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Parliament's seven political groups

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Following Brexit the European Parliament counts 705 members. Read on to find out in which of the seven political groups your MEP sits, EU affairs.

MEPs organize themselves into political groups, which bring together representatives from different EU countries based on their political affinities.

According to Parliament rules, a political group must be composed of at least 25 MEPs from at least one-quarter of member states (at the moment that would mean from at least seven countries). MEPs can belong to only one political group, but may choose not to belong to any; they are then called non-attached. Currently, 37 MEPs have opted not to join a political group.

Political groups can be formed at any time during the term. Currently, seven fulfil the criteria.

Political groups enjoy certain advantages: they play an important role in setting the Parliament’s agenda, are allocated more speaking time during debates and are also allocated more office space, staff and money. They also decide on the set up of parliamentary committees and delegations.

Below are the political groups in order of size as of 29 October 2021:

Political groupChair or co-chairsNumber of members
Group of the European People's Party (EPP)Manfred Weber (Germany). This is his fourth term as an MEP. He has been chairing the group since 2014179
Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D)Iratxe García (Spain). MEP since 2004146
Renew Europe groupStéphane Séjourné (France). This is his first term as MEP98
Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA)Ska Keller (Germany) and Philippe Lamberts (Belgium). Keller has been an MEP since 2009 and became co-president of the group in 2016. Lamberts became an MEP in 2009 and co-president in 201473
Identity and Democracy (ID)Marco Zanni (Italy). MEP since 201470
European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)Ryszard Legutko (Poland) and Raffaele Fitto (Italy). Legutko, an MEP since 2009, became co-chair in 2017. Fitto served as an MEP in 1999-2000 and again since 201463
The LeftManon Aubry (France), first-time MEP, and Martin Schirdewan (Germany), MEP since 2017. Aubry was elected in May 2019.39

Find out more about the political groups and their size in this and previous parliamentary terms on our elections results website.

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