Everything you need to know about the 2024 European elections

The upcoming continent-wide elections will witness the election of 720 Members of the European Parliament, reflecting an increase from the current 705 seats. This adjustment is made to accommodate demographic changes occurring in several member states.

The European Parliament stands as the sole EU institution directly elected by the voters. In contrast, the other two primary bodies are indirectly elected; the approval of MEPs is necessary for the composition of the European Commission, while the Council consists of national ministers designated by their respective governments.

These three institutions collaborate, though not always harmoniously, to propel legislation across a broad spectrum of areas. This encompasses fields such as climate action, digital regulation, migration and asylum, the single market, environmental protection, and the common budget.

The elections will take place in June

The European Parliament elections are scheduled to occur between June 6 and 9, following the electoral rules of each member state. Voters will select their country’s representatives through open, semi-open, and closed lists, as the proposal for transnational lists did not gain momentum.

The electoral process kicks off in the Netherlands on Thursday, June 6, with Ireland following on Friday, June 7. On Saturday, June 8, Latvia, Malta, and Slovakia will participate, while the remaining countries will cast their votes on the significant Sunday, June 9.

The Czech Republic and Italy have adopted back-to-back voting days, with the Czechs voting on Friday and Saturday, and the Italians on Saturday and Sunday.

Although the minimum voting age is typically 18 across most member states, some countries, such as Greece, permit individuals aged 17 and older to vote. Additionally, Belgium, Germany, Malta, and Austria have set the voting age at 16 in an effort to enhance voter turnout.

In contrast, the minimum age for candidates varies, with Germany, France, and Spain requiring candidates to be 18, while Greece and Italy set the minimum age at 25. EU citizens have the right to run for office in another EU country if they are residents there.

The youth are expected to increase the turnout

A pressing question in Brussels revolves around the historically low participation rates in EU elections. In 2019, the figure reached 50.66%, surpassing the 50% threshold for the first time since 1994. This year, the EU aims to at least replicate that 50% mark, translating to approximately 185 million ballots out of an estimated 370 million eligible voters.

Recognizing the importance of the youth demographic in boosting turnout, EU officials have set ambitious goals, even considering outreach to A-list celebrities like Taylor Swift to inspire Gen Z and millennials to participate.

Mandatory voting exists in only four member states: Belgium, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, and Greece. However, this mandate, enforced with leniency, hasn’t necessarily translated into significantly higher turnout, with Greece posting a 58.69% turnout in 2019 and Bulgaria recording just 32.64%.

While voting is highly recommended to amplify individual voices, only a handful of member states allow their citizens to cast votes in embassies and consulates abroad. Pre-registration is often required for this option, with Bulgaria and Italy restricting it to within another EU country.

Moreover, several countries, including Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia, Finland, and Sweden, permit postal voting, with some offering reimbursement for mailing costs.

In certain nations like Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, proxy voting is authorized, allowing individuals unable to vote in person to designate someone else to vote on their behalf.

As of now, Estonia stands out as the sole EU nation offering e-voting. On the flip side, a minority of member states, namely the Czech Republic, Ireland, Malta, and Slovakia, lack any option for citizens to vote from abroad.

The new legislature will start on 16 July

The election results are scheduled to be revealed on the evening of June 9, a deliberate measure to prevent countries voting earlier in the process from influencing those that vote later.

The European Parliament services plan to release the initial partial estimations at 18:15 CET on Sunday, followed by the first projection of the full hemicycle at 20:15 CET. This data will amalgamate estimated votes and pre-election opinion polls. By 23:00 CET, with the closure of all stations in member states, a reliable and comprehensive overview of the next European Parliament’s composition will be available.

Shortly after the elections conclude, national authorities will inform the Parliament of the elected individuals (and disqualifications), enabling the hemicycle to commence its formation.

MEPs must organize themselves into political groups based on ideology and priorities, with each group requiring a minimum of 23 lawmakers from at least seven countries. Those not included will be designated as “non-inscrits” or “non-attached,” holding a less prominent role in debates and committees.

The current hemicycle comprises seven groups: the European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe, the Greens/European Free Alliance, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Identity and Democracy (ID), and The Left.

The 10th legislature is set to commence on July 16, marked by the first plenary sitting. On this day, the 720 MEPs will elect the Parliament’s president, 14 vice-presidents, and five quaestors. The initial sitting, spanning until July 19, will involve the selection of committees and subcommittees. However, the announcement of chairmanship positions, typically divided among major groups through negotiation, will follow in the days after the plenary.

Each party has a Spitzenkandidat

In 2014, the EU introduced a novel approach by having each party publicly nominate a lead candidate, or Spitzenkandidat in German, ahead of parliamentary elections. This move aimed to enhance the democratic and accountable nature of the European Commission, the bloc’s influential institution. After the EPP secured 221 seats in the elections, EU leaders adhered to the system, appointing Jean-Claude Juncker, the party’s lead candidate, as Commission president, a decision approved by the hemicycle.

However, in a surprising turn of events in 2019, the declared EPP nominee, Manfred Weber, was sidelined by EU leaders, notably by France’s Emmanuel Macron. This rejection led to the unexpected emergence of Ursula von der Leyen, who had not been part of the initial race. Despite facing a narrow approval margin in the hemicycle, von der Leyen’s appointment led many to declare the Spitzenkandidaten system as obsolete.

The 2024 elections are attempting to revive the system, with von der Leyen running as a lead candidate. The socialists, Greens, and Left have also nominated presidential hopefuls, while groups like Renew Europe and Identity and Democracy (ID) continue to reject the system, citing its absence in the EU treaties.

Regardless of the candidate’s origin, the Parliament plans to hold a plenary session between September 16 and 19, allowing the appointee to present their political platform and secure the endorsement of at least 361 of the 720 members.

If the Commission president is elected during this session, the Parliament will initiate hearings for Commissioner-designates based on their assigned portfolios. In 2019, three proposed names were rejected during the vetting process. Once all Commissioner-designates successfully navigate the hearings, the Parliament will conduct a confidence vote on the entire College of Commissioners for a five-year term. Only then will the new Commission assume office, marking the commencement of legislative work.