2021/0372(CNS) Consultation procedure First reading

Laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament for Union citizens residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals (recast)

The Council decides; Parliament gives an opinion that the Council must consider but need not follow.

Where it stands: Completed: published in the Official Journal on 8 September 2025 and now EU law.

  1. Referred to committee 7 October 2024
  2. Committee work Report adopted 14 May 2025
  3. Tabled for plenary 16 May 2025
  4. Plenary vote Voted 17 June 2025
  5. Published as law 8 September 2025
How a file moves through Parliament

A file is referred to one lead committee (others may give an opinion). Its rapporteur writes a draft report, committee members table amendments, and the committee votes to adopt the report. The report is then tabled for all MEPs; political groups can table further amendments, which are voted on before the final vote in plenary. The Council takes the final decision, and the act is published in the Official Journal.

Who is working on it

Lead committee
AFCO — Constitutional Affairs
Rapporteurs
Sven SIMON PPEDamian BOESELAGER Verts/ALE
Shadow rapporteurs
Loránt VINCZE PPEMEP #124747 S&DMarc ANGEL S&DMarieke EHLERS PfEPatryk JAKI ECRSandro GOZI RenewReinier VAN LANSCHOT Verts/ALENikolas FARANTOURIS The LeftLeila CHAIBI The Left
For opinion
LIBE — Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs · rapporteur MEP #127096 S&D· rapporteur Ana Catarina MENDES S&D

The rapporteur drafts and negotiates the text for the lead committee; each other political group names a shadow rapporteur to follow the file.

The text, version by version

Timeline

  1. Outcome
  2. 8 September 2025 Published in the Official Journal

    The act is now EU law.

  3. Plenary stage
  4. No single decisive ballot recorded

    How the vote unfolded · 5 ballots

    adopted rejected lapsed square = amendment circle = part of the text Solid = roll call (click for every MEP’s vote); faded = no individual positions

    Show all 5 ballots in voting order
    1. Separate vote: article 12, paragraph 1 Article 12, § 1
    show of hands — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    2. Separate vote: recital 9 Recital 9
    show of hands — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    3. Separate vote: recital 20 Recital 20
    show of hands — no individual positions recorded
    Rejected
    4. Separate vote: paragraph 2 13:45 A10-0090/2025 – Sven Simon – § 2
    Adopted
    5. Council draft 13:45 A10-0090/2025 – Sven Simon – Council draft
    Adopted
  5. 12 June 2025 3 amendments tabled for the plenary vote

    Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.

  6. 16 May 2025 Report tabled for plenary

    This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

  7. Committee stage
  8. 14 May 2025 Committee vote: report adopted

    AFCO (Constitutional Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  9. 7 April 2025 Amendments tabled in committee

    Members of AFCO (Constitutional Affairs) proposed changes to the draft.

  10. 19 March 2025 Committee opinion adopted

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  11. 19 February 2025 Draft report published

    The rapporteur’s first text in AFCO (Constitutional Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

  12. 7 October 2024 Referred to the AFCO (Constitutional Affairs) committee

    The lead committee prepares the report; LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) gives an opinion.

  13. Plenary stage
  14. Committee stage
  15. 1 December 2022 Committee vote: report adopted

    AFCO (Constitutional Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  16. 27 October 2022 Committee opinion adopted

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  17. 25 October 2022 LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) adopted its opinion

    The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.

  18. 20 July 2022 Draft report published

    The rapporteur’s first text in AFCO (Constitutional Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

  19. 14 June 2022 Draft opinion from LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs)

    An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.

  20. 27 January 2022 Referred to the AFCO (Constitutional Affairs) committee

    The lead committee prepares the report; LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) gives an opinion.