Apportionment in the European Parliament

Last updated

The apportionment of seats within the European Parliament to each member state of the European Union is set out by the EU treaties. According to European Union treaties, the distribution of seats is "degressively proportional" to the population of the member states, with negotiations and agreements between member states playing a role. [1] Thus the allocation of seats is not strictly proportional to the size of a state's population, nor does it reflect any other automatically triggered or fixed mathematical formula. The process can be compared to the composition of the electoral college used to elect the President of the United States of America in that, pro rata, the smaller state received more places in the electoral college than the more populous states.

Contents

After the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU in 2020, the number of MEPs, including the president, dropped to 705 [2] but since the 2024 election, it increased to 720 [3] . The maximum number allowed by the Lisbon Treaty is 751.

Background

When the Parliament was established in 1952 as the 78-member "Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community" the then-three smaller states (Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands) were concerned about being under-represented and hence they were granted more seats than their population would have allowed. Membership increased to 142 with the Assembly expanded to cover the Economic and Atomic Energy Communities. [4] It then grew further with each enlargement, which each time allowing smaller nations to have greater proportion of seats relative to larger states.

Relative influence of voters from different EU member states (2024 - 2029) [5]

Influence is proportional to seats-to-votes ratio and inversely proportional to Inhabitants to MEPs ratio.

Member state Population MEPs Inhabitants
per MEP
Influence [6]
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 9,104,77220455,2391,37
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 11,754,00422534,2731,17
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 6,447,71017379,2771,64
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 3,850,89412320,9081,94
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 920,7016153,4504,06
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 10,827,52921515,5971,21
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 5,932,65415395,5101,57
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 1,365,8847195,1263,19
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 5,563,97015370,9311,68
Flag of France.svg  France 68,070,69781840,3790,74
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 84,358,84596878,7380,71
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 10,394,05521494,9551,26
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 9,597,08521457,0041,36
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 5,194,33614371,0241,68
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 58,850,71776774,3520,80
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 1,883,0089209,2232,98
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 2,857,27911259,7532,40
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 660,8096110,1355,65
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 542,051690,3426,89
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 17,811,29131574,5581,08
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 36,753,73653693,4670,90
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 10,476,36621498,4461,25
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 19,051,56233577,3201,08
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 5,428,79215361,9191,72
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 2,116,7929235,1992,65
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 48,059,77761787,8650,79
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 10,521,55621501,0261,24
Flag of Europe.svg  European Union 448,387,872720622,7611.00

Nice system (2003 – 2009)

Number of seats plotted against the population of each State (Nice 2007) Pop2SeatNice2007.PNG
Number of seats plotted against the population of each State (Nice 2007)

The Nice Treaty provided for a maximum of 736 seats. In 2009, with about 500 million EU citizens, this meant that there were on average 670,000 citizens represented by each MEP. Some states divide the electorate for their allocated MEPs into sub-national constituencies. However, they may not be divided in such a way that the system would no longer be proportional.

The 2004 European Parliament election was the first conducted under the Nice Treaty, with 732 seats for the 25 member states.

The 2009 European Parliament election was conducted under the rules included in the Nice Treaty which provided for a maximum number of 736, although that figure had been breached on the accession of new members to the EU, these states being allowed parliamentary representation without a corresponding reduction in the number of MEPs allotted to other member states. This happened in 2007 on the accession of Romania and Bulgaria, when the number of seats temporarily increased to 785. It subsequently returned to 736 in the 2009 election. [4]

Lisbon system (2009 – present)

Under the Lisbon Treaty, which first applied to the 2014 European Parliament election, the cap on the number of seats was raised to 750, with a maximum of 96 and a minimum of 6 seats per state. They continue to be distributed "degressively proportional" to the populations of the EU's member states. [7]

European Parliament Apportionment changes between the Treaty of Nice and the Treaty of Lisbon
(as calculated for purposes of the 2009 European Elections)
Member state2007
Nice
2009
Nice
2014
Lisbon
2014c
+ Croatia
    Member state2007
Nice
2009
Nice
2014
Lisbon
2014c
+ Croatia
    Member state2007
Nice
2009
Nice
2014
Lisbon
2014c
+ Croatia
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 99999696Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 24222221Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 14131313
Flag of France.svg  France 78727474Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 24222221Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 11
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom a78727373Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 24222221Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 13121211
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 78727373Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 24222221Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 13121211
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 54505454Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 19182020Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 9898
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 54505151Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 18171918Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 7788
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 35333332Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 18171817Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 6666
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 27252626Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 14131313Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 6666
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 24222221Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 14131313Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 6666

