European legislation sets out common rules on who can stand as a candidate in European elections. In addition, national legislation defines more detailed rules, which may differ from country to country.
According to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, citizens of EU countries have the right to vote and to stand as candidates in European elections in their country of residence, under the same conditions as nationals.
Under the European Electoral Act, which sets out rules applicable in all EU countries, a citizen can only stand as a candidate in one EU country in the same election.
An overview of the requirements for standing as a candidate in the European elections is available on the Your Europe website, which also provides links to country-specific information.
For specific details on electoral procedures in EU countries, citizens should contact the respective national administration.
Revising the rules for European elections
In May 2022, the European Parliament proposed to introduce a number of changes to the European Electoral Act.
Parliament’s proposed changes include:
- setting a minimum common age of 18 years to stand as a candidate,
- electing a number of Members of the European Parliament on EU-wide lists,
- requiring candidate lists to be gender equal, either by using a zipped system (alternation of candidates of both genders on the ballot paper) or quotas.
Parliament’s proposal is currently under discussion at the Council, who has the power to change these rules.
Further information
- Minimum age to stand as a candidate in European elections, European Parliamentary Research Service, June 2023
- Proposing new rules for European elections, European Parliamentary Research Service, April 2022
- Towards new rules for European elections?, European Parliamentary Research Service, September 2022
- Transnational electoral lists: Ways to Europeanise elections to the European Parliament, Study, European Parliamentary Research Service, February 2021
- The European Parliament: electoral procedures, Fact sheets on the European Union, European Parliament
- Publications on European elections, Publications Office of the European Union
Keep sending your questions to the Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (Ask EP)! We reply in the EU language that you use to write to us.
