Europe Votes in 2024 – but how, when, and where?

The 2024 European elections are just around the corner – one of the biggest and most diverse elections in the world, with around 400 million people having the right to choose the next European Parliament on 6-9 June.

MSD and the innovative pharmaceutical sector will be impacted by the results: the new Parliament and the new European Commission will address key matters such as the reform of the pharmaceutical legislation, including licensing and intellectual property, as well as plans to tackle diseases, animal welfare rules, and the environment for innovation and competitiveness.

A symphony of democracy…

The European elections are just that: 27 elections to a single institution rather than one single poll in the simplest sense. The process of choosing 720 MEPs is a patchwork, with each country conducting its elections in a unique way.

But they are in the end a single election – a unique opportunity for people across Europe to democratically elect EU-level representatives. And there are many common rules across Europe. The number of MEPs per party must be proportional to votes received, and EU citizens resident in another EU country can vote and stand for election there.

…with national variations

Other rules vary: some countries have a minimum threshold for representation to ensure that only parties with substantial support can get representation, ranging from 1.8% in Cyprus to five per cent in several countries. Germany’s threshold was declared unconstitutional, so small parties can secure representation with very little support. In 2014 the satirical ‘Party Party’ won a seat in Germany with just 0.6% of the vote (and then doubled its number of MEPs in 2019).

Some countries have regional constituencies (Ireland, Italy and Poland), while Belgium’s MEPs are chosen in ‘colleges’ by language group. Other countries use a single national constituency. Advance voting, postal voting and electronic and internet voting are permitted according to national rules.

The voters’ choice – or the parties’ choice?

Most member states allow preferential voting on a party list, but in six member states (Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Hungary and Romania) voters back a party only, with parties setting the order of preference ahead of the vote. In Malta and Ireland, voters can set the order of candidates from one or more parties.

From teen voices to seasoned choices

Most countries vote from 18 years, but some countries, like Austria, Malta, Germany and Belgium, welcome 16 and 17 year olds to the polling booths. In Greece, 17-year-olds have the vote. And up to three million Germans will vote for the first time in their lives in this European election.?

Candidates can stand only in one country, and the minimum age to be a candidate varies from 18 years in most member states to 25 years in Italy and Greece.

Compulsory voting: to vote or not to vote?

In most countries, the act of casting a vote is a personal choice, but some countries, like Belgium, Greece and Luxembourg have compulsory voting as in national elections.

What voters say in June matters

There is often a feeling among many citizens that the European elections are a consequence-light opportunity to protest against established parties. But this is wrong: the European institutions have significant powers; and beyond the elections, the European Parliament represents the democratic heartbeat of the EU. What voters say in June matters, as it translates into laws and policies that affect people and organisations across Europe.

The extent to which the election becomes a ’protest vote’ can result in unpredictability and make decision-making difficult. While the main centre-right, centre-left, liberal and green groups (EPP, S&D, Renew and Greens/EFA respectively) have fairly stable and long-standing memberships from established national parties, all groups will look to enlist other MEPs and parties to give more funding, power, positions, and speaking time in the chamber.

As a company that works closely and positively with the European Union institutions – which, after all, today license medicines and therapies for citizens everywhere in the EU - MSD will be closely following the elections and the changes in the European institutions.

We will publish further posts on LinkedIn in the run-up to and in the aftermath of the elections looking at key aspects of Europe’s year of change and what it all means for Europe, the policy agenda ahead, and for businesses and citizens.