Italicised countries are divided into sub-national constituencies, except France which changed to full-country voting in 2019.
a Included Gibraltar, but not any other BOT (including the SBAs), nor the Crown Dependencies. The United Kingdom and Gibraltar left the European Union on 31 January 2020.
b The speaker is not counted officially, thus leaving 750 MEPs.
c As proposed by European Parliament on 13 March 2013. [8]

Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 5566
Total:785736751b751b

There was controversy over the fact that the population figures are based on residents, not citizens, resulting in countries with larger disenfranchised immigrant populations gaining more under Lisbon than those with smaller ones. [9] Italy would have been the greatest loser under the Lisbon system and sought the same number of MEPs as France and the United Kingdom. Italy raised the issue during treaty negotiations and succeeded in gaining one extra MEP (giving it the same as the UK) while the President of the European Parliament would not be counted as a lawmaker hence keeping the number of MEPs to the 750-seat limit. [10]

2011 amendment

In 2011 an amendment, which came into force on 1 December, temporarily increased the Lisbon limit to 754. [11] [12] [13] [14] This allowed member states who gained seats under Lisbon to take them before the 2014 election, while allowing Germany which lost seats under Lisbon to retain them until the 2014 election. This amendment, in effect, institutes a transitional manner of distributing MEPs to take account of the fact that the 2009 European Parliamentary elections took place under the rules contained in the Nice Treaty and not in the Lisbon Treaty. That result means that member state that are to gain seats in parliament under the Lisbon rules may take them, but that Germany which loses three seats under the Lisbon rules keeps those seats until the next elections, due in 2014. [15] As a result, Germany temporarily exceeds the maximum number of MEPs allocatable to a member state under the Lisbon Treaty by having 99 MEPs, three above the intended limit.

2013 amendment

Following the accession of Croatia on 1 July 2013 with 12 extra seats, the apportionment was amended for the 2014 elections, [8] when 12 countries lost one seat (including Croatia itself).

2014 election

Number of seats in EP 2014-2019 versus number of inhabitants, showing difference with proportionality. Number of seats in EP 2014-2019 versus number of inhabitants per country.jpg
Number of seats in EP 2014–2019 versus number of inhabitants, showing difference with proportionality.

From October 2008, [16] MEP Andrew Duff (ALDE, UK) has advocated within the European Parliament for a reform of EU electoral law for the 2014 elections, including the creation of a single constituency of 25 seats in which each European citizen would be entitled to vote on the basis of pan-European lists. He has been nominated rapporteur, as the European Parliament has the right of initiative in this field ruled by unanimity in the Council. After the 2009 election, Duff proposed a new version of his report, [17] which was adopted by the parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) in April 2011. However, the plenary session of the Parliament referred the report back to the AFCO committee in July 2011. A third version of the report [18] was published in September 2011 and adopted by the AFCO committee in January 2012, but was withdrawn before being discussed in plenary in March 2012 for fear that it would likely be turned down.

On 13 March 2013 the European Parliament voted a new proposal updating seat assignments per country for 2014, [8] taking into account demographic changes and bringing the total number of seats back to the nominal 751 enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty. The same document suggests the creation of a formal process "based on objective criteria to be applied in a pragmatic manner" for apportioning seats in future elections.

Apportionment in the European Parliament
Constituency20072009Dec.

2011 [19]

