The Reallocation of the UK’s European Parliament Seats: A Brexit Dividend for Ireland?

As the United Kingdom prepares for life outside of the EU after March 2019, the European Union is looking to 2019 as a starting point for the reform and consolidation of its institutions. Brexit is foreseen to have a significant negative effect on the Irish economy, and promises by Brexit-supporting MPs in the UK of a ‘Brexit dividend’ for their country have been broadly dismissed. However, if the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union on 29 March 2019, as it intends to do, there will be at least one consolatory, albeit slight, dividend for Ireland: an increase in seats in the European Parliament.  

This briefing analyses the redistribution of the UK’s European Parliament seats and shows that, proportionally, Ireland will gain most from this reallocation.