Welcome to the European Parliamentary Research Service Podcasts.

European citizens have elected the 720 members that will sit in the European Parliament and shape EU politics over the next five years.

So if you're a new MEP and you're listening to us, welcome to the European Parliament. Here's what to expect next. With the European

elections now behind us, the process to kickstart the formation of the new European Parliament

has begun. And a lot needs to happen between now and the official start of the new legislature

on Tuesday, 16th of July in Strasbourg.

First of all, and after checking they do not hold incompatible functions,

Member States will need to communicate to the European Parliament the names of the newly elected members,

720 in total.

That is 15 more than in the last legislative term.

As in December 2023, it was decided to add 15 seats to take into account the latest population

changes since the redistribution of seats following Brexit.

Then negotiations for the constitution of political groups will begin and may go on until the first

plenary session. In the European Parliament, members are seated according to political

affiliation, not nationality. To form a political group, 23 MEPs are needed, coming from at least

one quarter of member states, So, currently at least seven.

So what happens in the first plenary?

Here's Michaela Del Monte from the European Parliamentary Research Service,

the internal think tank of the European Parliament.

This is a key moment because the Parliament will have to elect its president,

vice president, 14 vice president

and Quester. And this is important because not any other business can be dealt with before

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