Photo Source: Reuters
National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
For any further information or to subscribe to GP alerts send an email to subachandran@nias.res.in
GP Explainer
EU elections - Part II: A profile of recent four elections (2004-2019)
![]() |
Neha Tresa George
|
By Neha Tresa George
The following profile looks at the 2004 to 2019 EU elections which is held every five years.
2019: Identity Democracy (ID) breaks through with 73 seats competing for the first time
The 2019 European Parliament election was conducted between 23 and 26 May 2019 electing 705 MEPs. One of the key aspects was the UK’s participation in the election despite Brexit. The EU’s legislation in 2018 reallocated 27 of the UK’s states to other members while the remaining 46 were reserved for potential future members. Thus, the total number of European Parliament seats was reduced to 705 from 751 post-Brexit. The European People’s Party (EPP) lost 34 seats (won 182 seats in 2019 and 216 in 2014) and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) lost 32 seats (won 153 seats in 2019 and 185 in 2014) and were not able to form a coalition to control the EU. The ‘Renew Europe’ group consisted of the Alliance for Liberals and Democrats for Europe group (ALDE) and French President Macron’s La République En Marche! - Renaissance List became the third largest Group with 108 (14.4 per cent) MEPs followed by the Greens-European Free Alliance, Identity and Democracy (ID) group consisting of far-right parties won 73 seats competing for the first time. Whereas the centre-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) lost 15 seats. The voter turnout had increased from 42.6 per cent in 2014 to 51 per cent in 2019, which was the largest in the last twenty years. While the countries of Belgium and Luxembourg ranked the highest in terms of voter turnout due to the enforced compulsory voting, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic had the lowest. The election of Commission President was elected in extraordinary circumstances bypassing the Spitzenkandidate system, which gave more rights to the citizens. The office was thus given to Ursula von der Leyen through an intergovernmental agreement with the support of EPP, Renew, and S&D. Her main agendas included a Green Deal, a Europe fit for the digital age, an economy that works for the people, promoting a European way of life and a new push for European democracy.
2014: EPP and S&D despite majority lost seats for the first time in the decade
In the 2014 EU elections, 751 MEPs were elected to the Parliament. The elections were considered a milestone in the history of the EU as the Lisbon Treaty of 2009 scaled down the number of MEPs to 751 since Croatia had joined in 2013 increasing it to 766. It also gave the power to elect the head of the Commission to the Parliament which gave the citizens a stronger voice in steering Europe’s direction. Although there was increase in the voters form the UK, the overall turnout remained low at 42.6 per cent. The elections took place in the backdrop of the worst economic crisis in the eurozone which might have had a considerable influence on the voters’ behaviour. The EPP backed the largest majority with 216 seats followed by S&D with 185 seats. This election saw a rise in Eurosceptic parties with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) gaining the third-largest majority of 70 MEPs in the Parliament. ALDE came next in line with 67 MEPs followed by the Nordic Green Left (NGL) with 52 seats. The Greens or European Free Alliance (EFA) came in the sixth position with 50 seats. Jean-Claude Juncker, the EPP lead candidate, was elected as the President of the European Commission on 15 July 2014. His political program was based on a social market economy and a commitment to social dialogue. He focused on key areas such as jobs, investment, a connected digital single market, a balanced free trade agreement with the US along new policies in migration and democracy.
2009: EPP wins with majority; Social democrats and Eurosceptics support declines
In the 2009 EU elections, there were 766 seats out of which the right-wing parties won in 20 countries with 274 seats while the left only won in seven countries with 196 seats. This was because people found the far-rights and centre-rights more credible and efficient in dealing with the economic instabilities in the union. The EPP won with a clear majority of 51.1 per cent with 274 seats in the Parliament. One of the key aspects of this election was the decline of social democrats and Eurosceptics with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party only gaining fifth position with 57 seats. The left-wing had its lowest share of votes since the first election in the EU with 29.2 per cent although the S&D became the second largest party with 196 seats followed by ALDE with 83 seats. The Greens could only achieve high scores in Luxembourg (16.8 per cent), France (16.3 per cent), and Belgium (13.5 per cent). The voter turnout fell with only 42.9 per cent across the EU. Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, former Prime Minister of Portugal was re-elected with an absolute majority in the Parliament for a second term as the President after his first mandate from 2004 to 2009. He focused on European unity and a decisive deal for the EU that projected the values, freedom, and economy to the global world. His main purpose was to reduce the public budget deficit to a three per cent target.
