The upcoming European elections have a confirmed official date. The 27 permanent EU ambassadors agreed on Wednesday to hold the next European Parliament elections from 6 to 9 June 2024. In Spain, voting will take place on Sunday, 9 June. A message accompanying the announcement urged reform, change, and ongoing dialogue with citizens, emphasizing the choice voters have between 6–9 June 2024 and the importance of participation. The presidency of the European Parliament highlighted the encouragement to vote, with statements circulated by EU leadership channels and regional offices to mobilize turnout (EU sources).
#COREPERII | EU Ambassadors approved the setting of 6 to 9 June 2024 as the date for the next European Parliament elections (EU Council communications).
— Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU Presidency communications) — May 17, 2023 — (EU sources).
Voting will determine not only the 705 Members of the European Parliament but also the leadership landscape for the 2024–2029 cycle. It will shape the distribution of roles across European institutions over the next five years, influencing key appointments such as the new high representative for foreign affairs, as well as the presidency posts within the European Commission and the Council. The current terms for some offices, including the European Commission presidency, follow established rules that limit renewals to a single second term, shaping the political dynamics of the coming cycle (EU governance framework).
Voting in Spain will take place on Sunday, June 9th.
The Future of von der Leyen
Regarding the future of the European Commission presidency, the situation is nuanced. The German official in question, previously Germany’s defense minister, is widely regarded as seeking a second five-year term, though official confirmation has not yet been made. Regardless of formal decision, there is broad commentary that the official is interested in continuing in the post. The arrival at the Community Executive came as a surprise to some observers, as the individual was not among the euphemistically labeled Spitzenkandidaten, the pre-election candidates promoted by political groups for the Commission presidency (EU political history).
Headlines from 2019 show the leading European People’s Party figure associated with the German delegation, but the selection of the presidency has often depended on the broad political configuration among member states. The likelihood of a second term is linked to whether the PPE maintains its position as the largest group within the assembly. Current party group numbers illustrate a range of representation: the largest faction often cited is socialism, followed by other national or regional parties. The distribution across Spain includes deputies from several parties and regional lists, reflecting the diverse makeup of the European Parliament while navigating coalition expectations and potential realignments for the 2024–2029 term (EU parliamentary composition analysis).