2023-09-11 21:03:31
They could be 720. The European Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee voted on Monday in favor of an increase from 705 to 720 in the number of MEPs following the June 2024 elections. This change was approved by a large majority in committee (20 for, five against and one abstention). This green light must still be confirmed during a vote scheduled for Wednesday in plenary session in Strasbourg.
The European Parliament had proposed last June to increase the number of elected officials to 716 for the 2024-2029 legislature, i.e. 11 more than currently, to take into account demographic changes in EU countries. Nine countries won seats: Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Ireland, Slovenia, Latvia.
France would increase to 81 MEPs
But this formula was not to the taste of France, Belgium and Poland, who also managed to be allocated additional seats. The Council – the institution representing the Member States – therefore modified the proposal, which now provides for 15 additional seats. Three countries each obtain two more seats: France, which increases to 81, Spain (61) and the Netherlands (31). Nine countries obtain one: Austria (20), Denmark (15), Belgium (22), Poland (53), Finland (15), Slovakia (15), Ireland (14), Slovenia (9) and Latvia (9).
The number of MEPs is reviewed before each European election. The Lisbon Treaty provides for a maximum of 751 elected officials (including the president), no less than six elected officials per country and no more than 96. Germany, the most populous country in the EU, has 96 MEPs .
The number of seats decreased on February 1, 2020 with the departure of the 73 British MEPs due to Brexit, going from 751 to 705 – 27 seats had been redistributed to other countries. The elections to the European Parliament will take place from June 6 to 9, 2024. They will lead to a renewal at the head of European institutions, including the Commission and the European Council.
#European #Union #number #MEPs #increased