Around 373 million citizens across the 27 member states of the European Union are eligible to vote on June 6-9 in elections to the European Parliament.
About European Parliament
- About: The European Parliament (EP) is the only directly elected body of the EU, representing the citizens of its member states.
- Functions: Its primary functions include negotiating EU laws with the member state governments, which are represented by the European Council.
- The EP also approves the EU budget and votes on international agreements and enlargements of the bloc.
- Powers: The EP also approves the EU budget and votes on international agreements and enlargements of the bloc.
- It also has the power to approve or reject the appointment of the European Commission president
- Unlike national parliaments, the EP does not have the right to propose laws but can only negotiate those proposed by the executive European Commission.
- Structure: The EP comprises 720 Members (MEPs) elected every five years. The MEPs then elect their president for a term of two and a half years.
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European Council
- About: The European Council sets the EU’s political direction and priorities.
- Members: It includes the heads of state or government from member countries, the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
- Founding: Established as an informal summit in 1975, it became an official institution with the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009. Decisions are made by consensus.
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Eligibility Conditions For Voting in European Parliament Elections
- Voting Age Requirements: In 21 member states, people aged 18 and above can vote.
- In Belgium, Germany, Austria and Malta, the minimum voting age is 16.
- In Greece, people who turn 17 during the election year can vote
- In Hungary, married individuals can vote regardless of age
- EU Voting Abroad Rules: EU citizens can vote in their country of origin or from abroad. Voting from abroad is permitted in all member states except Czechia, Ireland, Malta and Slovakia.
- In Bulgaria and Italy that right applies only to those living within the EU.
- Citizens living in another EU country can choose to vote for candidates either from their country of origin or from their country of residence.
- One-Country Voting Rule: The voter has to choose which country’s MEPs he or she will vote for, but it is not legal to vote in both countries at the same time.
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Process of Voting in European Parliament Elections
- Voting System: In some member states, voters can only choose closed lists that do not allow change of order for preferred candidates, while in others they can select individual candidates in a preferential system.
- Methods of Voting: Depending on national laws, some electors abroad can vote at their national embassies, via mail or electronically.
Eligibility of Candidates in European Parliament Elections
- Selection of Candidates: All candidates must be EU citizens. Voters may choose from individual candidates or political parties’ delegates, depending on the country.
- Alignment in European Parliament: Once elected, politicians from each nation will flow into the European groups that form the Parliament, based on political orientations.
- Restrictions : Elected individuals cannot hold functions in national governments or other political bodies such as the EU Commission.
- MEP Allocation: The number of MEPs elected from each EU country is agreed before each election and is based on the principle of degressive proportionality, which means each MEP from a larger country represents more people than an MEP from a smaller country.
- The minimum number of MEPs from any country is six and the maximum number is 96.
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India-EU Relation
- Financial Relations: The EU was India’s third-largest trading partner in 2021. EU foreign direct investment (FDI) in India reached €87 billion in 2020.
- Nearly 15% of Indian exports were directed to the EU in 2021.
- Trade in goods and services between the two amounted to €95.5 billion in 2020.
- The European Investment Bank (EIB) has invested over €3 billion in infrastructure, energy, and climate projects in India.
- Strategic Partnerships: EU-India Joint Declarations have been adopted to bolster efforts on connectivity, water, and resource efficiency, employing a circular economy approach.
- In 2023, the EU and India also launched a Trade and Technology Council focusing on digital transformation and green technologies.
- Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation: Under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe), India is set to receive €90 million in grant funding for the period 2021-2027.
- Additionally, India is a beneficiary of various multi-country EU programmes.
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