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The European Council consists of the 27 Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States, who are voting members, together with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, who have no vote (Article 15(2) Treaty on European Union). The chart shows the current members, the national office they hold, their most recent European political affiliation, and the year their membership began.

During the February II plenary session, under the consultation procedure, the Parliament is due to vote on the report on a Commission proposal concerning the right of 'mobile' EU citizens, that is, those residing and voting in a Member State of which they are not nationals, to vote in European Parliament elections. Under this procedure, the Council – expected to adopt the proposal by unanimity – is not bound by Parliament's opinion.

This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the AFCO Committee, looks into the main obstacles to unifying and modernising European elections in different Member States. It gives an overview of the implementation of Council Decision 2018/994 and highlights, in particular, the importance of the standardisation and harmonisation of electoral ballots as a means to properly inform voters and strengthen the European ...

At its second November plenary session, Parliament is expected to vote on an own-initiative report taking stock of the May 2019 European elections, the ninth direct elections to the European Parliament since the first ones in 1979, and of the subsequent appointment of the College of Commissioners. This report makes concrete proposals to strengthen the electoral process and enhance its European dimension.

This new study, which forms part of the European Parliament History Series, looks at the long process that led to the first direct European elections, and shows that the 1976 Act was a disputed issue in the national public spheres of the Member States. After a first assessment of the 1979 elections, it analyses the strategy developed by the newly elected MEPs to establish a uniform electoral procedure. It finally examines the impact of the direct European elections on the EU political system itself ...

Between 7 and 10 of June, 1979, the first direct elections to the European Parliament by universal suffrage were held, thus signalling the end of a long and arduous attempt to institute this new degree of democracy in the European Community. Indeed, the effort spanned two decades, with the first draft Convention for direct elections having been submitted by Fernand Dehousse in 1960. Direct elections to the European Parliament had been mandated in the Treaty of Rome. Despite this, Mr Dehousse's draft ...

Uruguay has the longest tradition of democratic stability in Latin America. The two-party system prevailing since the early 19th Century has gradually evolved into a multiparty system, with the emergence in 1971 of a major third force, the Broad Front. This party broke the National and Colorado parties' domination in the 2004 elections and has been in power since 2005.

China's refusal to allow open nominations for the election of Hong Kong's next chief executive sparked the Umbrella Revolution, with thousands taking to the streets. But with the protests now dissipating, the situation appears to have moved little.

The study on the legislation governing elections to the European Parliament is an update of an existing study in view of the forthcoming fifth direct elections. The scope of the study was widened in order to furnish not only basic information which is available elsewhere, but also a number of details for those interested in deepening their research. The study also takes account of the proposals which the EP has made in view of the new possibilities created in this field by the Treaty of Amsterdam ...