By Nur Asena Erturk
Millions of people across the EU will vote on June 6-9 for their representatives in the European Parliament (EP), the bloc’s only directly elected body and the world’s only directly elected transnational legislature.
They will elect a total of 720 lawmakers, or MEPs, for a five-year term, who then choose an EP president, a post currently held by Roberta Metsola.
The EP elections are held every five years, so the next one will be in 2029.
- Who votes and where?
Over 350 million voters will be heading to the polls across all 27 EU states.
However, every country has a different number of seats in the EP, based on their size:
Germany 96, France 81, Italy 76, Spain 61, Poland 53, Romania 33, Netherlands 31, Belgium 22, Greece 21, Czechia 21, Sweden 21, Portugal 21, Hungary 21, Austria 20, Bulgaria 17, Denmark 15, Finland 15, Slovakia 15, Ireland 14, Croatia 12, Lithuania 11, Slovenia 9, Latvia 9, Estonia 7, Luxembourg 6, Malta 6, and Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus 6.
The EP currently comprises seven political alliances: European People’s Party, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Renew Europe, Greens/European Free Alliance, European Conservatives and Reformists Group, Identity and Democracy, and the Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL.
- Political context
The rise of right-wing parties in some European countries could lead to a shift in the EP, which will be handling several critical issues in the coming years, such as agriculture reforms, migration, climate issues, the war in Ukraine, and competition with China and the US.
Farmers across the continent started protesting in early 2024 against increasing pressure of EU regulations, including rules related to the bloc’s Green Deal and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The unrest forced the EU to withdraw some regulations in the CAP regarding the decarbonization of agriculture.
The war in Ukraine and Europe’s security is a priority issue for countries such as Germany, Finland, and Lithuania, while economic issues including corruption and the cost of living have dominated debates in other nations such as Hungary, Ireland, Austria, Croatia, Belgium, and Greece.
Migration is another key topic for Europeans, and EU lawmakers adopted the Migration and Asylum Pact in April to tackle the issue.
The reform pledges a quicker examination of asylum claims, more effective returns, and better response during crises.
Climate change, meanwhile, remains a source of polarization across the continent.
The issue has significant traction in German and Danish public opinion, while the Austrian far-right vows to fight against excessive climate mitigation measures and policy costs.
- Top EU job on the line
The EP elections have immense significance for another critical position in European politics: head of the European Commission.
There is no direct vote for the post in these elections but the eventual results have a direct impact.
That is because the commission head first needs the nod from a qualified majority of 27 EU leaders, and then has to secure a simple majority – at least 361 votes – from the EP’s 720 new members.
Each group contesting the EP elections has nominated a lead candidate to head the EU Commission, a position currently held by Ursula von der Leyen.
Von der Leyen is again the candidate for the European People’s Party and is hoping to secure another five-year term.
The European Left’s nominee is Austrian politician Walter Baier, who was elected president of the party in December 2022.
Renew Europe has three lead candidates: Valerie Hayer from France, Italian Sandro Gozi, the secretary-general of the European Democratic Party, and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann from Germany, head of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.
The European Greens have nominated two lead candidates: Terry Reintke from Germany and Bas Eickhout from the Netherlands, a duo whose work focuses on agriculture, climate change and environmental issues.
The lead candidate for the Party of European Socialists is Nicolas Schmit, a 70-year-old politician from Luxembourg and the current EU commissioner for jobs and social rights.
Identity and Democracy has not officially named a lead candidate, but designated Anders Vistisen, a 36-year-old far-right Danish politician known for his anti-Muslim views, to represent the group in EU debates.
The European Conservatives and Reformists Group, meanwhile, has not nominated any candidate for the top EU post.