On Thursday 7 June, the Council of the EU unanimously endorsed reform of the EU's election law for the European elections of May 2019 after Italy, which now has a government, lifted its reserve.
Upon request from Germany, the draft legislation foresees the introduction at EU level of a minimum voting threshold (between 2% and 5%) in order to be elected as a member of the European Parliament in countries of a single constituency or which have consistencies of at least 35 seats.
The reform will also allow member states to take measures to allow their nationals registered in third countries to vote in Europe elections, a measure demanded by Hungary.
The list of candidates for European elections must be known at least three weeks ahead of the elections. Jo Leinen (S&D, Germany) said this timing was ‘too short’ for leading a serious campaign.
The member states, however, can, if they wish, promote electronic voting and ask national parties to put the logo for the European party they belong to on the ballot papers.
Reform of the electoral law does not foresee the creation of a European constituency to enable voting for candidates from transnational lists (see EUROPE 11968).
The European Parliament now needs to put the final full stop to the reform by consenting to it. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion