Protocol Providing for Additional Members of the European Parliament

Thursday 1st December 2011 Written Statements

[The Minister for Europe (Mr David Lidington)]

Following ratification by all 27 member states of the European Union, the protocol amending Protocol No. 36 to the EU treaties on transitional provisions, which made amendments to the composition of the European Parliament, entered into force on 1 December 2011. The protocol was approved for the purposes of section 5 of the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 by section 15 of the European Union Act 2011.

The protocol allotted to the United Kingdom one additional seat in the European Parliament. As the statement on 26 October 2010 by the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr Harper) set out, the Electoral Commission undertook an independent analysis to determine which European electoral region in the United Kingdom the new MEP should be assigned to. As a result of its analysis the Electoral Commission, in compliance with its obligations under the European Parliament (Representation) Act 2003, decided that the west midlands should be the recipient region. The Government accepted this recommendation.

The returning officer for the west midlands region referred to the results of the 2009 European elections, as if the extra seat had been available in the west midlands electoral region in those elections. This method of filling the seat is in accordance with the terms of the protocol and is in line with the practice of most of the other member states which gain additional MEPs under the protocol. In accordance with the procedure set out in schedule 2 of the European Union Act 2011, the returning officer has declared Anthea McIntyre to be returned as the additional MEP for the west midlands.

This is an interim measure until the next elections to the European Parliament take place in June 2014. At those elections all UK MEPs, including the MEP for this extra seat, will then be elected in compliance with the normal procedure.