The European Parliament adopted by 643 votes to 10, with 15 abstentions, a decision on the verification of credentials.
As a reminder, Parliament is obliged to verify the credentials of Members of the European Parliament. For this purpose, it must take note of the results declared officially by the Member States and rule on any disputes that may arise out of the provisions of the 1976 Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage of 20 September 1976. The 1976 Act sets out the offices that are incompatible with the office of Member of the European Parliament.
All Member States have notified Parliament of the names of elected Members pursuant to the Rules of Procedure. Some Member States were late in forwarding, and others have not yet forwarded at all, the lists of any substitutes, together with their ranking in accordance with the results of the vote. No disputes arose before Parliament pursuant to the provisions of the 1976 Act.
In accordance with Rule 3(2) of and Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, Members are required to declare in writing that they do not hold any office incompatible with that of Member of the European Parliament, as well as providing written declarations of private interests and of assets, failing any of which the validity of the mandate of the Member concerned may not be confirmed.
Parliament declared valid, subject to any decisions by the competent authorities of Member States in which the election results have been disputed, the mandate of the Members of the European Parliament listed in the Annex to this decision whose election has been notified by the competent national authorities and who have made the written declarations required on the basis of the Act of 20 September 1976 and of Rule 3 of, and Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.
Parliament requested the Member States’ authorities to inform it of the names of substitutes, together with their ranking in accordance with the results of the vote. It also called on the competent authorities of the Member States to complete without delay the examination of the possible disputes referred to them and to notify Parliament of the result.