2004 European Parliament election

Elections to the European Parliament were held from June 10, 2004 to June 13, 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union, using varying election days according to local custom. Votes were counted as the polls closed, but results were not announced until 13 June and 14 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.

Approximately 343,657,800 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 Parliament consists of 732 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Voting was in most cases by proportional voting for party lists, using the D'Hondt method for calculating the number of seats to be allocated to each party's candidate list. The Republic of Ireland and Malta used the Single Transferable Vote (STV) instead. In Italy open lists are used. In the United Kingdom, closed lists are used in England, Wales and Scotland but STV is used in Northern Ireland.

Results overall show a general defeat of governing parties and an increase in representatives from eurosceptic parties. However, the balance of power in the Parliament remains similar despite the 10 new member states.

Election dates

Voting Days
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

Results summary

A summary of the changes in the European Parliament from the end of the Fifth Parliament to the start of the Sixth is as follows:

End of the Fifth Parliament				2004 Election		Regrouping		Start of the Sixth Parliament
Groups		Before enlargement April 30	Outgoing May 5	Gain/loss June 10-13	Results June 30	Gain/loss July 1-19	Results July 19	New Groups		Opening session July 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
	Greens/EFA	45	47	-7	40	+2	42		Greens/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	27
Total		626	788	-56	732	0	732	Total		732
Sources		[1]	[2]		[3][4]			Sources		[5][6][7][8]

Results by country

The national results as at June 30 2004 are as follows:

Party group Country	EPP–ED	PES	ELDR	Greens/ EFA	EUL/ NGL	UEN	EDD	others	seats	%	turnout
Austria (details)	6	7	-	2	-	-	-	2+1	18	2.5%	42.43%
Belgium (details)	4+1+1+1	4+3	3+2	1+1	-	-	-	3	24	3.3%	90.81%
Cyprus (details)	2	-	1	-	2	-	-	1	6	0.8%	71.19%
Czech Republic (details)	9+2	2	-	-	6	-	-	5	24	3.3%	28.32%
Denmark (details)	1	5	3+1		1+1	1	1		14	1.9%	47.9%
Estonia (details)	1	3	1+1	-	-	-	-	-	6	0.8%	26.83%
Finland (details)	4	3	4+1	1	1	-	-	-	14	1.9%	39.4%
France (details)	17+11	31		6	3			7+3	78	10.7%	42.76%
Germany (details)	40+9	23	7	13	7	-	-	-	99	13.5%	43.0%
Greece (details)	11	8	-	-	3+1	-	-	1	24	3.3%	63.4%
Hungary (details)	12+1	9	2	-	-	-	-	-	24	3.3%	38.5%
Ireland (details)	5	1				4		1+1+1	13	1.8%	59.7%
Italy (details)	5+16+5 +1+1	15	5+2 +1+1	2	5+2	9	-	2+4 +1+1	78	10.7%	73.1%
Latvia (details)	2+1	-	1	1	-	4	-	-	9	1.2%	41.34%
Lithuania (details)	2+1	2	2+1	-	-	-	-	5	13	1.8%	48.38%
Luxembourg (details)	3	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	6	0.8%	90.0%
Malta (details)	2	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	0.7%	82.37%
Netherlands (details)	7	7	4+1	2	2	-	2	2	27	3.7%	39.3%
Poland (details)	15+4	5+3	4	-	-	7	-	10+6	54	7.4%	20.87%
Portugal (details)	7	12	-	-	2	2	-	1	24	3.3%	38.6%
Slovakia (details)	3+3+2	3	-	-	-	-	-	3	14	1.9%	16.96%
Slovenia (details)	2+2	1	2	-	-	-	-	-	7	1.0%	28.3%
Spain (details)	24	24	1	1+1+1+1	1	-	-	-	54	7.4%	45.1%
Sweden (details)	4+1	5	2+1	1	2	-	-	3	19	2.6%	37.8%
United Kingdom (details)	27+1	19	12	2+1+2		-	12	1+1	78	10.7%	38.9%
Total	279 38.1%	199 27.2%	67 9.2%	40 5.5%	39 5.3%	27 3.7%	15 2.0%	66 9.0%	732	100.0%	45.6%
Sources	[9]										[10],[11]

Results by EU party (2004 estimated result)

The estimated votes by EU party are as follows:

European Parliament Election 2004: Estimated Votes by EU Party

Group		Votes	% Votes	Seats	+/-	Party/Subgroup		Votes	% Votes	Seats	+/-
	EPP-ED	52,534,612	34.0%	277		style="background-color:Template:European People's Party/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	EPP	44,670,810	28.9%	227
							ED	5,189,196	3.4%	37
							Independents	2,674,606	1.7%	13
	PES	37,271,453	24.1%	198		style="background-color:Template:Party of European Socialists/meta/color; width:3px;" |	PES	36,716,593	23.8%	193
							Independents	554,860	0.4%	5
	ELDR	13,732,594	8.9%	66		style="background-color:Template:European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	ELDR	10,835,213	7.0%	59
							Independents	2,897,381	1.9%	7
	EUL/NGL	9,999,413	6.5%	41		style="background-color:Template:Party of the European Left/meta/color; ; width: 3px;" |	PEL	5,512,904	3.6%	17
							NGLA1	623,401	0.4%	4
							EACL²	529,782	0.3%	0
							Independents	3,333,327	2.2%	20
	G/EFA	9,742,287	6.3%	40		style="background-color:Template:European Green Party/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	EGP	8,290,609	5.4%	33
						style="background-color:Template:European Free Alliance/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	EFA	946,834	0.6%	4
							Independents	504,844	0.3%	3
	NI	13,745,847	8.9%	68			Independents	13,745,847	8.9%	68
	UEN	6,141,614	4.0%	27		style="background-color:Template:Alliance for Europe of the Nations/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	UEN	6,141,614	4.0%	27
	EDD	3,611,803	2.3%	15			ECPM³	341,895	0.2%	1
							Independents	3,269,908	2.1%	14
Not elected		7,094,142	4.6%	0		Not elected		7,094,142	4.6%	0
Total		154,317,718	100%	732		Total		154,317,718	100%	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 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 January 8 2007 are as follows:

