European Parliament members approved on Wednesday the reduction of parliament size from the existing 751 to 705 seats following EU elections in 2019.

After Brexit, out of the 73 seats the UK occupies now, 46 will either be allocated to new countries who will join the European Union, or remain empty. The remaining seats will be distributed among the 14 EU countries that are under-represented in the current parliament composition.

Croatia is among the 14 countries, and would gain one seat under the redistribution, bringing up the total to 12.

The suggested redistribution was accepted by 566 votes in favour and 56 against, while 31 MEPs abstained.

The vote on this week’s plenary session in Strasbourg is a final confirmation of the new composition of the parliament, which the leaders of EU member states should green light at the summit in Brussels on June 28-29.

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