Elections to the European Parliament

Since 6 June and until today, 9 June, more than 361 million citizens of the 27 European Union Member States have the opportunity to vote for the new European Parliament, which is made up of 705 members. Elections to the Parliament have taken place since 1979. Over time, the Parliament has increased its political importance. Members are elected in direct universal suffrage for a five-year period.

While a large part of the Parliament’s guidelines and regulations apply to the 27 Member States and its citizens, such as on economic and fiscal affairs, consumer protection and the common market, some resolutions adopted and decisions made in the next five years may also have on impact on third countries, such as Iraq. This includes migration, international trade and foreign investments, industrial standards, and counterterrorism or the fight against drugs. The EU has been working well together with Iraq in the past on these and other topics.

After the new European Parliament has convened for the first time, it will also have the right to elect the new President of the European Commission, together with the 27 Member States, and confirm the other 26 Members of the new Commission, including the new High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

We are confident that we can deepen and strengthen our very good bilateral relations with Iraq in the coming five years.