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 European Parliamental parties could not be voted for, but elected national parties aggregated in European Parliamental parties after the elections.

2004 European Parliament election

← 199910–13 June 20042009 →

All 732 seats to the European Parliament
367 seats needed for a majority
Turnout45.47%[1] Decrease 4.04 pp
 
Pöttering, Hans-Gert-9757.jpg
Schulz, Martin-2047.jpg
GrahamWatsonMEPHead and Shoulders.jpg
LeaderHans-Gert PötteringMartin SchulzGraham Watson
AllianceEPP–EDPESALDE
Leader's seatGermanyGermanySouth West England
Last election232 seats, 37.1%180 seats, 28.8%50 seats, 8.0%
Seats before29523267
Seats won26820088
Seat changeIncrease 36Increase 20Increase 38

 
Europe Ecologie closing rally regional elections 2010-03-10 n14.jpg
Monica Frassoni 2019 (cropped).jpg
Francis Wurtz Front de Gauche 2009-03-08.jpg
Nigel Farage MEP 1, Strasbourg - Diliff.jpg
Jens-Peter Bonde, 2007 (cropped).jpg
LeaderFrancis Wurtz
AllianceGreens/EFAGUE/NGLIND/DEM
Leader's seatGermany
North-West Italy
Île-de-FranceSouth East England
Denmark
Last election48 seats, 7.7%42 seats, 6.7%16 seats, 2.6%
Seats before475518
Seats won424137
Seat changeDecrease 6Decrease 1Increase 21

Post-election composition of each member state's delegation

President of the European Parliament before election

Pat Cox
ELDR

President of the
European Parliament after election

Josep Borrell
PES

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.

Results

European Parliament election, 2004 - Final results on 20 July 2004
GroupDescriptionChaired byMEPs
 EPP-EDConservatives and Christian democratsHans-Gert Pöttering268
 PESSocial democratsMartin Schulz200
 ALDELiberals and liberal democratsGraham Watson88
 G–EFAGreens and regionalistsDaniel Cohn-Bendit
Monica Frassoni
42
 EUL–NGLDemocratic socialists and communistsFrancis Wurtz41
 IDEuroscepticsJens-Peter Bonde
Nigel Farage
37
 UENNational conservativesBrian Crowley
Cristiana Muscardini
27
 NIIndependents and far rightnone29Total: 732Sources: [1][2][3] Archived 27 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
Seats summary
EPP–ED
36.61%
PES
27.32%
ALDE
12.02%
G–EFA
5.74%
GUE/NGL
5.60%
ID
5.05%
UEN
3.69%
NI
3.96%

Statistics

European Parliament election, 2004 - Statistics
AreaEuropean Union (EU-25)Sources
Dates
  • 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, Sweden
[4]
Seats732[5][6]
Candidatesover 14,600[7]
Electorate342 million[8] Archived 12 December 2007 at archive.today[9][10]
Turnout45.6%[11]
Previous1999 European Parliament electionn/a
Next2009 European Parliament electionn/a
Election methodsAll proportional representation.[12]
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
[13][14][15]
Cutoff?
  • 5%: Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia
  • 4%: Austria, Sweden
  • 3%: Greece
  • none: the rest
[16][17][18]
Seat allocation[19][20][21][22][23]
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 rest
[24][25][26]
Minimum voting age18[27]
Presidential election[28]
European Parliament election, 2004 - Timeline
Fifth Parliament2004 ElectionRegroupingSixth Parliament
GroupsPre-enlargement
April 30
Pre-elections
May 5
ChangeResults
June 30
ChangeResults
July 20
New
Groups
First session
July 20
 EPP-ED232295-16279-11268 EPP-ED268
 PES175232-33199+1200 PES200
 ELDR5267067+2188 ALDE88
 G/EFA4547-740+242 G/EFA42
 EUL-NGL4955-1639+241 EUL-NGL41
 EDD1818-315+2237 ID37
 NI32442266-3729 NI29
 UEN2330-327027 UEN27
Total626788-567320732Total732
Sources: [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] Archived 27 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
European Parliament election, 2004 - Delegation at 20 July 2004
GroupDescriptionDetails%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 437%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 212%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 16%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 15%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%27
Sources: [38] [39] [40] [41]100%732

Results by country

The national results as at 21 July 2004 are as follows:

