THE 2024 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS: OUTCOMES AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP

Abstract

As enshrined in the treaties on which the European Union (EU) is founded, citizens are directly represented at Union level in the European Parliament, an institution that plays a key role in appointing the European Commission and other EU bodies and institutions. Member States are represented in the European Council by their Heads of State or Government and in the Council by their governments, themselves democratically accountable either to their national Parliaments, or to their citizens. In the light of the treaties provisions and taking into account the strong interest of EU citizens in the 2024 European elections and awareness of their significance for the future of Union, the purpose of this study is to describe the process of renewing the EU institutional leadership, with emphasis on the steps to be taken by the end of 2024. In this approach, the analysis will be focused first of all on the aspects related to constitution of the political groups and constituent plenary sitting of the new European Parliament. As is expected, further analysis will deepen the aspects related to election of the European Commission President and appointment of the new College of Commissioners. Also, will be addressed issues related to the election of the new President of the European Council, the Parliament vote on investiture of Commission and election of the European Ombudsman.