European Parliament elections (Europawahl) in Germany

The voice of German citizens in Europe

Introduction

Not all elections in Germany are domestic ones: every five years, millions of German citizens and EU residents living in Germany go to the polls to elect their representatives in the European Parliament.

These elections are known as the “Europawahl” (European elections) and are among the most important instruments through which Germans – together with other Europeans – play their part in shaping the future of the continent.

But what exactly is the European Parliament? How are European elections conducted in Germany? Who is entitled to vote? And what impact do these elections have on German and European politics?

In this article, we answer all these questions in a simple and structured way.

What is the European Parliament?

The European Parliament is the directly elected legislative body of the European Union, made up of members elected in all member states.

The European Parliament:

Enacts European legislation together with the Council of the European Union,
Monitors the work of the European Commission,
Approves the EU budget,
Represents the interests of EU citizens vis-à-vis the other EU institutions.

The Parliament currently has 720 Members (MEPs). These seats are distributed among the member states according to their population size. Germany holds 96 seats, the largest national share in the European Parliament.

When are elections to the European Parliament held?

They are held every five years.
Elections take place simultaneously in all EU member states within a common time frame (usually four days).
In Germany, they are usually held on a Sunday, which is a designated election day and public holiday for voting.
The most recent elections took place in June 2019, and the next elections are scheduled for June 2024.

Who is entitled to vote in Germany?

1. German citizens

Voters must:

be German nationals,
be at least 16 years old (following a legal amendment in 2023),
be registered on the electoral roll and resident in Germany or abroad under specific conditions.

2. EU citizens residing in Germany

They may vote in Germany if they are permanent residents.
They can choose to vote either in their country of origin or in Germany – but not in both.
They must register in advance as voters in Germany.

How do European elections work in Germany?

The electoral system

Germany uses a system of pure proportional representation (Verhältniswahlrecht).
Voters cast their ballots for party lists, not for individual candidates.
There is no first and second vote as in Bundestag elections.
Seats are allocated according to the nationwide vote share of each party.

The electoral threshold

There is no formal 5% threshold.
This allows small parties to win seats if they receive enough votes.

Participating parties

In elections to the European Parliament, most of the well-known German political parties take part, including:

Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
Alliance 90/The Greens (Die Grünen)
Free Democratic Party (FDP)
Alternative for Germany (AfD)
The Left (Die Linke)

In addition, there are smaller parties such as:

the “Party for the Animals”,
the satirical party “Die PARTEI”,
the Pirate Party,
and other minor parties.

Why these elections matter

Although some citizens do not regard them as particularly important, elections to the European Parliament have far-reaching implications:

EU legislation has a direct impact on the domestic policies of the member states.
Parliament’s decisions affect areas such as trade, the environment, data protection, migration and education.
The elections offer a chance to bring the voices of European voters to the heart of Brussels and Strasbourg.
The results often reflect public opinion within Germany, sometimes ahead of national parliamentary elections.

Voter turnout

Historically, voter turnout in Germany at European elections has been relatively low compared with national elections.

However, in the 2019 elections, turnout rose to 61.4% – the highest level since the first European elections in 1979, driven by increased political awareness and growing interest in European issues.

Conclusion

Elections to the European Parliament in Germany are far from a secondary event; they are a central democratic tool that enables citizens to participate in European decision-making that affects their everyday lives.

With their ballot paper, Germans not only choose their representatives, they also help determine the course of the European Union as a whole – and in doing so, they strengthen Germany’s role as a key player in the future of a united Europe.

The editorial team of the website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and consultation of multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors or uncertainties may occur. For this reason, the information contained in these articles should be regarded as an initial point of reference, and readers should always consult the relevant authorities for definitive and up-to-date information.