More than 400 million Europeans will be called to the polls for the next European elections which will take place from June 6 to 9, 2024.
The next European elections will be held from June 6 to 9, 2024, as announced by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union on Wednesday.
The date, set by the ambassadors of the 27 countries of the European Union, must be formally endorsed next Monday by a Council of European Ministers. The election of MEPs, which takes place every five years by universal suffragewill kick off the renewal of the heads of the main European institutions (Parliament, Commission, Council).
In total, more than 400 million Europeans will be called to ballot.
Crucial elections for the presidencies
The European Parliament, co-legislator with the Member States, currently has 705 elected members, after the departure of British MEPs in January 2020 following Brexit.
The number of members elected in each country depends on the size of the population, with smaller countries having more seats than if the principle of strict proportionality were applied. Currently, the number of members sitting in the European Parliament ranges from six (for Malta, Luxembourg and Cyprus) to 96 (for Germany), with France holding 79.
The European People’s Party (EPP, right) is the main political force in the assembly, ahead of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and Renew Europe (centrists and liberals).
The balance between political families then determines the presidencies of the main European institutions (Parliament, Commission, European Council).
Von der Leyen attend
The presidency of Parliament is also currently in the hands of the EPP, the Maltese Roberta Metsola having succeeded in January 2022 to the Italian socialist David Sassoli, who died shortly before.
The President of the European Commission, the German Ursula von der Leyen, from the ranks of the EPP, has not yet indicated whether she will run again but this hypothesis seems very likely.
The President of the European Council, the Belgian Charles Michel, is from the Renew Europe family.
Elections usually start on a Thursday (the day the Netherlands traditionally votes) and end on a Sunday (voting day in most countries).
