Decision (EU, Euratom) 2018/994 amending the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, annexed to Council Decision 76/787/ECSC, EEC, Euratom

Summary:

The Council of the European Union adopted on 13 July 2018 a Decision amending the 1976 Electoral Act which lays down a number of common rules concerning elections to the European Parliament. The discussions within the Council were based on a proposal adopted by the European Parliament in November 2015.

Further information:

The legislative initiative proposes amendments to the EU electoral law with a view to increasing the democratic dimension of the European elections and the legitimacy of the EU decision-making process. It aims to improve the citizens' participation in the election process and to bring Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) closer to their voters.

The Parliament's Conference of Presidents authorised in February 2015 the drawing up of a legislative initiative report on the reform of the electoral law of the European Union, based on Article 223(1) TFEU. In November 2015, the Parliament adopted a Resolution based on the report which puts forward amendments to the Act of September 1976 concerning the election of MEPs by direct universal suffrage.

Certain national parliaments expressed criticism of the EP proposals. On the side of the Council, the General Affairs Working Party discussed the European Parliament's legislative initiative during five successive Presidencies. The European Parliament progressively increased the pressure in early 2018. The Council's committee of permanent representatives adopted the draft decision on 7 June and the Parliament gave its consent on 4 July.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

EP: Legislative Train: Reform of the electoral law of the EU http://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-union-of-democratic-change/file-reform-of-the-electoral-law-of-the-eu

EurActiv, 20.10.15: Leinen: Parliament mulls 'first steps' to reform EU elections before 2019 http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/leinen-parliament-mulls-9-first-steps-reform-eu-elections-2019-318647

EPRS: In-Depth Analysis, September 2015: European Added Value Assessment accompanying the legislative own-initiative Report on the Reform of the Electoral Law of the European Union http://dx.publications.europa.eu/10.2861/26011

EPRS: At a Glance, July 2018: Reform of the electoral law of the EU http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2018)623561

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News

EUObserver, 28.09.15: MEPs keen to harmonise EU election rules https://euobserver.com/institutional/130457

EurActiv, 13.11.15: European elections reform backed by MEPs from three groups only http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/european-elections-reform-backed-meps-three-groups-only-319449

Politico, 12.11.15: Parliament wants Europe-wide election of Commission president http://www.politico.eu/article/parliament-wants-europe-wide-election-of-commission-president-democratic-jo-leinen/

Politico, 04.07.18: European Parliament backs (modest) electoral reform changes https://www.politico.eu/article/meps-spitzenkandidat-electoral-reform-back-modest-changes/

EurActiv, 08.02.18: Pressure builds on Bulgarian Presidency to deliver on European election law https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/pressure-builds-on-bulgarian-presidency-to-deliver-on-european-election-law/

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Official

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 07.06.18: Council reaches agreement on a set of measures to modernise EU electoral law http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/07/european-parliament-elections-council-reaches-agreement-on-a-set-of-measures-to-modernise-eu-electoral-law/

EP: Legislative Observatory: Election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage: reform http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil-mobile/fiche-procedure/2015/0907(APP)

EP: Legislative Observatory: Reform of the electoral law of the European Union http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil-mobile/fiche-procedure/2015/2035(INL)

European Parliament: Press Release, 11.11.15: EP elections: 'Spitzenkandidaten', mandatory thresholds, right to vote abroad http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20151109IPR01698/

UK: House of Lords: Select Committee on the European Union: Subsidiarity Assessment: reform of the electoral law of the EU [7th Report of Sessions 2015-16] http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201516/ldselect/ldeucom/87/87.pdf

UK: House of Lords: News, 27.01.16: Reasoned Opinion on European Parliament electoral reform recommended by Committee http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-justice-subcommittee/news-parliament-2015/ep-electoral-reform-ro-published/

European Parliament: Press Release, 04.07.18: Parliament backs a modernised EU electoral law http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180628IPR06818/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 13.07.18: EU electoral law: new rules adopted by the Council https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/07/13/eu-electoral-law-new-rules-adopted-by-the-council/

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ESO Records

The History Of European Electoral Reform And The European Elections Act http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-history-of-european-electoral-reform-and-the-european-elections-act/

1976 Electoral Act 40 years on: History and significance for European democracy today http://www.europeansources.info/record/1976-electoral-act-40-years-on-history-and-significance-for-european-democracy-today/

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