FOLLOWING last month’s elections, the new session of the European Parliament kicks off on Tuesday, with MEPs meeting in Strasbourg for its ninth term. Despite voting to leave the EU in 2016, the UK will be sending 73 representatives. Many of them don’t want to be there.
So how did we get here?
Put simply, we’re here because despite voting to leave the EU more than three years ago, the UK has so far been incapable of doing so. Downing Street initiated the official exit process on March 29, 2017, by invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. This started a two-year countdown in which to negotiate and secure a Withdrawal Agreement. Unfortunately for Prime Minister Theresa May, her deal was voted down three times. The original deadline of March 29, 2019, soared past and an initial extension to April 12 was pushed back to the suitably terrifying date of October 31. In the meantime, the UK was obliged to take part in European elections as a member state and send representatives to Brussels and Strasbourg.
But what happens if we do leave the EU?
If and when the UK leaves the EU, some of our 73 seats will be redistributed among 14 other member states, and the total number of seats in the European Parliament will fall from 751 to 705. France and Spain both stand to gain five seats – but other countries, such as Germany, will see their allocation remain the same. This is to “better reflect the principle of degressive proportionality” – the system the European Parliament uses to ensure all members feel represented, regardless of their size. Within individual countries, these seats will be dished out based on electoral results. However, until the UK actually leaves, these would-be MEPs are left waiting in the wings.
Who is Scotland sending?
The SNP secured an impressive 37.7% of the vote at last month’s election, handing it three of Scotland’s six European Parliament seats. The party’s MEPs are Alyn Smith, Christian Allard and Aileen McLeod. Mr Smith has been an MEP since 2004 and is a high-profile figure. Elsewhere, the Brexit Party scooped one seat, reflecting the more than one million Scots who voted to leave the EU in 2016. Its MEP is Louis Stedman-Bryce. Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate Sheila Ritchie also secured a seat, as did Baroness Nosheena Mobarik for the Scottish Tories. Labour’s shocking result saw it plunge into fifth place north of the Border, losing both its MEPs.
Who is the UK sending?
Across the UK, the Brexit Party romped home with 29 MEPs – an indication of widespread public dissatisfaction with the traditional parties. It secured a mighty 31.6% of the vote, compared to just 9.09% for the Tories, who were left with four MEPs. The Liberal Democrats campaigned on a strongly pro-Remain platform and came in second, with a 20.3% vote share and 16 MEPs. Labour, whose ambiguous Brexit position confused many people, was left with 10 MEPs.
What will the new Parliament look like?
The European Parliament’s new term starts on July 2, but negotiations over political groupings have been underway since the end of last month – and are still ongoing. The centre-right European People's Party looks set to have the most seats, at 182. This group is home to major players such as Germany’s Christian Democratic Union, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel until last year. The next biggest grouping is the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, which includes the UK’s Labour Party, with 154 seats. Then comes Renew Europe, a new group created after a merger of European liberals and Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche. It is set to have 108 seats. The Brexit Party is expected to sit in the Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group, which should have 43 seats. It stands to lose the most if and when the UK leaves. But overall, last month’s results point to a decline in support for Europe’s traditional centre-right and centre-left blocs, which lost their majority for the first time. Politics has fragmented. Sound familiar?
Any key events to look out for?
Yes. All the EU’s top jobs are up for grabs. One of the big things to keep an eye on is who will replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission. The new European Commission will take office in November. EU leaders will attempt to pick a candidate at a summit tomorrow, taking account of last month’s results, before MEPs cast their vote. Given the Commission proposes and enforces EU law, manages policies, negotiates international agreements and allocates funding, this is a crucial role.
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