The 27 nations that belong to the European Union (EU) held elections between 6-9 June 2024 to elect 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
The number of MEPs elected from each EU country is agreed before each election and is based on the principle of degressive proportionality. MEPs serve five-year terms.
The European Parliament is the world’s only directly elected transnational assembly. The MEPs represent the interests of EU citizens at the European level. Together with representatives of the governments of EU countries, MEPs shape and decide on new laws that influence all aspects of lives across the European Union.
Elections are contested by national political parties but once MEPs are elected, most opt to become part of transnational political groups. Most national parties are affiliated to a European-wide political party.
MEPs sit in political groups based on shared ideals. Each group has a minimum of 23 MEPs from at least a quarter of EU countries. There are seven groups in the current Parliament: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats); Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament; Renew Europe Group; Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance; European Conservatives and Reformists Group; Identity and Democracy Group; and The Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL.
The total population of the 27 member states that make up the EU is 448.4 million and there are over 400 million eligible voters. In the 2024 elections, voter turnout was 51%.