| The redistribution of European parliament seats is one of the last hurdles to be overcome as the member states finalise a reform treaty to replace the failed EU constitution |
A European parliamentary committee on Tuesday approved plans to give 17 of the 27 EU nations fewer seats in the next legislature, AFP reported.
The redistribution of European parliament seats is one of the last hurdles to be overcome as the member states finalise a reform treaty to replace the failed EU constitution. At present there are 785 MEPs, but the treaty foresees a maximum of 750 eurodeputies, with national quotas ranging from six to 96 seats.
The scheme, to be put into action for the 2009-2014 legislature, was adopted by the parliament's constitutional affairs committee by 17 votes to five, with three abstentions. It will now go forward to a full plenary session of the house next week before EU heads of state and government can give it the final approval at their Lisbon summit on October 18-19.
The parliamentary committee decided that the biggest EU nation, Germany, should hold 96 seats next time, against 99 now. Among the other leading EU nations, Spain, deemed to be currently under-represented, is the only one which will not lose seats under the scheme, sticking with its current total of 54 MEPS.
France will have 74 seats under the new system, a loss of four, while Britain will duck below France, going from 78 to 73 MEPs. Italy's allotment will shrink from 78 to 72 and Poland's from 54 to 51, if the measures are approved. Five other countries would also lose euro deputies; Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia and Luxembourg.
Only four - Austria, Malta, Slovenia and Sweden - would see their parliamentary numbers increase. |