European Elections - 2004

Written by LDEG on Tue 1st Jan 2002

According to the Treaty of Nice, the total number of MEPs will be increased from 626 to 732. To alow the 12 new members who will join over the next few years enough places in the European Parliament, existing member states will elect slightly fewer MEPs: the number representing the UK will be cut from 87 now to 72 when all applicant states have joined. It is not known how many applicant states will have signed up to join the EU in time to take part in the 2004 European elections, but it will not be all 12. Once the states signing up in time are known, the exact number which the UK will elect can be calculated - the European Council will decide on the formula to be used.

It is not clear whether the electoral system will change. The regional list system was supposed to operate for 2 elections, 1999 and 2004, before being reviewed. This is also tied in with the PR systems used for Scotland and Wales. The Labour Party is expected to be considering the matter at its autumn conference. Labour MEPs are believed to favour returning to a system which links individual MEPs more directly to constituencies.

Candidate selection: "zipping" which was used to guarantee equal numbers of male and female LibDem MEPs was declared, at the time it was introduced, to apply ONLY to the 1999 election. One of the reasons given for delaying campaigning at the last European elections was that nothing could be done until the candidates had been selected.

LDEG will be pushing the Candidates Department to at least start the process of approval of European candidates as soon as possible. Anyone wanting to get on the approved list for the next European elections is urged to apply for the necessary forms as soon as possible from the Candidates Department e-mail ldcand@cix.co.uk