1 July
2013 [20]
A. Duff's
1st prop.
for 2014 [21] [22]
A. Duff's 2nd prop. [23] European
Council
Decision
2014 [24]
Population
in 2013 [25]
Population
per MEPs
201420192024
Pan-European25
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 99999999969696969680,523,746838,789
Flag of France.svg  France 78727474837983837465,633,194886,935
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 78727373807679807363,896,071875,289
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 78727373787578787359,685,227817,606
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 54505454615861615446,704,308864,895
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 54505151515151515138,533,299755,555
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 35333333313131313220,020,074625,627
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 27252626252525252616,779,575645,368
Flag of Belgium.svg  Belgium 24222222182019192111,161,642531,507
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 24222222192019192111,062,508526,786
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 24222222182018182110,516,125500,768
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 24222222182018182110,487,289499,395
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2422222217201817219,908,798471,848
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1918202017181717209,555,893477,795
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 1817191916171616188,451,860469,548
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 1817181815161414177,284,552428,503
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1413131312121212135,602,628430,971
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 1413131312121212135,426,674417,436
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 1413131312121212135,410,836416,218
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 1312121211111111114,591,087417,372
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 1211111111114,262,140387,467
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 1312121291099112,971,905270,173
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 7788888882,058,821257,353
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 9899888882,023,825252,978
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 6666777761,324,814220,802
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 666666666865,878144,313
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 666666666537,03989,507
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 556666666421,36470,227
total785736754766776751751751751505,701,172673,370

2019 election

The EU needed to revise the apportionment of seats in time for the next European Parliament election, expected to be held in May 2019, when the United Kingdom's 73 MEPs may have vacated their seats following Brexit. In April 2017, a group of European lawmakers discussed what should be done about the vacated seats. One plan, supported by Enrico Letta, Gianni Pittella and Emmanuel Macron, was to replace the 73 seats with a pan-European constituency list. Other options which were considered include dropping the British seats without replacement and reassigning some or all of the existing seats from other countries to reduce inequality of representation. [26] A plan to reduce the number of seats to 705 was approved by the Parliament in February 2018. It involves redistributing 27 seats to under-represented members and reserving the remaining 46 for future EU expansions. A proposal by the Constitutional Affairs Committee to create a pan-member constituency was rejected by the Parliament at the same time. [27] The proposed redistribution did not occur due to the Brexit extension until 31 October, and the allocation used was the same as in 2014. After Brexit took legal effect, the seat distribution was decided by the European Council. Those countries which were allocated additional seats elected MEPs who only took office after Brexit had taken effect.

Apportionment in the European Parliament
Country20072009Dec.

2011 [28]

July
2013
2014Proposals for 2019 after the
removal of UK seats [26] [29]
Population
Cambridge CompromiseDecision
(Feb 2018)
Change
from 2014
2017 [30] Thousands
per MEP
Minimizing
Gini [31]
Minimizing
malapportionment
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 9999999996969696Steady2.svg82,521,653860
Flag of France.svg  France 7872747474799679Increase2.svg +566,989,083848
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7872737373Decrease2.svg -73
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 7872737373738976Increase2.svg +360,589,445797
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 5450545454577059Increase2.svg +546,528,024789
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 5450515151475852Increase2.svg +137,972,964730
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 3533333332273333Increase2.svg +119,644,350595
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2725262626242929Increase2.svg +317,081,507589
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 2422222221182121Steady2.svg11,351,727541
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 2422222221172021Steady2.svg10,768,193513
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 2422222221172021Steady2.svg10,578,820504
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2422222221161921Steady2.svg9,797,561467
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 2422222221172021Steady2.svg10,309,573491
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1918202020161921Increase2.svg +19,995,153476
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 1817191918151819Increase2.svg +18,772,865462
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 1817181817131517Steady2.svg7,101,859418
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1413131313121314Increase2.svg +15,748,769411
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 1413131313121314Increase2.svg +15,503,297393
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 1413131313121314Increase2.svg +15,435,343388
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 1312121211111213Increase2.svg +24,784,383368
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 1211101112Increase2.svg +14,154,213346
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 13121212119911Steady2.svg2,847,904259
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 98998888Steady2.svg1,950,116244
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 77888888Steady2.svg2,065,895258
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 66666777Increase2.svg +11,315,635188
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 66666676Steady2.svg854,802142
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 66666666Steady2.svg590,66798
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 66666666Steady2.svg460,29777
Total785736754766751639736705Decrease2.svg –46445,714,098 [32] 632

2024 election

In February 2023, the AFCO committee of the European Parliament released a draft report (whose rapporteurs are Lóránt Vincze and Sandro Gozi) on the necessary changes to the composition of the European Parliament in order to respect the principle of degressive proportionality (enshrined in the TEU). The draft report suggested a new apportionnement which aimed at respecting the degressive proportionality while also resulting in no loss of seats for any Member State, therefore leading to an expansion in the number of MEPs, from 705 to 716. [33] On 12 June 2023, the report was approved by the AFCO committee, with the apportionment being unchanged compared to the draft report. [34] On 15 June 2023 the report was approved by the EP plenary. [35]

In July 2023, the European Council put forward its own proposed apportionment for the tenth European Parliament, which would add 15 new MEPs and thus take the number of seats from 705 to 720. [36] In this proposal, no Member State would lose any spots in the hemicycle and the countries gaining new seats would be as indicated in the table below under New allocation of seats (final decision for 2024).

