2004 European Parliament election

The 2004 European Parliament election was held between 10 and 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom. The electorate did not vote directly for European political parties, but they voted for candidates of national parties to the European Parliament.

Votes were counted as the polls closed, but results were not announced until 13 and 14 June so results from one country would not influence voters in another where polls were still open; however, the Netherlands, voting on Thursday 10, announced nearly complete provisional results as soon as they were counted, on the evening of its election day, a move heavily criticized by the European Commission.

342 million people were eligible to vote, the second-largest democratic electorate in the world after India. It was the biggest transnational direct election in history, and the 10 new member states elected MEPs for the first time. The new (6th) Parliament consisted of 732 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

Results showed a general defeat of governing parties and an increase in representatives from eurosceptic parties. No majority was achieved. The balance of power in the Parliament remained the same (largest party EPP-ED, second largest PES) despite the 10 new member states.

Following the 2004 enlargement of the European Union which was finalized on 1 May 2004, this was the first European Parliament election to be held in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Results European Parliament election, 2004 - Final results on 20 July 2004GroupDescriptionChaired byMEPs  EPP-EDConservatives and Christian democratsHans-Gert Pöttering268  PESSocial democratsMartin Schulz200  ALDELiberals and liberal democratsGraham Watson88  G–EFAGreens and regionalistsDaniel Cohn-BenditMonica Frassoni42  EUL–NGLDemocratic socialists and communistsFrancis Wurtz41  ID EuroscepticsJens-Peter BondeNigel Farage37  UENNational conservativesBrian CrowleyCristiana Muscardini27  NIIndependents and far rightnone29Total: 732Sources:

Statistics European Parliament election, 2004 - StatisticsAreaEuropean Union (EU-25)SourcesDates Thursday 10 June: Netherlands, United Kingdom, Friday 11 June: Czech Republic, Ireland Saturday 12 June: Czech Republic, Italy, Latvia, Malta Sunday 13 June: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, SwedenSeats732Candidatesover 14,600Electorate342 millionTurnout45.6%Previous1999 European Parliament electionn/aNext2009 European Parliament electionn/aElection methodsAll proportional representation. Preference voting allowed? Yes, via open list: Austria, Belgium, Lithuania, Luxembourg (with panachage), Netherlands, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden. Yes, via STV: Ireland, Malta, United Kingdom (NI only) No: the rest Cutoff? 5%: Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia 4%: Austria, Sweden 3%: Greece none: the restSeat allocation Sainte-Laguë method: Latvia, Sweden STV method: Ireland, Malta, United Kingdom (NI only) Highest averages method: France Largest remainder method: Italy Pro-rata: Greece Droop method: Slovakia Hare-Niemeyer method: Germany Hare-Niemeyer method and D'Hondt method: Poland D'Hondt method: the rest Constituency boundaries Member state subdivided into multiple constituencies: Belgium (3), France (8), Ireland (4), Italy (5), Poland (13), United Kingdom (12) Mixture: Germany (candidate lists at Länder or national level) Member state as single constituency: the restMinimum voting age18Presidential election First round: Josep Borrell, 388 votes; Bronisław Geremek, 208 votes; Francis Wurtz, 51 votes Josep Borrell, having achieved a majority of valid votes in the first round, was elected President of the European Parliament European Parliament election, 2004 - TimelineFifth Parliament 2004 Election Regrouping Sixth ParliamentGroups Pre-enlargementApril 30 Pre-electionsMay 5 Change ResultsJune 30 Change ResultsJuly 20 NewGroupsFirst sessionJuly 20   EPP-ED 232 295 -16 279 -11 268   EPP-ED 268   PES 175 232 -33 199 +1 200   PES 200   ELDR 52 67 0 67 +21 88   ALDE 88   G/EFA 45 47 -7 40 +2 42   G/EFA 42   EUL-NGL 49 55 -16 39 +2 41   EUL-NGL 41   EDD 18 18 -3 15 +22 37   ID 37   NI 32 44 22 66 -37 29   NI 29   UEN 23 30 -3 27 0 27   UEN 27Total 626 788 -56 732 0 732Total 732Sources: European Parliament election, 2004 - Delegation at 20 July 2004GroupDescriptionDetails%MEPs  EPP-EDConservatives and Christian democratsGermany 49, Belgium 6, Denmark 1, France 17, Ireland 5, Italy 24, Luxembourg 3, Netherlands 7, UK 28, Greece 11, Spain 24, Portugal 9, Austria 6, Finland 4, Sweden 5, Cyprus 3, Estonia 1, Hungary 13, Latvia 3, Lithuania 2, Malta 2, Poland 19, Czech Republic 14, Slovakia 8, Slovenia 4 37%268  PESSocial democratsGermany 23, Belgium 7, Denmark 5, France 31, Ireland 1, Italy 16, Luxembourg 1, Netherlands 7, UK 19, Greece 8, Spain 24, Portugal 12, Austria 7, Finland 3, Sweden 5, Estonia 3, Hungary 9, Lithuania 2, Malta 3, Poland 8, Czech Republic 2, Slovakia 3, Slovenia 127%200  ALDELiberals and liberal democratsGermany 7, Belgium 6, Denmark 4, France 11, Ireland 1, Italy 12, Luxembourg 1, Netherlands 5, UK 12, Spain 2, Finland 5, Sweden 3, Cyprus 1, Estonia 2, Hungary 2, Latvia 1, Lithuania 7, Poland 4, Slovenia 2 12%88  G/EFAGreens and regionalistsGermany 13, Belgium 2, Denmark 1, France 6, Italy 2, Luxembourg 1, Netherlands 4, UK 5, Spain 3, Austria 2, Finland 1, Sweden 1, Latvia 1 6%42  EUL/NGLLeft-wing groupGermany 7, Denmark 1, France 3, Ireland 1, Italy 7, Netherlands 2, UK 1, Greece 4, Spain 1, Portugal 3, Finland 1, Sweden 2, Cyprus 2, Czech Republic 66%41  IND/DEMEuroscepticsDenmark 1, France 3, Ireland 1, Italy 4, Netherlands 2, UK 11, Greece 1, Sweden 3, Poland 10, Czech Republic 1 5%37  NIIndependentsBelgium 3, France 7, Italy 4, UK 2, Austria 3, Poland 6, Czech Republic 1, Slovakia 34%29  UENNational conservativesDenmark 1, Ireland 4, Italy 9, Latvia 4, Lithuania 2, Poland 74%27Sources: 100%732

