BRUSSELS - Of the 73 seats the UK currently holds in the European Parliament 28 will be redistributed among other member states after the UK’s departure from the EU, the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs decided today.
France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands will be the biggest gainers from the decision which the committee passed by 21 votes to four.
The reallocation of seats will only apply after the parliament elections of May 2019, two months after the end of the two-year Brexit negotiation period between the UK and the EU.
The number of French MEPs will grow from 74 to 79, while Spanish MEPs will increase in number from 54 to 59.
Italy and the Netherlands each gain three seats, going from 73 to 76 and 26 to 29 respectively.
Ireland will increase its number of MEPs from to 11 to 13.
Denmark, Estonia, Croatia, Austria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden all have been allocated one additional seat.
Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Portugal, and Slovenia will keep the same number of MEPs as they have today.
Germany was unable to increase its number of MEPs, because it already has the maximum number allowed, 96.
The seats were redistributed, rather than just left empty or abolished, because the current distribution was not considered equally fair to all countries, considering their population sizes.
Brexit provided the opportunity to meet the demands of those countries that wanted more seats in the EU legislature without any country having to give up seats.
The distribution was expected as part of a political deal, with a majority of groups agreeing on Monday to a compromise amendment.
The total number of seats would drop from 751 to 706. The file still needs to be approved by the parliament's plenary.
The remaining 45 seats will remain empty, but can be used in future for MEPs from new member states.
Please enter your username and password.
2024 © The Baltic Times /Cookies Policy
