Brussels, 01/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - Following the European Parliament's assent of 12 June 2002 (see Europe of 14 June, p.5), the Council has formally adopted the decision amending the Act of 20 September 1976 on the election of Members of the European Parliament by universal direct suffrage. The changes introduced focus on Member States having the option of dividing the country into various electoral constituencies without this affecting proportional voting; the option of having a minimum threshold for winning seats; the incompatibility of being an MEP and a national MP at the same time (with exceptions for Ireland and the UK). The decision must now be implemented by Member States in line with their own legislation.