During the EP plenary session (5-8 February 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the composition of the European Parliament. The European Parliament should shrink from 751 to 705 MEPs when the UK leaves the EU and a number of MEPs could be elected through “transnational” electoral lists comprising the entire territory of the Union. Statements by Danuta Maria HÜBNER (EPP, PL), Rapporteur, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (S&D, PT), Rapporteur, György SCHÖPFLIN (EPP, HU), Mercedes BRESSO (S&D, IT), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE) and Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (EFDD, IT).

VERHOFSTADT, Guy (Renew, BE)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

SCHÖPFLIN, György (EPP, HU)

HÜBNER, Danuta Maria (EPP, PL)

BRESSO, Mercedes (S&D, IT)

CASTALDO, Fabio Massimo (Renew, IT)

SILVA PEREIRA, Pedro (S&D, PT)

funding of European political parties (T)

composition of the European Parliament (T)

2019 European elections (T)

Composition of the European Parliament: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Danuta Maria H&#220;BNER (EPP, PL), Rapporteur, In times when democracy as a system is called by some into question elections are the most important expression of citizens&rsquo; democratic will. The EP directly represents the citizens in the EU so we as members of the EP form a direct link between citizens and the Union. And it is the prerogative of the EP to propose its composition to the European Council and to have a final say on the European Council&rsquo;s decision for each legislative period.

SOUNDBITE (English), Danuta Maria H&Uuml;BNER (EPP, PL), Rapporteur, By reducing the size of parliament from 751 to 705 members of parliament we will also allow for savings, thereby freeing up resources that can be used for other purposes. I think that these are the right signals to our citizens.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (S&amp;D, PT), Rapporteur, This report is on the composition of the Parliament, it&rsquo;s not about transnational lists. Via this report the Parliament, as happened in 2015, is acknowledging that it is up to the Council to reform electoral legislation and decide by unanimity on the potential creation of a possible transnational constituency. Therefore the report says that this Council&rsquo;s decision is a precondition, that&rsquo;s what at stake as regards transnational list, nothing more.

SOUNDBITE (English), Gy&#246;rgy SCH&#214;PFLIN (EPP, HU), Have European citizens ever been asked if they want be represented by a transnational list? The answer is no. If the transnational list does happen then this Parliament will have 27 free floating MEPs answerable to none, they will have power without an electorate, they will have power without accountability, without responsibility, so where are all the checks and balances?

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Mercedes BRESSO (S&amp;D, IT), A real transnational list which would include candidates from all European countries, would be headed by a list leader for the role of President of the Commission and would create the space for a real pan European debate. We are constantly reiterating the fact that European elections are jeopardised by national issues and this would be a real occasion to engage genuinely European candidates in a real European debate and election. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Guy VERHOFSTADT, In the proposal that you have before you, people would have two votes: one vote for his national candidate, his national list, to keep the link between the citizen and its MEP and a second vote for transnational candidates to strengthen the link between the citizen and the EU.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (EFDD, IT), This (transnational) list must not become a parachute which enables to elect an elite of people who would otherwise not be supported by the electorate, it should actually constitute an opportunity for us to extend the parameters of democratic debate and promote the discussion of European issues.