European Council Decision (EU) 2023/2061 establishing the composition of the European Parliament

Summary:

Decision (EU) 2023/2061 - adopted by the European Council on 22 September 2023 - establishing the composition of the European Parliament.

Further information:

This Decision sets out the number of representatives in each Member State of the European Union (EU) to be elected to the European Parliament (EP) for the 2024-2029 parliamentary term. The Decision sets the number of EP seats at 720 in view of the demographic changes in EU Member States. Additional seats have been allocated to: Belgium (+1), Denmark (+1), Ireland (+1), Spain (+2), France (+2), Latvia (+1), Netherlands (+2), Austria (+1), Poland (+1), Slovenia (+1), Slovakia (+1), Finland (+1).

According to the Treaty on European Union (TEU), the number of Members of the European Parliament cannot exceed seven hundred and fifty (750), plus the President (+1). It provides for representation to be degressively proportional, with a minimum threshold of six (6) members per member state, and with no member state allocated more than ninety-six (96) seats.

Official

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on Composition of the European Parliament: draft European Council decision (2023/0900(NLE)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2023/0900(NLE)

European Parliament: Press Release, 15/06/2023: European elections 2024: Parliament proposes more seats for nine EU countries https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230609IPR96213/

European Parliament: Press Release, 11/09/2023: One step closer to fifteen additional MEPs from 12 countries https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230911IPR04944/

European Parliament: Press Release, 13/09/2023: 2024 European elections: 15 additional seats divided between 12 countries https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230911IPR04910/

Slovenian Government: News, 14/09/2023: Slovenia to have nine seats in next EU parliament https://www.gov.si/en/news/2023-09-14-slovenia-to-have-nine-seats-in-next-eu-parliament/

European Council: Press Release, 22/09/2023: The European Council establishes the composition of the European Parliament https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/09/22/the-european-council-establishes-the-composition-of-the-european-parliament/

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News

The Irish Times, 07/06/2023: Ireland likely gain extra MEP in European Parliament after population spike https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/06/07/ireland-likely-gain-extra-mep-in-european-parliament-after-population-spike/

EurActiv, 13/06/2023: MEPs vote to increase EU Parliament size as row with ministers continues https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/meps-vote-to-increase-eu-parliament-size-as-row-with-ministers-continues/

The Baltic Times, 21/07/2023: Estonia blocks decision on seat allocation in European Parliament https://www.baltictimes.com/estonia_blocks_decision_on_seat_allocation_in_european_parliament/

NL Times, 26/07/2023: The Netherlands to gain two more seats in the European Parliament after 2024 elections https://nltimes.nl/2023/07/26/netherlands-gain-two-seats-european-parliament-2024-elections

The Local (Denmark), 27/07/2023: Denmark to get extra seat in EU parliament https://www.thelocal.dk/20230727/denmark-to-get-extra-seat-in-eu-parliament

Politico, 28/07/2023: European Parliament set to grow by 15 MEPs in 2024 https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-parliament-mep-election-2024/

TVP World, 13/09/2023: EU Parliament to expand number of MEPs next year https://tvpworld.com/72698324/eu-parliament-to-expand-number-of-meps-next-year

EurActiv, 13/09/2023: MEPs approve new seat allocation despite row with governments https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-institutions/news/meps-approve-new-seat-allocation-despite-row-with-governments/

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Commentary and Analysis

European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS): At a Glance, 11/09/2023: Composition of the European Parliament https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)751468

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