On 15 September 2023, the European Parliament approved the apportionment proposed by the Council, with 515 votes in favor, 74 against and 44 abstentions. [3]

Furthermore, this decision envisages the future (before the 2029-2034 parliamentary term) definition of "an objective, fair, durable and transparent seat distribution method implementing the principle of degressive proportionality, without prejudice to the institutions’ prerogatives under the Treaties". [37] [38]

Member state Population (2023) MEPs ratio population/seatsNew allocation of seats (AFCO draft)Change from 2022 (AFCO draft)New ratio population/seats (AFCO draft)New allocation of seats (final decision for 2024) [37] Change from 2022 (final decision for 2024)New ratio population/seats (final decision for 2024)
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 84,358,84596878,73896Steady2.svg878,73896Steady2.svg878,738
Flag of France.svg  France 68,070,69779858,76779Steady2.svg861,65481Increase2.svg +2840,379
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 58,850,71776774,35276Steady2.svg774,35276Steady2.svg774,352
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 48,059,77759814,57261Increase2.svg +2787,86561Increase2.svg +2787,865
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 36,753,73652706,80352Steady2.svg706,80353Increase2.svg +1693,467
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 19,051,56233577,32033Steady2.svg577,32033Steady2.svg577,320
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 17,811,29129614,18231Increase2.svg +2574,55831Increase2.svg +2574,558
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 11,754,00421559,71421Steady2.svg559,71422Increase2.svg +1534,273
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 10,827,52921515,59721Steady2.svg515,59721Steady2.svg515,597
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 10,521,55621501,02621Steady2.svg501,02621Steady2.svg501,026
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 10,467,36621498,44621Steady2.svg498,44621Steady2.svg498,446
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 10,394,05521494,95521Steady2.svg494,95521Steady2.svg494,955
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 9,597,08521457,00421Steady2.svg457,00421Steady2.svg457,004
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 9,104,77219479,19920Increase2.svg +1455,23920Increase2.svg +1455,239
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 6,447,71017379,27717Steady2.svg379,27717Steady2.svg379,277
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 5,932,65414423,76115Increase2.svg +1395,51015Increase2.svg +1395,510
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 5,563,97014397,42615Increase2.svg +1370,93115Increase2.svg +1370,931
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 5,428,79214387,77115Increase2.svg +1361,91915Increase2.svg +1361,919
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 5,194,33613399,56414Increase2.svg +1371,02414Increase2.svg +1371,024
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 3,850,89412320,90812Steady2.svg320,90812Steady2.svg320,908
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 2,857,27911259,75311Steady2.svg259,75311Steady2.svg259,753
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 2,116,7928264,5999Increase2.svg +1235,1999Increase2.svg +1235,199
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 1,883,0088235,3769Increase2.svg +1209,2239Increase2.svg +1209,223
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 1,365,8847195,1267Steady2.svg195,1267Steady2.svg195,126
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 920,7016153,4506Steady2.svg153,4506Steady2.svg153,450
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 660,8096110,1356Steady2.svg110,1356Steady2.svg110,135
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 542,051690,3426Steady2.svg90,3426Steady2.svg90,342
Flag of Europe.svg  European Union 448,387,872705636,011716Increase2.svg +11626,240720Increase2.svg +15622,761

  Degressive proportionality breached.

