Period for the ninth election of representatives to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted, under the consultation procedure, the report by Danuta Maria HÜBNER (EPP, PL) on the draft Council decision fixing the period for the ninth election of representatives to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament approve the Council draft which seeks to modify the period during which the forthcoming European elections would otherwise have been held.

Member States agreed in the Council that it would be impossible to hold the next European Parliament elections during the normally applicable dates (Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 June 2019) in accordance with the Act concerning the election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage ("the Electoral Act").

They therefore proposed, pending consultation of the European Parliament, to hold the elections during the period from 23 to 26 May 2019. The same period was suggested by the Conference of Presidents of the Parliament in their meeting of 11 January 2018.

In order to allow Member States sufficient time to take the necessary steps to organise these elections, the decision on these new dates should be taken as soon as possible. It is therefore recommended that the draft Council decision be approved as it stands.