Attila Kaszás July , 2009, Budapest

1. Attila KaszásJuly, 2009, Budapest Working Document on the Election of the European Parliament

2. Table of contents • What document? • Short History of the EP Election regulation • Solved problems • Non-problematic issues • Other important questions

3. What document? • The Commission of Constitutional Affairs assigned Mr. Andrew Duff, British Liberal Democrat MEP as rapporteur on the Election of the European Parliament in its 25.07.2007 session • Mr. Duff prepared the Working Document with the assistance of EP and Commission experts for 25.01.2008

4. Short history I. • 1951 – Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community • 1957 - European Parliamentary Assembly of the European Economic Community • 1960 – first draft Convention on direct elections – no progress • 1969 – Council meeting in The Hague – direct elections on the agenda

5. Short history II. • 1972 – Vedel Report recommended early implementation of direct elections • 1974 – Council meeting in Paris – decision: proceeding with direct elections ASAP • 1975 – Patijn Report – directly elected Parliament with a five year mandate, national electoral systems provisionally on the first election

6. Short history III. • 1976 – European Council – Act concerning the election of the representatives of the European Parliament • 1979 – first direct EP- elections • 1982 – Seitlinger Report – focus: extending proportional representation; proposed multi-member constituencies with seats allocated by the D’Hondt system – British refusal, no progress

7. Short history IV. • 1984-89 mandate – Bocklet Report – trying ta marry proportional and non-proportional systems – British refusal, no progress • 1991 and 1993 - De Gucht Reports – suggested again using the D’Hondt system, controlling the running and financing of the electoral campaign and a mixed system for the UK • 1999 – closed list system of regional proportional representation in the UK

8. Short history V. • 1998 – Anastassopoulos Report – suggested creation of territorial constituencies with more than 20 million inhabitants and transnational (gender balanced) lists for 2009 • 2002 – Modification of the 1976 Act by the Council – introduction of proportional system; allowing STV (Single Transferable Vote) and preferential voting; catering territorial constituencies; max. threshold 5 per cent; phasing out dual mandate

9. Short history VI. • 2000-2004 Nice, Laeken, Convention – discussions over the distribution of seats • 2007 – Lamassoure-Severin Report – defining the principle of degressive proportionality – accepted in theory by the Parliament and the Council • 2009? – Treaty of Lisbon – more power to EP

10. Solved problems • A form of proportional representation has been established in all Member States • The dual mandate is abolished • European political parties have been established • Terms and conditions of MEPs soon harmonised

11. Non-problematic issues • Eligibility of independent candidates • Control of election expenses Application of national discretion and electoral practice

12. Important questions I. • Making mandatory the establishment of territorial constituencies in the more populous MSs • Creating a transnational list system for a portion of seats • Permitting the creation of constituencies in specific linguistic communities • Allowing candidates to stand in more than one constituency or State at the same election

13. Important questions II. • Facilitating voting by EU citizens living in a MS other than their own • Reviewing the different electoral systems in use • Encouraging the introduction of preferential voting • Reducing the polling timetable • Shifting the elections from June to May

14. Important questions III. • Establishing a regime for the privileges and immunities of Members • Establishing a regime for the verification of credentials of Members and the filling of vacancies • Harmonising the age of electors and candidates