Party group
Country
EPP-EDPESELDRGreens-EFAEUL-NGLIDUENothersMEPs%Turnout
Austria6 (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)[a]
2 (KDU–ČSL)
1 (ED)[a]
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)[b]
2 (SDI)[b]
2 (Ind.)[b]
7 (DL)[b]
2 (LB)
2 (IdV)
1 (MRE)[b]
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)[c]
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)[d]
1 (EAJ)[d]
1 (Verdes)[e]
1 (ICV)[f]
1 (ERC)[g]
1 (IU)[f]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 Kingdom[h]27 (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 party
GroupVotes% VotesSeats+/-Party/SubgroupVotes% VotesSeats+/-
 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 
 ELDR13,732,5948.9%66  ELDR10,835,2137.0%59 
 Independents2,897,3811.9%7 
 EUL/NGL9,999,4136.5%41  PEL5,512,9043.6%17 
 NGLA1623,4010.4%4 
 EACL²529,7820.3%0 
 Independents3,333,3272.2%20 
 G/EFA9,742,2876.3%40  EGP8,290,6095.4%33 
 EFA946,8340.6%4 
 Independents504,8440.3%3 
 NI13,745,8478.9%68  Independents13,745,8478.9%68 
 UEN6,141,6144.0%27  UEN6,141,6144.0%27 
 EDD3,611,8032.3%15  ECPM3341,8950.2%1 
 Independents3,269,9082.1%14 
Not elected7,094,1424.6%0 Not elected7,094,1424.6%0 
Total154,317,718100%732 Total154,317,718100%732 

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

Notes

1. The figures for the Nordic Green Left Alliance and the European Anticapitalist Left include only those members that are not full members of the Party of the European Left.
2. See above.

3. The figures for the European Christian Political Movement exclude a number of members who hold concurrent membership of the European Peoples Party.
Notes on accuracy:
  • These estimated voting figures, using the believed configurations of EU groupings at the time of the 2004 elections, have been compiled by totalling national party figures, using official results where they are available.
  • Where national lists are alliances between more than one political party, attempts have been made to divide that list proportionally, using preferential voting totals where available and, in other circumstances, dividing vote totals equally between candidates (if party membership available) or the MEPs elected (if not).

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 2007
GroupVotes% VotesSeats+/-Party/SubgroupVotes% VotesSeats+/-
 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
 ALDE21,375,24712.7%106+40 ELDR14,106,1168.4%76+17
EDP6,037,4533.6%25+25
 Independents1,231,6780.7%5−2
 EUL/NGL9,873,5875.9%410 PEL6,842,4894.1%28+10
 NGLA²623,4010.4%40
 EACL3345,9620.2%00
 Independents2,061,7351.2%9−10
 G/EFA10,182,1536.1%42+2 EGP8,457,9695.0%330
 EFA1,277,0420.8%6+2
Paul van Buitenen174,5780.1%1
 Independents272,5640.2%2−1
 NI10,218,3666.1%14-54 Hans-Peter Martin262,2720.2%11
 Roger Helmer185,6810.1%11
 Jim Allister175,7610.1%11
 Independents1,658,3741.0%11−57
 UEN8,934,9255.3%44+17 AEN5,457,1153.2%26+26
 EUD4547,3180.3%5+5
 Independents2,980,4911.8%13−14
 IND/DEM5,265,9913.1%23+8ADIE51,687,7181.0%77
 ECPM6341,8950.2%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%20
Not elected8,107,7464.8%0 Not elected8,107,7464.8%0 
Total168,222,513100%785+53Total168,222,513100%785+53

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

Notes

1. Roger Helmer was expelled from the EPP-ED group in 2005, but retains the whip of the British Conservative Party.
2. The figures for the Nordic Green Left Alliance and the European Anticapitalist Left include only those members that are not full members of the Party of the European Left.
3. See 2 above.
4. The EUDemocrats, while having a preference for the IND/DEM group, is currently split between UEN and IND/DEM.
5. In addition to the majority of AIDE MEPs which sit in the IND/DEM group, AIDE also includes Non-Inscrit MEP, Jim Allister, as an individual member.
6. The figures for the European Christian Political Movement exclude a number of members who hold concurrent membership of the European Peoples Party.
7. See 4 above.

8. These figures include parties listed on the Euronat page which appear to have links with Euronat short of full membership.
Other notes
  • These figures estimate 'notional' voting figures based on changes in the configuration of EU political groupings since the 2004 elections and the accession of Bulgaria and Romania. Their purpose is to better estimate the position which the groups will have to defend for the next European Parliament election.
  • These figures incorporate the results of the 2004 Romanian Chamber of Deputies election and the 2005 Bulgarian National Assembly election, on which the distribution of Bulgarian and Romanian MEPs is temporarily based. These figures will consequentially change after the 2007 European Parliament elections in those countries.
  • These figures include the ITS group.

New parties in the 2004 election

Voting in the election, in the Netherlands

New inclusion

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

Political group reshuffle after the 2004 election

See also

Concurrent elections

References

Results

European Election information sites

Candidates