What is the European Parliament?

The European Parliament is an institution of the European Union, which is dual in nature:

> It is the only institution whose members are elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term in office.

> It is the only institution whose powers have been extended as the treaties have been signed.

The last European elections took place from 23rd to 26th May 2019 in the 28 Member States of the European Union. Europe’s citizens were called to appoint 751 MEPs, who will represent them until 2024 – their number has been reduced to 705 when the UK left the EU.

Distribution of seats per country

Member StatesComposition of parliament for the legislature 2019-2024Composition of parliament for the legislature 2014-2019Composition of parliament for the legislature 2009-2014
Germany969699
France797474
Italy767373
Spain595454
Poland522151
Romania333233
Netherlands292626
Belgium212122
Greece212122
Hungary212122
Portugal212122
Czech Republic212122
Sweden212020
Austria191819
Bulgaria171718
Denmark141313
Finland141313
Slovakia141313
Ireland131112
Croatia121112
Lithuania111112
Latvia889
Slovenia888
Estonia766
Cyprus666
Luxembourg666
Malta666
United Kingdom07373
Total705751766
Source: European Parliament
Data assembled and put together by the Robert Schuman Foundation, © FRS

The European Parliament’s position in the institutional running of the European Union

schema-institutions-EN

Source : “The Lisbon Treaty. 10 easy-to-read fact sheets”, Fondation Robert Schuman, December 2007 :

https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/understanding-the-lisbon-treaty