- The European Parliament has 720 members (MEPs) from 27 EU member states — with seats allocated roughly proportionally to population.
- The Parliament's co-legislative role has expanded significantly since the Lisbon Treaty (2009) — with MEPs now required to vote on most EU legislation in 'codecision' with the Council.
- The 2024 Parliament is dominated by EPP (center-right), S&D (social-democrats), and Renew Europe (liberal) — with ECR (far-right conservative) and Greens as significant minority groups.
- The Parliament directly elects the European Commission President — making it the primary democratic check on the EU executive, though the Council (national governments) proposes the candidate.
EU Parliament Election 2024: EPP Wins, Far-Right Surges
On June 9, 2024, more than 180 million EU citizens voted in the 10th direct election to the European Parliament. The result: the center-right EPP held its dominant position, but the real story was a significant shift to the right across the continent.
Seats by Political Group — 2024 Result
Source: European Parliament, official final results June 2024. 720 total seats.
Full Results: All Political Groups
| Political Group | Ideology | Seats 2024 | % of 720 | Seats 2019 | Change | Key Parties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPP European People's Party |
Centre-right / Christian Democrat | 188 | 26.1% | 187 | +1 | CDU/CSU (DE), PP (ES), FI (IT) |
| S&D Socialists & Democrats |
Centre-left / Social Democrat | 136 | 18.9% | 154 | −18 | SPD (DE), PSOE (ES), PD (IT) |
| ECR European Conservatives & Reformists |
Right-wing / National Conservative | 78 | 10.8% | 69 | +9 | FdI (IT, Meloni), PiS (PL) |
| Renew Europe Liberals & Democrats |
Liberal / Pro-European / Centrist | 77 | 10.7% | 102 | −25 | En Marche (FR), FDP (DE), VVD (NL) |
| ID Identity & Democracy |
Far-right / Nationalist | 58 | 8.1% | 76 | −18 | RN (FR, Le Pen), Lega (IT) |
| Greens/EFA Greens & European Free Alliance |
Green / Regionalist / Progressive | 53 | 7.4% | 72 | −19 | Greens (DE), EELV (FR), SNP (UK-out) |
| The Left (GUE/NGL) United Left |
Left / Democratic Socialist / Communist | 46 | 6.4% | 39 | +7 | La France Insoumise, Die Linke (DE) |
| Non-attached / Others Independents & new groups |
Various | 84 | 11.7% | 29 | +55 | Fidesz (HU), PVV (NL), and others |
Note: Shortly after the election, Fidesz, RN and others formed the new "Patriots for Europe" group (84 seats), reshuffling some of the above figures. The "Non-attached/Others" row reflects the immediate post-election count before group reformations were finalized.
Key Takeaways from the 2024 EU Election
EPP Holds the Center — But Needs Right-Leaning Allies
The EPP under Manfred Weber remained the largest force. However, the collapse of Renew Europe (which lost 25 seats, largely due to Macron's weak showing in France) means the traditional center-left to center-right governing coalition no longer commands a comfortable majority. The EPP will need to seek issue-by-issue alliances with ECR — and potentially even further right — to pass legislation.
Far-Right Surge Was Real — But Divided
Right-wing and far-right parties made substantial gains, but they are split across multiple competing groups with different priorities. ECR (Meloni's group) and ID (Le Pen's group) have a tense relationship. After the election, Hungary's Fidesz and France's RN launched a new "Patriots for Europe" group that drew members away from ID, further fracturing the far-right bloc. A united far-right does not exist in the EU Parliament.
Green Wave Reversal — Climate Policy Under Pressure
The Greens lost almost a quarter of their seats, from 72 to 53. This reflects a broader voter reaction against perceived overreach on climate policy — particularly the EU's Green Deal, the nature restoration law, and the 2035 combustion engine ban. Agricultural protests across Europe in early 2024 were a preview. The new Parliament is expected to soften or delay several Green Deal elements.
France Shock: Macron Dissolves Parliament
The biggest national political earthquake triggered by the EU election was in France. Marine Le Pen's RN received around 31% of the French vote — more than double Macron's Renaissance party at 14.6%. Macron immediately dissolved the French National Assembly and called snap elections. Though RN fell short of an absolute majority, the result reshaped French domestic politics for years to come.
Parliament President: Roberta Metsola
Roberta Metsola (EPP, Malta) was re-elected as President of the European Parliament in July 2024, opening the new parliamentary term. She first assumed the presidency in January 2022 following the sudden death of David Sassoli, becoming the youngest person and the third woman ever to hold the role.
The Parliament President chairs plenary sessions, signs EU legislation into law, and represents the institution internationally. As a Maltese EPP politician, Metsola is a firm pro-European voice and has been a prominent figure in EU support for Ukraine since the 2022 Russian invasion.
Her re-election was broadly expected and reflects EPP's continued dominance. In the new term, she faces the challenge of managing a more fragmented, right-leaning chamber while maintaining institutional coherence and the EU's democratic credentials.
How the European Parliament Works
The European Parliament is the only directly elected supranational legislature in the world. Its 720 members (MEPs) are elected every five years by voters in all 27 EU member states. Each country elects a number of MEPs roughly proportional to its population, but smaller countries are overrepresented to ensure they have a meaningful voice: Germany has 96 MEPs, Malta has 6.
MEPs do not sit in national delegations — they sit in transnational political groups organized by ideology. For a group to be recognized, it needs at least 23 MEPs from at least seven member states. Recognized groups receive staff, offices, speaking time, and committee positions. Unaffiliated MEPs are at a significant structural disadvantage.
The Parliament shares legislative power with the Council of the EU (ministers from member state governments). Most EU laws require approval from both. The Parliament also confirms and can dismiss the European Commission — the EU's executive. Unlike most national parliaments, the European Parliament cannot itself initiate legislation; that power rests with the Commission.
The Parliament meets in two locations: Strasbourg (France, where full plenary sessions are held) and Brussels (where committees and additional plenary sessions meet). This dual-seat arrangement, enshrined in EU treaties, is expensive and controversial but has persisted due to French insistence on maintaining Strasbourg's role.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can vote in European Parliament elections?
All EU citizens aged 18 and above (16 in Austria, Belgium, Germany, and some others) can vote in EP elections. EU citizens living in a member state other than their own can vote either in their home country or their country of residence — but not both. Voter turnout in 2024 was approximately 51%, the highest since 1994.
Does the EU Parliament have real power?
Yes, substantially more than it did in earlier decades. Under the Lisbon Treaty (2009), the Parliament became a co-equal legislator with the Council on most EU laws. It approves the entire European Commission (and can force it to resign). It controls the EU budget. However, it cannot initiate legislation — only the Commission can — and in foreign policy and defense, the Parliament's role is limited.
What is the difference between the EU Parliament and the European Council?
The European Parliament is directly elected by EU citizens and represents the people. The European Council is the body of heads of state and government (the 27 national leaders), which sets the EU's overall strategic direction. The Council of the EU (not to be confused with the European Council) consists of ministers from member states and acts as the upper chamber of the EU legislature, passing laws alongside the Parliament. These are three separate institutions with overlapping but distinct roles.
When is the next European Parliament election?
The next European Parliament election is scheduled for June 2029. EP elections take place every five years. The 2024 election is considered a milestone because of the rightward shift; by 2029, analysts expect further realignment depending on how EU-level crises (Ukraine, migration, trade, climate) develop over the intervening years.
