1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i The 2019 European Parliament Elections Kristin Archick Specialist in European Affairs June 5, 2019 Between May 23 and 26, 2019, the 28 member states of the European Union (EU) held elections for the 751 members of the next
2、 European Parliament (EP). The only directly elected EU institution, the EP represents the blocs roughly 513 million citizens. The EP has accumulated more power over time within the EU, and through such entities as the Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue, Congress is likely to engage the EP, includin
3、g on certain aspects of U.S.-EU relations. Some analysts suggest that gains for parties considered “euroskeptic”that is, critical of the EU or anti-EU to varying degreesmay influence the functioning of the EP, the EU, and the conduct of U.S.-EU relations. (See also CRS In Focus IF11211, The European
4、 Parliament and U.S. Interests.) Election Results and Possible Implications Members of the EP (MEPs) serve five-year terms and are organized into groups that caucus according to political orientation rather than nationality. A political group must consist of at least 25 MEPs from a minimum of 7 EU c