European Parliament Election 2004: Estimated Notional Results, January 2007

Group		Votes	% Votes	Seats	+/-	Party/Subgroup		Votes	% Votes	Seats	+/-
	EPP-ED	52,567,771	34.1%	277	0	style="background-color:Template:European People's Party/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	EPP	46,183,932	27.5%	232	+5
							ED1	5,628,052	3.3%	39	+2
							Independents	755,786	1.6%	6	-7
	PES	43,327,099	25.8%	218	+20	style="background-color:Template:Party of European Socialists/meta/color; width:3px;" |	PES	41,598,383	24.7%	211	+18
							Independents	1,728,716	1.0%	7	+2
	ALDE	21,375,247	12.7%	106	+40	style="background-color:Template:European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	ELDR	14,106,116	8.4%	76	+17
						style="background-color:Template:European Democratic Party/meta/color"|	EDP	6,037,453	3.6%	25	+25
							Independents	1,231,678	0.7%	5	-2
	EUL/NGL	9,873,587	5.9%	41	0	style="background-color:Template:Party of the European Left/meta/color; ; width: 3px;" |	PEL	6,842,489	4.1%	28	+10
							NGLA²	623,401	0.4%	4	0
							EACL³	345,962	0.2%	0	0
							Independents	2,061,735	1.2%	9	-10
	G/EFA	10,182,153	6.1%	42	+2	style="background-color:Template:European Green Party/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	EGP	8,457,969	5.0%	33	0
						style="background-color:Template:European Free Alliance/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	EFA	1,277,042	0.8%	6	+2
							Paul van Buitenen	174,578	0.1%	1
							Independents	272,564	0.2%	2	-1
	NI	10,218,366	6.1%	14	-54		Hans-Peter Martin	262,272	0.2%	1	1
							Roger Helmer	185,681	0.1%	1	1
						style="background-color:Template:Alliance of Independent Democrats in Europe/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	Jim Allister	175,761	0.1%	1	1
							Independents	1,658,374	1.0%	11	-57
	UEN	8,934,925	5.3%	44	+17	style="background-color:Template:Alliance for Europe of the Nations/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	AEN	5,457,115	3.2%	26	+26
						style="background-color:Template:EUDemocrats/meta/color; width: 3px;" |	EUD4	547,318	0.3%	5	+5
							Independents	2,980,491	1.8%	13	-14
	IND/DEM	5,265,991	3.1%	23	+8	style="background-color:Template:Alliance of Independent Democrats in Europe/meta/color"|	ADIE5	1,687,718	1.0%	7	7
							ECPM6	341,895	0.2%	1	0
						style="background-color:Template:EUDemocrats/meta/color; width: 3px;"|	EUD7	294,887	0.2%	2	2
							Independents	2,941,491	1.7%	13	-1
	ITS	6,135,671	3.6%	20	0		Euronat8	5,465,545	3.2%	17	0
							Ashley Mote	215,556	0.1%	1	0
							Independents	454,570	0.3%	2	0
Not elected		8,107,746	4.8%	0		Not elected		8,107,746	4.8%	0
Total		168,222,513	100%	785	+53	Total		168,222,513	100%	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

• 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 anti-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 a 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.

Political group reshuffle after the 2004 election

• Liberals: The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party created a new grouping by allying with MEPs from the French party Union for French Democracy (previously part of the EPP-ED), the Margherita Party (Italy) (previously part of the EPP-ED), other Italian members, the Lithuanian Labour Party and the Belgian MR-MCC (previously EPP-ED). The new allies formed the EDP and a new combined group, between the ELDR and the EDP, was formed with the name ALDE: the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

• Eurosceptics: Sweden's Junilistan, the pro-life League of Polish Families, and the French Combats Souverainistes joined the existing Europe of Democracies and Diversities group, which already includes the United Kingdom Independence Party. The group renamed itself Independence and Democracy (ID).

Other elections

a poster for the European Parliament election 2004 in Italy, showing party lists

The elections coincided with legislative elections in Luxembourg and presidential elections in Lithuania. They also coincided with local and regional elections in England and Wales, Irish local elections, regional elections in Belgium, local or regional elections in most of Italy, and state parliament elections in the German state of Thuringia.

See also

• List of Members of the European Parliament 2004-2009

External links

• European Union's site for the European Parliament election, covering all of the European Union
• National Information offices and national election web sites
• European Election News by European Election Law Association (Eurela)
• Election days in the 25 countries
• Czech Republic and the European Parliament elections 2004

Results

• BBC News: EU-wide results
• Guardian: results in the United Kingdom
• Irish results from RTE
• Polish official results
• Full Danish official results
• Predicting the Future: the next European Parliament (pre-election prediction)

European Election information sites

• EU-wide: Better World Links on the 2004 Election
• Ireland: European Parliament Office in Ireland election information
• UK: EuropeCounts.org.uk - Official UK European Elections Website
• Information from the Finnish Justice Ministry on the election
• attendance and voting records; software patents (see article software patent) and environment issues (see articles green/environment issues) collect data on how MEPs voted, in order that the electorate may have a better idea on how to vote on them.
• European Election Studies www.europeanelectionstudies.net

Candidates

• Belgium
• Luxembourg
• France
• Netherlands
• Sweden
• UK
• See German version of this article for the German and Austrian candidates