Latvia to have one more seat in next European Parliament

RIGA - Latvia will have nine seats for the next European Parliament (EP) instead of eight, the EP Constitutional Affairs Committee decided on Monday.

The European Parliament is due to vote on the decision at a plenary in Strasbourg this Thursday.

In documents adopted on Monday evening, the Constitutional Affairs Committee proposed to increase the number of MEPs by 11, distributing the mandates among nine member states, to reflect demographic changes in the European Union (EU).

The draft report, drawn up by MEPs from the European People's Party (EPP) and Renew Europe, acknowledges that the current composition of the EP no longer meets the principles set out in the EU Treaties and proposes the creation of additional 11 seats in the EU legislature for the 2024 elections.

Two of these seats will go to Spain, two to the Netherlands and one each to Austria, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Ireland, Slovenia and Latvia.

The draft report underlines the need for swift action to allow the member states to make the necessary changes at the national level before next year's EP elections.

The draft proposal for a European Council decision was adopted by 15 votes to eight, with five abstentions. The draft resolution accompanying the proposal was adopted by 16 votes to 10, with two abstentions.

The draft report will be put to the vote in the plenary in Strasbourg on Thursday.