Decision on EU elections date expected in May

The ambassadors of the 27 EU countries did not discuss the date of the 2024 European elections at their meeting on Wednesday as intended. A decision is now expected in early May and the period from 6 to 9 June seems likely to be chosen. That would mean that in Belgium the European, federal and regional elections would all take place on Sunday 9 June.

European legislation provides for elections to take place every five years in the same period as the first direct ballot for the European Parliament. In 1979, those elections took place in the 23rd week of the year, between June 7 and 10.

Portugal had asked to bring the elections forward to the end of May, to avoid the extended weekend of Portugal Day on 10 June and reduce the risk of a low turnout. But the Swedish EU presidency could not agree on a different date as any alternative proved impossible for one or more countries.

^{© BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM}