7th European Parliament - Membership

Membership

Further information: List of members of the European Parliament 2009–2014

After the 2009 election, the members formed seven groups with around 26 independent members, mainly from the far right which failed to unify into a political group. With the Treaty of Lisbon not in force in time for the elections, the national distribution followed the rules of the Treaty of Nice which necessitated a reduction to 736 members. Extra members will join the chamber if Lisbon comes into force.

For the seventh parliament, the number of women increased from 31% to 35% (the highest to date, from 16% in 1979) with increases in most countries. The largest percentage was in Sweden, with 56% of MEPs women, followed by Estonia with 50%. The lowest was Malta with no women members at all, followed by the Czech Republic with 18%, down from 21%.

From inauguration, the youngest member was Emilie Turunen of Denmark (born in 1984 making her 25) and the oldest member was Ciriaco de Mita of Italy (born 1928 making him 81). Usually the oldest member would preside over the chamber for the election of the Parliament's President. However, with concern that the far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen would be the oldest member (rather than De Mita) the rules were changed to give this role to the outgoing President.

Groups

Group		Seats
		Inauguration	5 March 2010
	European People's Party	265	265
	Socialists and Democrats	184	184
	Liberals and Democrats	84	85 3
	Greens/European Free Alliance	55	55
	Conservatives and Reformists	55	54 1
	European United Left – Nordic Green Left	35	35
	Europe of Freedom and Democracy	32	30 2,4
	Non-attached	26	28

1 Edward McMillan-Scott was expelled from the Conservative Party on 15 September 2009;
2 Nikki Sinclaire was expelled from the UK Independence Party on 4 March 2010.
3 Edward McMillan-Scott joined Liberal Democrats on 12 March 2010.

4 Mike Nattrass left UK Independence Party on 23 June 2010.

Apportionment

State	Seats		State	Seats
Germany	99		France	72
UK	72		Italy	72
Spain	50		Poland	50
Romania	33		Netherlands	25
Greece	22		Portugal	22
Belgium	22		Czech Republic	22
Hungary	22		Sweden	18
Austria	17		Bulgaria	17
Denmark	13		Slovakia	13
Finland	13		Ireland	12
Lithuania	12		Latvia	8
Slovenia	7		Estonia	6
Cyprus	6		Luxembourg	6
Malta	5		Total	736