Results by country The national results as at 21 July 2004 are as follows:

Party groupCountryEPP-EDPESELDRGreens-EFAEUL-NGLIDUENothersMEPs%TurnoutAustria6 (ÖVP)7 (SPÖ)2 (GRÜNE)2 (Martin)1 (FPÖ)182.5%42.43% Belgium4 (CD&V/N-VA)1 (CDH)1 (CSP)4 (PS)3 (SP.A)3 (VLD)3 (MR)1 (Groen!)1 (Ecolo)3 (VB)243.3%90.81%Cyprus2 (DISY)1 (GTE)1 (DIKO)2 (AKEL)60.8%71.19%Czech Republic9 (ODS)2 (SNK)2 (KDU–ČSL)1 (ED)2 (ČSSD)6 (KSČM)1 (Ind.)1 (Ind.)243.3%28.32%Denmark1 (C)5 (S)3 (V)1 (B)1 (SF)1 (N)1 (J)1 (DF)141.9%47.9%Estonia1 (IL)3 (SDE)1 (K)1 (ER)60.8%26.83%Finland4 (Kok.)3 (SDP)4 (Kesk.)1 (SFP)1 (Vihr.)1 (VAS)141.9%41.1%France17 (UMP)31 (PS)11 (UDF)6 (Verts)3 (PCF)3 (MPF)7 (FN)7810.7%42.76%Germany40 (CDU)9 (CSU)23 (SPD)7 (FDP)13 (GRÜNE)7 (PDS)9913.5%43.0%Greece11 (ND)8 (PASOK)3 (KKE)1 (Synaspismós)1 (LAOS)243.3%63.4%Hungary12 (FIDESZ)1 (MDF)9 (MSZP)2 (SZDSZ)243.3%38.5%Ireland5 (FG)1 (LAB)1 (Ind.)1 (SF)1 (Ind.)4 (FF)131.8%59.7%Italy16 (FI)5 (UDC)1 (SVP)1 (UDEUR)1 (PP)12 (DS)2 (SDI)2 (Ind.)7 (DL)2 (LB)2 (IdV)1 (MRE)2 (FdV)5 (PRC)2 (PdCI)4 (LN)9 (AN)2 (SUE)1 (AS)1 (FT)7810.7%73.1%Latvia2 (JL)1 (TP)1 (LC)1 (PCTVL)4 (TB/LNNK)91.2%41.34%Lithuania2 (TS)2 (LSDP)5 (DP)2 (LiCS)1 (VNDPS)1 (LDP)131.8%48.38%Luxembourg3 (CSV)1 (LSAP)1 (DP)1 (Gréng)60.8%90.0%Malta2 (PN)3 (PL)50.7%82.37%Netherlands7 (CDA)7 (PvdA)4 (VVD)1 (D66)2 (GL)2 (ET)2 (SP)2 (CU-SGP)273.7%39.3%Poland15 (PO)4 (PSL)5 (SLD)3 (SDPL)4 (UW)10 (LPR)7 (PiS)6 (SRP)547.4%20.87%Portugal7 (PSD)2 (CDS-PP)12 (PS)2 (PCP)1 (BE)243.3%38.6%Slovakia3 (SDKÚ)3 (KDH)2 (MKP)3 (SMER)3 (ĽS-HZDS)141.9%16.96%Slovenia2 (NSi)2 (SDS)1 (ZLSD)2 (LDS)71.0%28.3%Spain24 (PP)24 (PSOE)1 (CDC)1 (EAJ)1 (Verdes)1 (ICV)1 (ERC)1 (IU)547.4%45.1%Sweden4 (M)1 (KD)5 (SAP)2 (FP)1 (C)1 (MP)2 (V)3 (JL)192.6%37.8%United Kingdom27 (CON)1 (UUP)19 (LAB)12 (LD)2 (GPEW)2 (SNP)1 (PC)1 (SF)11 (UKIP)1 (UKIP)1 (DUP)7810.7%38.9%Total268200884241372729732100.0%45.6%

