What happens after the elections?

In May the European Parliament elections will take place but, what happens once all the results are reistered? The competent national authorities are responsible to inform the European Parliament of the elected members. In June, the newly MEPs from different countries have to constitute political groups on the basis of their political affinities.

The following step is the verification of MEPs credentials and members meet on th 1^st of July to take up their seats at the opening session, called constitutive session. It takes place in Strasbourg and it’s dedicated to elect the new European Parliament President, the 14 Vice-Presidents and the six quaestors. It lasts till the 3^rd of July.

Between the 7^th and the 10^th of July each standing committee elects their Chairs and Vice-Chairs (what is called de Bureau) and between the 14^th and the 17^th of the same month, the President of the Commission is elected in Strasbourg. First, the European Council proposes who should be the Commission President and, after a period of negotiations with the European Parliament, the elections take place. Once all this has occured, the Council adopts the list of commissioners designated.

In October, the Comission’s President presents the full College of Commissioners and its programme, after a previous meeting with the designated commissioners done in September in which they discuss topics related to different fields.