In the 2024 European Parliament election, voters from the 27 EU countries elected 720 lawmakers, resulting in a noticeable shift to the right. This election has brought significant changes to the composition and potential direction of EU policies for the next five years.
Key Results and Changes
Mainstream Pro-EU Groups
- European People’s Party (EPP): 186 seats
- Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D): 135 seats
- Renew Europe (Renew): 79 seats
These groups have previously governed the parliament, steering policies like the Green Deal and EU’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Right-Wing and Euroskeptic Gains
- European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR): 73 seats
- Identity and Democracy (ID): 58 seats
The hard-right groups have increased their presence, challenging the pro-EU mainstream.
Other Groups
- Greens / European Free Alliance: 53 seats
- The Left: 36 seats
- Non-attached Members: 45 seats
- Not Yet Declared Members: 55 seats
Group Profiles
- European People’s Party (EPP): Dominated by German Christian Democrats, the largest and center-right group, now more skeptical of green policies.
- Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D): Center-left group focused on fighting unemployment and societal fairness, recovering from the Qatargate scandal.
- Renew Europe: Liberal group dominated by Macron’s Renaissance party, pro-European and supportive of democratic values.
- Greens / European Free Alliance: Despite past success with the Green Deal, the Greens face losses due to the perceived cost of green transitions.
- The Left: Focuses on workers’ rights, economic justice, and equality, with uncertainty from new leftist breakaways.
- European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR): Dominated by Poland’s Law and Justice and Italy’s Fratelli d’Italia, hardline on migration, with potential for greater EU cooperation.
- Identity and Democracy (ID): Far-right group, criticized for connections to Russian interests and controversial statements.
The 2024 European Parliament election results show a significant rightward shift, impacting future EU policies. While mainstream pro-EU groups remain dominant, the growing influence of right-wing and Euroskeptic parties indicates a dynamic and evolving political landscape.
