The ECR Group is pleased that the new distribution of seats proposed by the Council and adopted today by the European Parliament ignores the strong efforts made in the past by the centralist political groups to introduce transnational lists and to reserve 28 additional seats for Members elected in a Union-wide constituency.

“It has been achieved that the sensible approach, which respects the Treaties will be followed”, said ECR shadow rapporteur Jacek Saryusz-Wolski speaking on behalf of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group.

“Transnational lists would have violated Article 14 of the Treaty on European Union which stipulates that seats are allocated to member states and not to the EU as a whole. Transnational lists could lead to a situation where one country would have more than ninety-six seats, favouring large states and disrupting the diversity within the EU.”

Mr Saryusz-Wolski went on to explain the ECR Group’s voting line and pointed out why the centralist ideas are contrary to the spirit of the European Treaties:

“The whole concept of transnational lists proposed by the centralists seeking ‘more Europe’ goes against the unique multinational character of the European elections and undermines the specific electoral dynamics of the Member States and their constituencies. Such lists would also violate the Treaty-based principles of subsidiarity and proximity by forcing the elections to be centralised around European political entities. Transnational candidates would weaken the link between MEPs and their constituents. It would also alienate people from the EU and jeopardise the institutional balance.”