The members of the European Parliament were directly elected for the first time. The parliament held its first session in Strasbourg on 17 July 1979. Louise Weiss as the "oldest member" presided over the chamber. Simone Veil was elected president.

The Decision and Act on European elections by direct universal suffrage were signed in Brussels on 20 September 1976. Following ratification by all Member States, the Act entered into force on July 1978, and the first elections took place on 7 and 10 June 1979.

Louise Weiss was a journalist and politician. She co-founded the journal “L’Europe Nouvelle” later she created a movement advocating women’s suffrage in France. She became the oldest member of the European Parliament in 1979.

Already a renowned politician in France, where she became minister for health in 1974, Veil was elected member of the European Parliament at the first direct elections in 1979. The new Parliament elected her as its president for a period of two-and-a-half years. She thus became the first president of the directly-elected European Parliament and the first woman president of any EU institution.

40 years ago - First session of the directly elected European Parliament

Voting in the direct elections Bray Urban district council, CO Wicklow

Counting of Eurovotes at ballsbridge, Dublin

European Election Campaign

Conférence de presse, July 1979

Simone VEIL chairing the first sitting of the European Parliament elected by direct universal suffrage in Strasbourg.

Simone VEIL newly elected President of the European Parliament during the first session of the first directly-elected European Parliament.

MEP insert their vote in the ballot box on 17 July in Strasbourg. This election would reveal Simone VEIL as the new directly elected President of the European Parliament.

MEP insert their vote in the ballot box on 17 September in Strasbourg.EE 1979

Simone VEIL thanks the Plenary right after her election, one day before her inaugural speech delivered the next day.

Election of Emilio Colombo as new EP President on 1 March 1977

Election of Emilio Colombo as new EP President in 1977

Archive footage of the first European elections in Denmark in 1979.

First European Elections in Denmark (1979)

Here is an abstract from Louise Weiss' speech delivered in the European Parliament in 1979. Born in 1893, Louise Weiss was a peace activist, writer and film-maker, as well as a prominent journalist on European affairs and a champion of women’s rights. The year 1979 was pivotal for the European Parliament: it was no longer Member States, but citizens, who chose their representatives. On 17 July 1979, the first directly-elected European Parliament – as we know it today – held its inaugural session. It was chaired by its eldest member, Louise Weiss.

EPRS - Speeches that have made Europe: Louise Weiss (1979)

This video shows the citizen's vote in some of the European countries from 1979 to 2014.

Memoclip: European Elections - citizen's vote (1979-2014)

Visit of the exhibition : Elections 1979-2019 at the European Parliament Different examples with panels campaigns from 1979 to 2019

Infoclip: Exhibition Elections 1979-2019 (European Parliament)

Visit of the exhibition : Elections 1979-2019 at the BNU ((National Library University) Different examples with panels campaigns from 1979 to 2019

Infoclip: Exhibition Elections 1979-2019 (National Library University)

This memoclip presents images of citizens voting in different countries during the European elections day from 1979 to 2009.

Memoclip: European Elections - citizen's vote (1979-2009)

This memoclip offers an overview of images taken in different countries during the campaign for the European elections from 1979 to 2009.

Memoclip: European Elections - electoral campaign (1979-2009)

Opening session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, which took place on the 17th of July 1979. Louise Weiss holds a speech as the oldest member of the Parliament.

First sitting of the European Parliament elected by direct universal suffrage - Address by Louise WEISS, oldest EP Member, before the election of the EP President

1979 European elections (T)

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