The European Parliament elections, the world’s largest transnational poll, involve a vote across all 27 member states, to pick a new cohort of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for the next five-year term.
The 2024 European elections follow one of the most tumultuous periods in the EU’s history, with the COVID and energy crises and the invasion of Ukraine demanding unprecedented action and a range of policy challenges from tackling climate change to regulating artificial intelligence.
Our Dods Political Intelligence Guide to the 2024 European Elections is free to download, and explains how EU elections work, with everything you need to know from national seat allocation to key dates and the Spitzenkandidaten process to pick the president of the European Commission.
How often are EU elections held, and what is the date of the 2024 elections?
European Parliament elections are held every five years. The last elections were held in 2019, and the next are scheduled to be held between June 6 and June 9, 2024. The results are due after polls have closed in all 27 European Union member states.
How are seats allocated in the EU elections?
Seat allocation is a fundamental part of how EU elections work, with each member state being represented by a fixed number of seats. Countries with larger populations have more MEPs than smaller countries, but seat allocation is adjusted so that smaller countries are still fairly represented.
Our free downloadable guide to the EU elections contains detailed information on how many seats are allocated to each member state in 2024, and how this compares to 2019.
What are Spitzenkandidaten in the EU elections?
As well as determining the MEPs that sit in the European Parliament, the European elections have also played an important role in the selection of the president of the European Commission in recent years.
The concept of “Spitzenkandidaten” (German for “lead candidates”) is a relatively recent development in European Union elections, having been part of how EU elections work since 2024. This process was introduced to make the election of the President of the European Commission more transparent and democratically accountable.
Before the European Parliament elections, each major European political party nominates a Spitzenkandidat, who is their candidate for the President of the European Commission. These candidates are usually prominent figures within their parties.
Several political parties have said they plan to propose a Spitzenkandidat for the 2024 elections, and they must nominate their candidate at least 12 weeks before the elections.
What is the role of an MEP in the European Parliament?
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have several key roles and responsibilities within the European Parliament. Once elected, MEPs represent the interests of EU citizens, participate in drafting and passing European laws and are responsible for approving the EU’s budget, along with the Council.
What are the key dates in the 2024 EU Elections?
Understanding how EU elections work involves knowing the significance of key dates in the run-up to, and aftermath of, the elections. Download our free guide to the 2024 EU Elections and find out when the last plenary session of the 9th legislature takes place, when candidates for key positions will be nominated, and when the first plenary of the 10th legislature and Committee meetings will take place.
Download our free PDF guide today
Find out how EU elections work in our free guide to the 2024 EU Elections.
- Download: Dods Political Intelligence Guide to the 2024 European Elections