EU electoral law: EU Parliament calls for European electoral lists
In today's vote, a majority of Members of the European Parliament called on EU Member States to introduce transnational lists for the 2024 European elections. Likewise, a majority of MEPs endorsed the Greens/EFA call for lowering the voting age to 16 and to have gender-balanced lists. The European Parliament's proposal gives all voters two votes each, one for candidates in national constituencies and one for an EU-wide constituency, with 28 additional candidates elected on the basis of transnational lists. The proposal also includes the creation of a new electoral commission. Following the Junqueras case, where a Greens/EFA MEP was stripped of his immunity, the electoral commission would be able to rule on disputes about members’ immunity. Member States must agree on a proposal for the reform of the European Direct Election Act by the end of this year, followed by the approval of all Member States before the law can enter into force.
Philippe Lamberts, President of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, comments:
"The European Parliament is pushing the long overdue reform of European electoral law towards more democracy, more participation, more Europe and more gender equality. The vast majority of MEPs want the European elections to be the starting point for European debates and decisions. We call on all EU governments and parliaments to join the European Parliament's call for a stronger European spirit towards the European elections."
Damian Boeselager, Volt member and shadow rapporteur of the Greens/EFA group in the lead committee on constitutional affairs, comments:
"Today's decision by the European Parliament makes history. MEPs finally want to give citizens the possibility to vote directly for European parties, candidates and programmes in the next European elections. This is a giant step towards real European and parliamentary democracy. The recommendation to lower the voting age to 16, to make voting more accessible and easier and to introduce rules for gender equality are also big wins."
