No Agreement On Reforms For 2024 Elections-EU Observer

EU Observer reporting that following the 27 June meeting of European Affairs ministers, no agreement was reached on plans on reforms for elections to the European Parliament in 2024, taking place 6-9 June. The most controversial proposals included the prospect of 'transnational lists', where candidates would be elected en masse by EU voters rather than within each member state, as well as the spitzenkandidat process whereby the political group winning most seats would choose the next Commission president.

• Despite support from France and Germany, a sizable number of member states are believed to be opposed. The formalisation of the spitzenkandidat process is seen by some as giving too much power to the European Parliament in selecting the Commission president, given that the ultimate decision currently rests with the member states.
• EU Observer states that according to a presidency survey it has seen, "A majority of member states opposed the lead candidate process on the grounds that it conflicted with the institutional balance set out in the treaty, would undermine the commission's impartial role and would favour candidates from the larger member states."
• The inability to pass electoral reform would indicate that smaller member states are lined up against Germany and France on the issue, potentially risking cooperation and agreement on other major EU issues in the future as multilateral relations show sign of strain.