European Parliament: Membership and Election Procedures

1. Membership and Election

The Parliament sees its role not only in promoting democratic decision-making in Europe but also in supporting the fight for democracy, freedom of speech, and fair elections across the globe.

Following a number of previous attempts made at the time of previous treaty amendments, the number of MEPs has finally settled at 750. MEPs are elected to serve the electorate in constituencies and are organized into cross-border political groupings, rather than member states, with the total number per state crudely in proportion to population. Further possible expansions will almost certainly cause the issue of membership to be reopened.

The President of the European Parliament

The actual President of the European Parliament is Martin Schulz. He is responsible for the application of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, and, to this end, oversees all the activities of Parliament and its bodies. He addresses the European Council prior to each of its meetings, stating Parliament's viewpoint on the subjects on the agenda in the framework of a debate with the heads of state and government.

The President also represents Parliament in its international relations, and, in this connection, undertakes official visits within and outside the EU. He signs the EU budget into being following Parliament's vote on it at second reading. During the procedure, the President chairs the European Parliament and European Council conciliation delegations.

When an Intergovernmental Conference is held for the reform of the Treaties, the President takes part in the meetings of the government representatives where these are organised at ministerial level.

Election Procedures

The procedures for electing the European Parliament are governed both by European legislation defining rules common to all Member States and by specific national provisions which vary from one state to another. The common rules lay down:

• The principle of proportional representation.
• Certain incompatibilities with a mandate as a Member of the European Parliament.

Many other important matters, such as the exact electoral system used and the number of constituencies, are governed by national laws.

The founding Treaties stated that Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) would initially be appointed by the national parliaments, but made provision for election by direct universal suffrage. This was implemented by the Council through the Act of 20 September 1976 concerning the election of the representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage.

According to Article 22(2) TFEU, ‘every citizen of the Union residing in a Member State of which he is not a national shall have the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament in the Member State in which he resides’.