Results by EU party (2004 estimated result)

The estimated votes by EU party are as follows:

+European Parliament Election 2004 estimated votes byEU partyGroup Votes % Votes Seats +/-Party/Subgroup Votes % Votes Seats +/- EPP-ED52,534,61234.0%277   EPP44,670,81028.9%227   ED5,189,1963.4%37   Independents2,674,6061.7%13    PES37,271,45324.1%198   PES36,716,59323.8%193   Independents554,8600.4%5    ELDR 13,732,594 8.9% 66   ELDR10,835,2137.0%59   Independents2,897,3811.9%7    EUL/NGL 9,999,413 6.5% 41   PEL 5,512,9043.6%17   NGLA1623,4010.4%4   EACL²529,7820.3%0   Independents3,333,3272.2%20    G/EFA 9,742,287 6.3% 40   EGP 8,290,6095.4%33   EFA946,8340.6%4   Independents504,8440.3%3    NI13,745,8478.9%68    Independents13,745,8478.9%68    UEN 6,141,614 4.0% 27    UEN 6,141,614 4.0% 27    EDD 3,611,803 2.3% 15   ECPM3 341,8950.2%1   Independents3,269,9082.1%14 Not elected 7,094,1424.6%0 Not elected 7,094,1424.6%0 Total 154,317,718100%732 Total 154,317,718100%732 

Registered voters: 353,460,958 (est.) Votes cast: 154,317,718 (43.66%) (est.) Total seats: 732

Results by EU party (2007 notional result)

The notional results by EU party as at 8 January 2007 are as follows:

+European Parliament Election 2004: Estimated notional results, January 2007Group Votes % Votes Seats +/-Party/Subgroup Votes % Votes Seats +/- EPP-ED52,567,77134.1%2770  EPP46,183,93227.5%232 +5  ED15,628,0523.3%39 +2  Independents755,7861.6%6 −7   PES43,327,09925.8%218 +20  PES41,598,38324.7%211 +18  Independents1,728,7161.0%7 +2   ALDE 21,375,247 12.7% 106 +40  ELDR14,106,1168.4%76 +17EDP6,037,4533.6%25 +25  Independents1,231,6780.7%5 −2   EUL/NGL 9,873,587 5.9% 41 0  PEL 6,842,4894.1%28 +10  NGLA²623,4010.4%40  EACL3345,9620.2%00  Independents2,061,7351.2%9 −10   G/EFA 10,182,153 6.1% 42 +2  EGP8,457,9695.0%330  EFA1,277,0420.8%6 +2Paul van Buitenen174,5780.1%1  Independents272,5640.2%2 −1   NI 10,218,366 6.1% 14 -54  Hans-Peter Martin262,2720.2%11  Roger Helmer185,6810.1%11  Jim Allister175,7610.1%11   Independents1,658,3741.0%11 −57   UEN 8,934,925 5.3% 44 +17  AEN 5,457,1153.2%26 +26  EUD4547,3180.3%5 +5  Independents2,980,4911.8%13 −14   IND/DEM 5,265,991 3.1% 23 +8ADIE51,687,7181.0%77  ECPM6 341,8950.2%10  EUD7294,8870.2%22  Independents2,941,4911.7%13 −1 ITS6,135,6713.6%200  Euronat85,465,5453.2%170   Ashley Mote215,5560.1%10  Independents454,5700.3%20Not elected 8,107,7464.8%0 Not elected 8,107,7464.8%0 Total 168,222,513100%785 +53Total 168,222,513100%785 +53

Registered voters: 378,106,633 (est.) Votes cast: 168,317,718 (44.49%) (est.) Total seats: 785 (+53)

New parties in the 2004 election

In the United Kingdom, RESPECT The Unity Coalition was established to fight this election with the intention to use it as a springboard for a campaign against Tony Blair's government. The English Democrats party appeared in England for the first time in 5 of the 9 English Constituencies, campaigning for an English Parliament and against English 'European' regions. A European Union-wide political party, the European Greens, was established in Rome on 21 February 2004 to contest this election. Swedish Junilistan (the June list) formed early in the year, meant to provide social democratic and right wing voters an EU sceptic alternative. In the Netherlands Europa Transparant of Paul van Buitenen got two seats. In Austria the Liste Hans-Peter Martin obtained two seats. A temporary leftist coalition known as the Left List campaigned, but did not win any seats.

New inclusion

Gibraltar participated as a result of the judgement in Matthews v. United Kingdom

Political group reshuffle after the 2004 election