21.10.2015 A8-0286/32 Amendment 32 Beatrix von Storch, Marcus Pretzell, Arne Gericke on behalf of the ECR Group Report A8-0286/2015 Danuta Maria Hübner, Jo Leinen The reform of the electoral law of the European Union 2015/2035(INL) Motion for a resolution Recital Q Motion for a resolution Amendment Q. whereas the existing European electoral Q. whereas the existing European electoral rules allow for a non-obligatory threshold rules allow for a non-obligatory threshold of up to 5 % of votes cast to be set for of up to 5 % of votes cast to be set for European elections, and whereas 15 European elections, and whereas 15 Member States have availed themselves of Member States have availed themselves of this opportunity and have introduced a this opportunity and have introduced a threshold of between 3 % and 5 %; threshold of between 3 % and 5 %; whereas in smaller Member States, and in whereas in smaller Member States, and in Member States that have subdivided their Member States that have subdivided their electoral area into constituencies, the de electoral area into constituencies, the de facto threshold nevertheless lies above 3 facto threshold nevertheless lies above 3 %, even though no legal thresholds exist; %, even though no legal thresholds exist; whereas introducing obligatory thresholds whereas introducing obligatory or is recognised by constitutional tradition as abolishing thresholds is recognised by a legitimate means of guaranteeing that constitutional tradition as a legitimate parliaments are able to function; means of guaranteeing that parliaments are able to function; Or. en AM\P8_AMA(2015)0286(032-033)_EN.doc PE570.911v01-00 EN United in diversity EN 21.10.2015 A8-0286/33 Amendment 33 Beatrix von Storch, Marcus Pretzell, Arne Gericke on behalf of the ECR Group Report A8-0286/2015 Danuta Maria Hübner, Jo Leinen The reform of the electoral law of the European Union 2015/2035(INL) Motion for a resolution Recital F a (new) Motion for a resolution Amendment Fa. whereas the principle of equal opportunities of the political parties requires every party to be accorded, in principle, the same opportunities in the entire electoral procedure, and thus equal opportunities with regard to the allocation of seats, and whereas, under the present circumstances, any barrier clause at Union level for elections to the European Parliament might violate the principles of equal suffrage and of equal opportunities of the political parties; Or. en AM\P8_AMA(2015)0286(032-033)_EN.doc PE570.911v01-00 EN United in diversity EN .