The greens in europe: Ecological parties and the european elections of 1984

When in 1979 the first elections to the European parliament took place, green candidates were fielded in France, Belgium, the UK and West Germany. None of them was elected, only the French ecologists came close with 4.4% of the vote. Five years later, the second European elections brought 11 green Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to Strasburg with other green parties in Ireland, the UK, Luxemburg, and France putting up more or less respectable performances. Though these elections did not bring the European breakthrough which some ecologists might have hoped for, the results demonstrate that green political parties are establishing themselves internationally and are consolidating their position.