Brussels, 23 January 2018

The European Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee today backed a report outlining the make-up of the Parliament for the 2019 European Elections. The main question for the report was how to use the 73 parliamentary seats that will become available when the UK leaves the EU. MEPs voted to reapportion 27 of these seats to countries that are currently underrepresented and reduce the overall number of MEPs from 751 to 705. They also opened the way for transnational lists of MEPs, to work alongside the current national ones.

The new changes would only take effect once the UK has officially left the EU.

S&D Group President Gianni Pittella said:

“It is a first step but it could mark a turning point for Europe. The possible creation of transnational lists would pave the way for not only for a pan-European constituency but also for real European direct-representation rather than the current national system.

“Thanks to this vote, the S&D group aims also to cut the overall number of MEPS and rebalance the numbers from underrepresented countries. It is a first step but one that takes us towards a political, transparent and democratic Europe.”

S&D Group MEP and co-author of the report Pedro Silva Pereira said:

“The proposals voted today are a pragmatic compromise and an important step forward for European democracy. They will make the European Parliament a fairer reflection of the EU as a whole by increasing the number of MEPs from underrepresented countries, also ensuring no-loss of seats for any Member-State. I am glad to see that my report got such a substantial support in the Constitutional Affairs Committee".

S&D Group Spokesperson for constitutional affairs Mercedes Bresso added:

“The S&D Group strongly supports the idea of transnational lists, whereby a portion of MEPs would be chosen from pan-European lists rather than national ones. This would give Parliament elections a clear European dimension, rather than simply being a series of 28 national elections it will allow citizens to choose from different visions of Europe put forward by truly European parties.

“We also added a specific amendment to ensure that future transnational lists would be defined on the basis of the number of Member States of the European Union.”
 

Note to editors

The report will now be voted on by the whole European Parliament at the Parliament’s plenary in February.