EU PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION RULES

The election of MEPs for the EU Parliament will take place next month in week 21 (22 to 25 May);

     -  751 MEPs will be elected, in

     -    28 Member States, by

     -  500 million electors.

The largest of the Member States, Germany, elects 96 MEPs.  The smallest Member States, like Cyprus, elect  6 MEPs.

Each Member State organises its own election rules but it must be on a proportional basis.   Some countries (France, UK, Ireland, Italy) devide their country into Geographical régions.  As a general rule candidates must belong to a Party.      

The next step is governed by the "Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament", which can be consulted on the Internet under that heading. There are at present more than 200 rules and annexes; they are updated when necessary. These rules are available in the language of each EU country. 

An elected MEP must now adhere to one, and only one,  political Group in the EU Parliament.  There are at present 7 such Groups.  Any Group, to exist and be officially recognised, must have at least 25 MEPs who have been elected in at least 7 different member countries. 

                                .