The June 2024 European Parliament Elections: A Preview

Summary:

The 27 member states of the European Union (EU) are scheduled to hold elections for the 720 members of the next European Parliament (EP) between June 6 and 9, 2024. The only directly elected EU institution, the EP represents the bloc’s nearly 450 million citizens and has a role in approving most EU legislation. As the EP has accumulated more power over time, Congress has engaged the EP on certain aspects of U.S.-EU relations, including through forums such as the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue. Expected electoral gains for parties considered euroskeptic—that is, critical of the EU or anti-EU to varying degrees—may influence the functioning of the EP and the EU, as well as the conduct of U.S.-EU relations. (See also CRS In Focus IF11211, The European Parliament and U.S. Interests, and CRS Report RS21372, The European Union: Questions and Answers.)