2004: EEP-ED & PES wins with majority
In the 2004 EU elections, there were 732 seats since ten new member states joined in the year. The new joiners were Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia accounting for the largest enlargement in terms of people and number of countries. The political groups of EPP-ED (Christian Democrats and European Democrats) gained 268 seats followed by PES (Party of European Socialists) with 200 seats. The ALDE group placed third with 88 seats while the Verts/ALE (Greens, European Free Alliance) got 42. The GUE/NGL (Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left) was just behind with 41 seats along with IND/DEM (Independence or Democracy Group) with 37. UEN and NI (Union for Europe of the Nations Group and Non-attached Members) had the least with 27 and 29 seats respectively. The voter turnout improved from 1999 and was around 45.5 per cent. This election brought together the old and new member countries thus paving the way for greater integration and unity. Jose Manuel Durao Barroso was elected President of the European Commission for five years. Some of his focus areas were a new thinking and decisive deal for Europe, eurozone bond, and defence sector integration.
About the Author
Neha Tresa George is currently an Research Intern at NIAS, Bangalore. She is a graduate in Political Science from Madras Christian College. Her interest includes gender and ethnic issues in Europe.
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmark |
Padmashree Anandhan
Ukraine
Padmashree Anandhan
Ukraine: US, Europe and a Fragile Road to Peace
Advik S Mohan
The European Housing Crisis: A Background
Neha Tresa George
The Meloni-Starmer Meeting: Six Takeaways
Samruddhi Pathak
Serbia: Why are people protesting over lithium mining?
Neha Tresa George
Vladimir Putin visits Mongolia: Who wants what?
Neha Tresa George
Attack on Nord Stream: Two years later
Advik S Mohan
Poland launches EagleEye Satellite
Padmashree Anandhan
Ukraine’s Kursk Offensive: What does Kyiv want to achieve?
Shilpa Jospeh
Portugal: Democrats win over socialists by a thin margin
Govind Anoop
Hungary: Right Wing wins; Support shifts to Centre
Vetriselvi Baskaran
Belgium: Extremist parties see narrow win
Padmashree Anandhan
France: Rise of Far-right triggers political crisis
Padmashree Anandhan
European People’s Party (EPP) Leads with clear majority Country wise breakup
Neha Tresa George
EU elections - Part II: A profile of recent four elections (2004-2019)
Shilpa Joseph and Ken Varghese
Voting for the next MEPs
Padmashree Anandhan
Putin-Xi Summit: Towards a Strategic transformation in Russia-China relations
Alka Bala
25 Years of Euro: What lies ahead?
Padmashree Anandhan
Ireland: Four reasons why Prime Minister Leo Varadkar resigned
Padmashree Anandhan, Femy Francis, Rohini Reenum, Akriti Sharma, Akhil Ajith, Shamini Velayutham and Anu Maria Joseph
Expert Interview: Russia in the International Order
Padmashree Anandhan
The War in Ukraine: Drones, missiles and counterattacks
Padmashree Anandhan
Poland elections 2023: Reasons behind the shift
Padmashree Anandhan
Ukraine: The failure of the Black Sea Grain Initiative
Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri
Issues for Europe
Yogeswari S | CSIS
Poland’s engagement
Feben Itty | CSIS
NATO’s Challenge
Genesy B | abcnews
Russia’s Endgame
Sreeja JS
Ukraine’s Strategies and Endgame
Sneha Surendran
Wildfires in Europe: Another year of devastation
Rishika Yadav
Floods in Europe: Impacts, and issues
Padmashree Anandhan
Return of the Heatwaves
Indrani Talukdar
Ukraine War and the International Order
Himani Pant
Germany-Russia Relations: What Next?
Ramya Balasubramanian
Russia and Europe: Understanding Moscow’s strategies
Lakshmi Parimala
Hybrid Warfare in Ukraine
Padmashree Anandhan
Rise and fall of the Wagner Revolt: Four Takeaways
Sneha Surendran
The Wagner Revolt: A profile of Yevgeny Prigozhin
Padmashree Anandhan
The War in Ukraine: Four Issues to watch in 2023
Harini Madhusudan, Rishika Yada, Sneha Surendran, Prerana P, Sreeja JS and Padmashree Anandhan
Russia: Anatomy of Wagner Revolt, and its Fallouts
Rishika Yadav, Sreeja JS, Nithyashree RB, and Melvin George | Rishika Yadav is a Research Assistant in NIAS Europe Studies at NIAS. Nithyashree RB, Sreeja JS, and Melvin George are Research Interns in NIAS Europe Studies at NIAS.
The Battle for Bakhmut: Significance, Objectives, Course, and What Next
Nithyashree RB
Poland approves Russian Influence Law: Three Implications
Rishika Yadav | Research Assistant, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
Serbia: Mass shootings, protests and instability
Rishika Yadav and Nityashree RB | Research Assistant and Research Intern, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
Turkey’s Elections: Unravelling the Political Spectacle of 2023
Padmashree Anandhan | Research Associate National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Belgorod drone attacks: Who, What and Why?
