On Tuesday 30 May, the French Secretary of State, Laurence Boone, and the German Secretary of State, Anna Lührmann, reiterated the importance they attach to continuing discussions in the Council of the European Union on the reform of electoral law on the basis of the European Parliament’s initiative (see EUROPE 12944/1).
Many EU countries have reservations, in particular about the creation, in addition to the European elections at a national level, of a joint constituency within which transnational lists of candidates, led by top candidates (‘Sptizenkandidaten’), would compete. Ms Boone also raised the issue of a “common date”, potentially the symbolic date of 9 May, for holding the European elections, as well as setting “the voting age at 16”.
France supports the introduction of transnational lists for the next European elections in order to foster “a European public debate” and “strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the European Parliament”, said Ms Boone, inviting the Council to “take a proactive stance”.
We need to put this issue “at the top of the agenda”, added Ms Lührmann.
On behalf of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Jessika Roswall indicated that at the end of June, she would present ministers with a summary of the responses to a specific questionnaire designed to identify Member States’ positions on this issue.
Composition of the European Parliament. The Swedish Presidency is also preparing a letter to the Parliament in which it expresses its concern at the delay in negotiations between the political groups on the composition of the European Parliament. Mr Gozi and Mr Vincze are proposing to increase the number of MEP seats to 716 for the next legislature (see EUROPE 13129/12).
“Any further delays could severely jeopardise the orderly preparation of the next European Parliament elections”, reads a draft text from the Secretariat of the Council of the EU, noting that some Member States have a tight timetable for finalising their internal procedures in the event of a change in the composition of the European Parliament. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)