Changes in membership

StateJoined
Population
2006
Population
2017
Sep
1952
Mar
1957
Jan
1973
Jun
1979
Jan
1981
Jan
1986
Jun
1994
Jan
1995
May
2004
Jun
2004
Jan
2007
Jun
2009
Dec
2011
Jul
2013
Jun
2014
Feb
2020
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 195182,428,00082,521,65318363681818199999999999999999696
Flag of France.svg  France 195162,886,00066,989,08318363681818187878778787274747479
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 197360,422,00065,808,573 36818181878787787872737373 
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 195158,752,00060,589,44518363681818187878778787273737376
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 198643,758,00046,528,024 6064646454545054545459
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 200438,157,00037,972,964 5454545051515152
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 200721,610,00019,644,350 353333333233
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 195116,334,00017,081,50710141425252531313127272526262629
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 195110,511,00011,351,72710141424242425252524242222222121
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 198111,125,00010,768,193 242425252524242222222121
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 200410,251,00010,578,820 2424242222222121
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 198610,570,00010,309,573 2425252524242222222121
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 19959,048,0009,995,153 222219191820202021
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 200410,077,0009,797,561 2424242222222121
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 19958,266,0008,772,865 212118181719191819
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 20077,719,0007,101,859 181718181717
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 19735,428,0005,748,769 1016161616161614141313131314
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 19955,256,0005,503,297 161614141313131314
Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 20045,389,0005,435,343 1414141313131314
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 19734,209,0004,784,383 1015151515151513131212121113
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 20134,443,0004,154,213 121112
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 20043,403,0002,847,904 1313131212121111
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 20042,003,0002,065,895 77778888
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 20042,295,0001,950,116 99989988
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 20041,344,0001,315,635 66666667
Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 2004766,000854,802 66666666
Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 1951460,000590,6674666666666666666
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 2004404,000460,297 55556666
Total494,070,000511,522,67178142198410434518567626788732785736754766751705

Source for MEP figures 1952–2004: European Navigator. Source for population figures and MEP figures for 2007 and 2009: European Parliament, full population figures . December 2011 figures reflect the members added to the European Parliament by the Protocol Amending the Protocol on Transitional Provisions (OJ 29.9.2010, C 263, p. 1) which came into force on 1 December 2011. Figures for 2019 follow parliamentary decision of February 2018.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Parliament constituency</span> Electoral district for a European Parliament seat

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Withdrawal from the European Union</span> Legal process of Article 50 of the Treaty of European Union

Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) provides for the possibility of an EU member state leaving the European Union "in accordance with its own constitutional requirements".

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opt-outs in the European Union</span> EU regulations which are not imposed by member states by agreement

In general, the law of the European Union is valid in all of the twenty-seven European Union member states. However, occasionally member states negotiate certain opt-outs from legislation or treaties of the European Union, meaning they do not have to participate in certain policy areas. Currently, three states have such opt-outs: Denmark, Ireland and Poland. The United Kingdom had four opt-outs before leaving the Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spain (European Parliament constituency)</span> Constituency of the European Parliament

Spain is a European Parliament constituency for elections in the European Union covering the member state of Spain. It is currently represented by 59 Members of the European Parliament and is the second largest European Parliament constituency in terms of geographic area after France, as well as the third most populated after Germany and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National parliaments of the European Union</span>

The national parliaments of the European Union are those legislatures responsible for each member state of the European Union (EU). They have a certain degree of institutionalised influence which was expanded under the Treaty of Lisbon to include greater ability to scrutinise proposed European Union law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treaty of Lisbon</span> 2007 treaty amending the constitutional basis of the European Union

The Treaty of Lisbon is an international agreement that amends the two treaties which form the constitutional basis of the European Union (EU). The Treaty of Lisbon, which was signed by all EU member states on 13 December 2007, entered into force on 1 December 2009. It amends the Maastricht Treaty (1992), known in updated form as the Treaty on European Union (2007) or TEU, as well as the Treaty of Rome (1957), known in updated form as the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (2007) or TFEU. It also amends the attached treaty protocols as well as the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM).

Degressive proportionality is an approach to the allocation of seats in a legislature or other decision-making body. Degressive proportionality means that while the subdivisions do not each elect an equal number of members, smaller subdivisions are allocated more seats than would be allocated strictly in proportion to their population. The seats-to-votes ratio decreases for larger subdivisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 European Parliament election</span> 2016 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">Treaties of the European Union</span>

The Treaties of the European Union are a set of international treaties between the European Union (EU) member states which sets out the EU's constitutional basis. They establish the various EU institutions together with their remit, procedures and objectives. The EU can only act within the competences granted to it through these treaties and amendment to the treaties requires the agreement and ratification of every single signatory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 European Parliament election</span> Election for the 10th European Parliament

The 2024 European Parliament election is being held from 6 to 9 June. This is the tenth parliamentary election since the first direct elections in 1979, and the first European Parliament election after Brexit. This election will also coincide with a number of other elections in some European Union member states.

References

  1. "National Representation in European Democracy: Seat Apportionment in the European Parliament". European Union Studies Association. [PDF file]
  2. "Redistribution of seats in the European Parliament after Brexit". European Parliament. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  3. 1 2 "2024 European elections: 15 additional seats divided between 12 countries" . Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Composition of the European Parliament". European NAvigator. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
  5. "Europäische Verfassung: Das Demokratiedefizit". Der Spiegel. 2 October 2003. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  6. It's based on the medium value 622,761 Inhabitants/MEPs. Formula:
  7. "Distribution of EP seats: Constitutional Affairs Committee approvals proposal". Europa (web portal). 2 October 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2001.
  8. 1 2 3 "Composition of the European Parliament with a view to the 2014 elections". Europa.eu. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  9. Goldirova, Renata (12 October 2007). "Italy seeks to delay MEP seats decision". EU Observer. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2007.
  10. Goldirova, Renata (19 October 2007). "EU agrees new 'Lisbon Treaty'". EU Observer. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2007.
  11. "18 new MEPs take their seats". European Parliament. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  12. "Ratification of Parliament's 18 additional MEPs completed". European Parliament. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  13. Philip Ebels (14 November 2011). "18 new MEPs to arrive next month". EUobserver. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  14. "Ratification details". Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  15. Protocol Amending the Protocol on Transitional Provisions annexed to the Treaty on European Union, to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and to the Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ 29.9.2010, C 263, p. 1).
  16. Euractiv, MEP: 'Radical' electoral reform 'badly needed' for 2014 13 October 2008
  17. Europolitics, Célia Sampol, European elections: Andrew Duff proposes creation of transnational list Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine 26 April 2010
  18. Legislative observatory of the European Parliament, Procedure files on the Proposal for a modification of the Act concerning the election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage of 20 September 1976
  19. Amendments to the protocol on transitional provisions annexed to the EU treaties ratified on 1 December 2011, according to the European Parliament Press release on the ratification of Parliament's 18 additional MEPs, 1 December 2011
  20. Accession of Croatia to the EU in compliance with the Treaty concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia signed on 9 December 2011
  21. First proposal by Member of European Parliament Andrew Duff in his draft report entitled Proposal for a modification of the Act concerning the election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage of 20 September 1976, published on 4 November 2010
  22. Report of the European Parliament staff, The allocation between the EU member states of seats in the European Parliament – Cambridge Compromise March 2011
  23. Euractiv, Countries set to lose MEPs as their population shrinks, 11 September 2012
  24. Official Journal of the European Union, 2013/312/EU: European Council Decision of 28 June 2013 establishing the composition of the European Parliament, 28 June 2013
  25. Eurostat, as of 1 January 2013; numbers in italic are provisional.
  26. 1 2 "MEPs debate who inherits British seats". politico.eu. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  27. "Size of Parliament to shrink after Brexit" (Press release). European Parliament. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  28. Amendments to the protocol on transitional provisions annexed to the EU treaties ratified on 1 December 2011, according to the European Parliament Press release on the ratification of Parliament's 18 additional MEPs, 1 December 2011
  29. 1 2 "Is Brexit an opportunity to reform the European Parliament?" [pdf]
  30. "Population on 1 January". Eurostat . Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  31. The Gini coefficient defines how equal (or unequal) is the distribution of seats among member states represented in the parliament. According to ref., [29] the Gini coefficient of the European Parliament, before changes coming from brexit, is 17.5%, making it very unequal; as a point of comparison, the US House of representative scores a 2.2%, the German Bundestag 3.4%.
  32. Population of the EU without the United Kingdom
  33. "Draft report on the composition of the European Parliament (2021/2229(INL) – 2023/0900(NLE))" (PDF). European Parliament. February 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  34. "MEPs propose new seat distribution for the next legislative term | News | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  35. "European elections 2024: Parliament proposes more seats for nine EU countries | News | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  36. "European Parliament set to grow by 15 MEPs in 2024" . Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  37. 1 2 "EUR-Lex - 32023D2061 - EN - EUR-Lex". eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  38. Müller, Manuel (2 February 2024). "Degressive proportionality: EU enlargement will increase European electoral inequality – but the problem can be solved". Der Föderalist.