On Wednesday 13 June the European Parliament approved by a very large majority (566 votes for, 94 against, 31 abstentions), the reduction of the number of MEPs from 751 to 705 during the 2019-2024 legislature, in favour of a reallocation of the seats left vacant by the United Kingdom when it leaves the European Union (see EUROPE 11968 and 11956).
These seats will be reallocated in the following way when the 27 seats out of 73 become vacant when the United Kingdom formally leaves the EU: 5 seats each will go to France (79) and Spain (59), 3 seats each for Italy (76) and the Netherlands (29), 2 for Ireland (13) and 1 extra seat each for Poland (52), Romania (33), Sweden (21), Austria (19), Denmark (14), Finland (14), Slovakia (14), Croatia (12) and Estonia (7).
The number of MEPs for the other member states remains unchanged. The figure of 751 MEPs was stipulated in the treaties, with a reserve 46 seats that can in part or in totality be allocated to countries that subsequently join the EU.
The reform will be formally ratified at the end of June by the European Council. The latter already approved the reform at the end of last February (see EUROPE 11968, 11967). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)