR Liberals and liberal democrats Gijs De Vries 43
  EUL Communists and the far left Alonso José Puerta 28
  FE Conservatives and Christian democrats Giancarlo Ligabue 27
  EDA National conservatives Jean-Claude Pasty 26
  G Greens Alexander Langer
Claudia Roth
23
  ERA Radicals, social liberals and regionalists Catherine Lalumière 19
  EN Eurosceptics James Goldsmith 19
  NI Independentsnone27Total: 567Sources:
Seats summary
PES
34.92%
EPP
27.69%
ELDR
7.58%
EUL
4.94%
FE
4.76%
EDA
4.59%
G
4.06%
ERA
3.35%
EN
3.35%
NI
4.76%

The Technical Group of the European Right no longer had enough MEPs to qualify as a Group, and its MEPs returned for the time being to the ranks of the independents. The members of the European Democrats joined the European People's Party (EPP), some as associate members such as the British Conservatives who did not wish to subscribe to the EPP's pro-federalist position. Despite the merger, the EPP failed one more to become the largest party; the Party of European Socialists once more claimed victory, with a 41-seat lead over the People's Party.

Forza Italia was elected for the first time in 1994; it formed its own shortlived group, Forza Europa, before this merged with the European Democratic Alliance a year after the election to become the Group Union for Europe. In addition to Forza Europa, another new group was founded following the fall of the European Right group: the Europe of Nations Group (Coordination Group)—the first Eurosceptic group in the Parliament, which lasted until 1996.

Results by country

The national results as at 9–12 June 1994 are as follows:

Group
Nation
PES EPP ELDR EUL FE EDA G ERA EN NI Total
Belgium 3 PS
3 SP
4 CVP
2 PSC
1 CSP
3 VLD
3 PRLFDF
1 ECOLO
1 AGALEV
1 VU 2 VB
1 FN
25
Denmark 3 A 3 C 4 V
1 B
1 SF 2 J
2 N
16
France 15 PS 13 UDF 1 UDF 7 PCF 14 RPR 13 MRG 13 UDF diss. 11 FN 87
Germany 40 SPD 39 CDU
8 CSU
12 GRÜNE 99
Greece 10 PASOK 9 ND 2 KKE
2 Synaspismos
2 PA 25
Ireland 1 Lab 4 FG 1 Ind. 7 FF 2 GP 15
Italy 16 PDS
2 PSI
8 PPI
3 Patto
1 SVP
6 LN
1 PRI
5 PRC 27 FI 3 FdV
1 Rete
2 LP 11 AN
1 PSDI
87
Luxembourg 2 LSAP 2 CSV 1 DP 1 Gréng 6
Netherlands 8 PvdA 10 CDA 6 VVD
4 D66
1 GL 1 SGP
1 GPV
31
Portugal 10 PS 9 PSD 3 CDU 3 CDS–PP 25
Spain 22 PSOE 28 PP
2 CiU (UDC)
2 CN (EAJ)
2 CiU (CDC)9 IU 1 CN (CC)64
United Kingdom 62 LAB
1 SDLP
18 CON
1 UUP
2 LD 2 SNP 1 DUP 87
Total1981653528272623191927567

Statistics

European Parliament election, 1994 - Statistics
AreaDatesSeatsElectorateTurnoutPreviousNextElection methodsSources
European Union
(EU-12)
9, 12 June
1994
567269,261,00056.8% 1989 1995 All PR, except UK (not NI)
which used FPTP
Archived 2008-02-27 at the Wayback Machine
European Parliament election, 1994 - Timeline
Third Parliament1994 ElectionRegroupingFourth Parliament
GroupsPre-elections
May 30
ChangeResults
June 13
ChangeResults
July 19
New
Groups
First session
July 19
 PES198+1199-1198 PES198
 EPP162-14148+9157 EPP157
 LDR45-243+043 ELDR43
 LU13+013+1528 EUL28
 DR12+214-1427 NI27
 NI27+1037-10
 Others0+5959-1319 EN19
27 FE27
 EDA20+424+226 EDA26
 G27-522+123 G23
 RBW14-68+1119 ERA19
Total518+49567+0567Total567
Sources: Archived 2006-09-12 at the Wayback Machine
European Parliament election, 1994 - Delegation at 19 July 1994
GroupDescriptionDetails%MEPs
  PES Social democrats Germany 40, Belgium 6, Denmark 3, France 15, Ireland 1, Italy 18, Luxembourg 2, Netherlands 8, UK 63, Greece 10, Spain 22, Portugal 1035%198
  EPP Conservatives and Christian democrats Germany 47, Belgium 7, Denmark 3, France 13, Ireland 4, Italy 12, Luxembourg 2, Netherlands 10, UK 19, Greece 9, Spain 30, Portugal 128%157
  ELDR Liberals and liberal democratsBelgium 6, Denmark 5, France 1, Ireland 1, Italy 7, Luxembourg 1, Netherlands 10, UK 2, Spain 2, Portugal 88%43
  EUL Socialists and communists France 7, Italy 5, Greece 4, Spain 9, Portugal 35%28
  NI IndependentsBelgium 3, France 11, Italy 12, UK 15%27
  FE Conservatives and Christian democrats Italy 275%27
  EDA National conservatives France 14, Ireland 7, Greece 2, Portugal 35%26
  G Greens Germany 12, Belgium 2, Denmark 1, Ireland 2, Italy 4, Luxembourg 1, Netherlands 14%23
  ERA Liberals and liberal democratsBelgium 1, France 13, Italy 2, UK 2, Spain 13%19
  EN Eurosceptics Denmark 4, France 13, Netherlands 23%19
Sources: Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine 100%567

Seat distribution

The number of seats was changed to accommodate Austria, Finland and Sweden who were joining the following year, holding elections then. They were granted 21,16 and 22 seats respectively. The total number of seats increased from 518 to 567.

National Distribution of Seats
State19891994State19891994
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 8199Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 2425
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8187Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 2425
Flag of France.svg  France 8187Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 2425
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 8187Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1616
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 6064Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 1515
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2531Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 66

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Parliament</span> Directly elected legislature of the European Union

The European Parliament (EP) is one of the legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union, it adopts European legislation, following a proposal by the European Commission. The Parliament is composed of 705 members (MEPs). It represents the second-largest democratic electorate in the world, with an electorate of 375 million eligible voters in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European People's Party Group</span> European Parliament political group

The European People's Party Group is a centre-right political group of the European Parliament consisting of deputies (MEPs) from the member parties of the European People's Party (EPP). Sometimes it also includes independent MEPs and/or deputies from unaffiliated national parties. The EPP Group comprises politicians of Christian-democratic, conservative and liberal-conservative orientation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Member of the European Parliament</span> Person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament

A member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 European Parliament election</span> Election to the European Parliament

The 1999 European Parliament election was a European election for all 626 members of the European Parliament held across the 15 European Union member states on 10, 11 and 13 June 1999. The voter turn-out was generally low, except in Belgium and Luxembourg, where voting is compulsory and where national elections were held that same day. This was the first election where Austria, Finland and Sweden voted alongside the other member states, having joined in 1995 and voted separately. The next election was held in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 European Parliament election</span> Election to the European Parliament

The 2004 European Parliament election was held between 10 and 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom. The European Parliamental parties could not be voted for, but elected national parties aggregated in European Parliamental parties after the elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European People's Party</span> European centre-right political party

The European People's Party (EPP) is a European political party with Christian-democratic, conservative, and liberal-conservative member parties. A transnational organisation, it is composed of other political parties. Founded by primarily Christian-democratic parties in 1976, it has since broadened its membership to include liberal-conservative parties and parties with other centre-right political perspectives. On 31 May 2022, the party elected as its President Manfred Weber, who was also EPP's Spitzenkandidat in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections to the European Parliament</span>

Elections to the European Parliament take place every five years by universal adult suffrage; with more than 400 million people eligible to vote, they are considered the second largest democratic elections in the world after India's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political groups of the European Parliament</span> Groups of aligned legislators in European Parliament

The political groups of the European Parliament are the officially recognised political groups consisting of legislators of aligned ideologies in the European Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Caspary</span> German politician

Daniel Caspary is a German politician who has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2004. He is a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), part of the European People's Party (EPP). Daniel Caspary is now in the fourth legislature of the European Parliament. Daniel Caspary lives in Weingarten. He is married and has five children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 European Parliament election</span> European Parliament election

The 2009 European Parliament election was held in the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history. An additional 18 observers were pre-elected.

Forza Europa was a centre-right political group with seats in the European Parliament between 1994 and 1995.

The European Democratic Alliance was a heterogeneous political group in the European Parliament between 1984 and 1995. It consisted mainly of deputies from the French Gaullist Rally for the Republic (RPR) and the Irish Fianna Fáil. The grouping had a generally centre-right outlook, and strongly defended the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Conservatives and Reformists</span> European Parliament political group

The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) is a soft Eurosceptic, anti-federalist political group of the European Parliament. The ECR is the parliamentary group of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party European political party (formerly known as the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe or Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists, but also includes MEPs from four other European parties and thirteen MEPs without European party affiliation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 European Parliament election</span> 2014 elections for the European parliament

The 2014 European Parliament election was held in the European Union, from 22 to 25 May 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats</span> European Parliament political group

The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) is the political group in the European Parliament of the Party of European Socialists (PES). The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats was officially founded as a Socialist Group on 29 June 1953 which makes it the second oldest political group in the European Parliament after Renew Europe (Renew). It adopted its present-day name on 23 June 2009. Centre-left in orientation, the group mostly comprises social-democratic parties and is affiliated with the Progressive Alliance and Socialist International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 European Parliament election in Italy</span>

The 2014 European Parliament election in Italy took place on 25 May 2014. Italy elected 73 MEPs out of 751 European Parliament seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 European Parliament election</span> Election to the European Parliament

The 2019 European Parliament election was held between 23 and 26 May 2019, the ninth parliamentary election since the first direct elections in 1979. A total of 751 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) represent more than 512 million people from 28 member states. In February 2018, the European Parliament had voted to decrease the number of MEPs from 751 to 705 if the United Kingdom were to withdraw from the European Union on 29 March 2019. However, the United Kingdom participated alongside other EU member states after an extension of Article 50 to 31 October 2019; therefore, the allocation of seats between the member states and the total number of seats remained as it had been in 2014. The Ninth European Parliament had its first plenary session on 2 July 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ninth European Parliament</span> Incumbent session of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2024

The ninth European Parliament was elected in the 2019 elections and is to last until the 2024 elections.

von der Leyen Commission European Commission in office from 1 December 2019 until 2024

The von der Leyen Commission is the current European Commission, in office since 1 December 2019 and is to last until the 2024 elections. It has Ursula von der Leyen as its president and it further consists of one commissioner from each of the member states of the European Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christophe Hansen</span> Luxembourgian politician

Christophe Hansen is a Luxembourgish politician belonging to the Christian Social People's Party (CSV), of which he is Secretary-General.