Indrani Talukdar
Russia's Position in the Arctic: New challenges
Rishika Yadav
Turkey’s Election: Issues, Actors and Outcomes
Padmashree Anandhan
Pentagon document leak: Russia-Ukraine Conflict From a Tactical Lens
Indrani Talukdar
Belarus’s endgame in Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Padmashree Anandhan
Russia: Drone attacks escalate the Ukraine war
Padmashree Anandhan
The UK: Conservative party put to test as worker strikes continue
Harini Madhusudan, Rishma Banerjee, Padmashree Anandhan, Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan, and Avishka Ashok
What next for Russia, Ukraine, Europe, South Asia & India, and China
Padmashree Anandhan and Rishma Banerjee
UNGA 77: Who said what from Europe?
Rashmi Ramesh
Ice Melt in Alps in Europe: Three impacts
Rishma Banerjee
Tracing Europe's droughts
Padmashree Anandhan
Major causes behind Europe’s continuing heatwaves
Emmanuel Selva Royan
100 days of the Ukraine war: US Responses in the war
Padmashree Anandhan
100 days of the Ukraine war: What next for Europe?
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
100 days of the Ukraine war: More loss than gain for Russia
Angelin Archana | Assistant Professor, Women’s Christian College, Chennai
China's response to the Ukraine crisis: Shaped by its relationship with Russia and EU under the US Shadow
Shreya Upadhyay | Assistant Professor, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore
Transatlantic Ties in the Wake of Ukraine-Russia War
Uma Purushothaman | Assistant Professor, Central University of Kerala, Kerala
Ukraine and beyond: The US Strategies towards Russia
Debangana Chatterjee | Assistant Professor, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bangalore
Lessons from Ukraine War: Effectiveness of Sanctions
Himani Pant | Research Fellow, ICWA, Delhi
Ukraine and beyond: What next for Russia and Europe?
Sourina Bej
Elections in Sweden
Padmashree Anandhan
Italy's far-right wins 2022 elections
Padmashree Anandhan
Putin’s address in the Valdai Discussion: Six takeaways
Padmashree Anandhan
Queen Elizabeth: End of an era
Padmashree Anandhan
Russia and Eastern Economic Forum 2022: A sturdy Far East
Padmashree Anandhan
Who will be the next UK prime minister: Liss Truss v. Rishi Sunak
Padmashree Anandhan
France: Uber files leak, and Macron’s trouble
Emmanuel Selva Royan
Italy: Three factors about its current political instability
Padmashree Anandhan
What does Macron's victory mean for France and the EU
Rishma Banerjee
The rise of Marine Le Pen
Sourina Bej
Four challenges ahead for President Macron
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Lecture report: Ukraine, Russia and Europe
Joeana Cera Matthews
Into History: Northern Ireland and Bloody Sunday, 50 years later
Padmashree Anandhan
Munich Security Report: Six takeaways
Joeana Cera Matthews
Europe and Africa: An elusive search for an equal partnership
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Femicides in Europe: The case of France
Padmashree Anandhan
Post Brexit: Three challenges in Northern Ireland
Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Lithuania and China: Vilnius has become Beijing’s Achilles heel. Four reasons why
Angelin Archana
Russia in 2021: Expanding boundaries
Joeana Cera Matthews
In Europe, abortion rights are "a privilege." Four reasons why
Padmashree Anandhan
Mapping COVID-19 protests in Europe: Who and Why
Vaishnavi Iyer
France, Algeria, and the politics over an apology
Joeana Cera Matthews
NATO-Russia relationship: Looking beyond the suspensions and expulsions
Padmashree Anandhan
Facebook's Metaverse: Why it matters to Europe
Joeana Cera Matthews
Poland, EU and PolExit. It is complicated, for three reasons
Harini Madhusudhan
Europe's Energy Crisis and Gazprom
Chetna Vinay Bhora
Europe's Energy Crisis: It could get worse. Five reasons why
Sourina Bej
France: Paris Terror Trial
Harini Madhusudan
Belarus: Weaponization of the Migrant Crisis
Joeana Cera Matthews
From Crimea to Navalny: Putin's calibrated Europe strategy
Joeana Cera Matthews
Nord Stream-2: Why is the region unhappy about the pipeline?
Sarthak Jain
Nord Stream 2 is Russia’s geopolitical victory
Keerthana Rajesh Nambiar
The EU Summit 2021: Five Takeaways
Chetna Vinay Bhora