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EU elections

The future of Europe

The 2019 European parliamentary elections are the most important and volatile in years. The results could turn long-established alliances in Brussels and Strasbourg on their head and will determine whether Europe faces a future of closer integration or increasing fragmentation. Our experts in Brussels explain everything companies need to know about Europe’s politics, institutions and election process – and how the policy agenda could evolve over the next five-year term.

EU election timeline: 

   
 

21 March

ALDE Group to announce candidates for top posts 'Team Europe' Spitzenteam

Spitzenteam
March
April
Yellow
18 April Last European Parliament plenary ahead of elections

18 April

Last European Parliament plenary ahead of elections

 

28 April

Legislative election in Spain

 

14 April

Legislative election in Finland

 

14 May

Live television debate between
Spitzenkandidaten

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Spitzenkandidaten procedure

European political parties, ahead of European elections, appoint lead candidates for the role of Commission President, with the presidency of the Commission then going to the candidate of the political party capable of marshalling sufficient parliamentary support.

Spitzenteam
Yellow
May
 

12 May

Presidential election in Lithuania

23-26 May

European Parliament elections

 

23 May

Voting in the Netherlands and United Kingdom

 

15 May

Spitzenkandidaten debate in the Brussels chamber

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Spitzenkandidaten procedure

European political parties, ahead of European elections, appoint lead candidates for the role of Commission President, with the presidency of the Commission then going to the candidate of the political party capable of marshalling sufficient parliamentary support.

Latvia, Malta, Slovakia
Latvia, Malta, Slovakia
 

25 May

Voting in Latvia, Malta, Slovakia

 

26 May

Legislative and regional elections in Belgium

 

As of 27 May

New MEPs elected will start negotiations to form political groups and discuss EC presidential candidate

close

MEP Member of the European Parliament

National elections scheduled in the run-up to European elections (may have a bearing on the choice of candidate commissioners)

  • 14 April: Legislative election in Finland
  • 28 April: Legislative election in Spain
  • 12 May: Presidential election in Lithuania
  • 26 May: Legislative and regional elections in Belgium
 

24 May

Voting in Ireland

 

26 May

Voting in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

 

28 May

Informal EU leaders' summit dinner. Discussion of possible candidate for commission president and other top appointments

 

Mid-June
(at the earliest)

Elected MEPs conclude behind-the-scenes negotiations on composition of political groups and EC presidential candidate

Yellow

20-21 June

EU leaders hold a
summit to discuss top
appointments

Blue
 

June

EU leaders hold a summit to discuss top appointments

June
 

By the end of June

Elected MEPs conclude behind-the-scenes negotiations on composition of parliamentary committees, their chairs and co-ordinators

July

01 July

Finland takes
over the rotating Presidency of
the Council

 

July

Inaugural plenary session with elections of president and vice-presidents

 

8 July
(at the earliest)

Constitute meetings of parliamentary committees and election of their chairs and vice-chairs

July
9th
 

2-4 July

Inaugural plenary session with elections of president and vice-presidents and formal appointments to parliamentary committees

 

July

Possible plenary vote on new European Commission president (following council nomination on 20-21 June)

 

15-18 July

Second plenary week. First meetings of parliamentary committee co-ordinators

Aug
August
 

August

Recess

 

September

Commission president-elect nominates her or his team

 

September
/ October

Hearings of Commissioners - designate in Parliamentary committees

Sept
 

September

The commission's president-elect nominates a team of commissioners and seeks approval of parliament.

Blue
 

31 October

Mandate ends for Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker

31 October

Britain's membership of the European Union is set to lapse as of 29 March 2019 and so will the mandates of currently 72 British MEPs

Oct
 

31 October

End of Juncker Commission mandate

 

New Commission is elected, new commission president gives inaugural speech (2 October plenary session)

30 November

Donald Tusk's
term expires as
European Council president

Yellow
Nov
 

1 November

New commission takes office

Further reading on the EU election 

Europe decides: the new EU Commission's agenda

Our EU regulatory and public affairs team offer insights on the new Commission’s priorities, including money laundering, digitalisation and sustainability.

Europe decides: what the elections mean for business

Our EU regulatory and public affairs team on what we can expect from the parliamentary vote and how the results could affect future legislation.

Europe decides: the impact of Brexit

Eugene McQuaid and Natalie Pettinger-Kearney discuss how UK MEPs could have a lasting impact on European politics - even after Brexit.

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