Constitué le 22 octobre 1958, le "Groupe de travail pour les élections européennes" a pour tâche d'étudier les difficultés relatives à l'organisation de l'élection de l'Assemblée parlementaire européenne au suffrage universel direct. En février 1959, le quotidien belge Le Soir reprend les explications du président du groupe de travail, Fernand Dehousse, justifiant un délai particulièrement long pour les travaux à peine amorcés.

On 22 October 1958, a working party on the European elections, chaired by Fernand Dehousse, is set up within the Political Affairs Committee of the European Parliamentary Assembly (EPA). On 30 April 1960, the working party submits to the EPA a collection of reports and documents relating to the Draft convention on the election of the Members of the European Parliamentary Assembly by direct universal suffrage, the general report of which is drawn up by Fernand Dehousse.

On 17 May 1960, the European Parliamentary Assembly adopts the Resolution on the adoption of a draft convention on the election of the Members of the European Parliamentary Assembly by direct universal suffrage and other related texts. The Resolution incorporates the draft convention drawn up by the Working Party on European Elections under the chairmanship of Fernand Dehousse.

Owing to the six years of absence of any consideration by the Council of the draft convention on the election of the Members of the European Parliamentary Assembly by direct universal suffrage, in 1969, the European Parliament threatens the Council with bringing proceedings for failure to act before the Court of Justice under former Article 175 of the EC Treaty.

Report dated 13 January 1975 drawn up by Schelto Patijn on the adoption of a draft convention introducing elections to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage.

European Parliament Resolution of 14 January 1975 on the adoption of a draft convention introducing elections to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage. This text replaces the draft text of 17 May 1960.

Excerpt from the Conclusions of the Rome European Council of 1 and 2 December 1975, concerning direct elections to the European Parliament. It is agreed that elections will take place in May-June 1978.

The Rome European Council of 1 and 2 December 1975 agrees that the election of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage will be held in May and June 1978.

Statement by Georges Spénale, following the Rome European Council of 1 and 2 December 1975, concerning direct elections to the European Parliament.

À l’approche des élections du Parlement européen au suffrage universel direct, la question de la répartition des sièges entre les États membres reste un problème épineux et les propositions diverses affluent.

Reflections on the advantages of electing the European Parliament by universal suffrage and on the practical aspects of such an election.

Statement by the President of the European Parliament, Georges Spénale, following the Brussels European Council of 12 July 1976, concerning direct elections to the European Parliament.

On 12 July 1976, during the Brussels European Council, citizens demonstrate in the streets of the Belgian capital in favour of holding direct elections to the European Parliament in 1978.

Decision of the representatives of the Member States meeting in the Council of 20 September 1976 relating to the Act concerning the election of the representatives to the Assembly by direct universal suffrage.

On 20 September 1976 in Brussels, representatives of the Member States of the European Communities adopt the Act concerning the election of the representatives to the Assembly by direct universal suffrage. The Act stipulates that the term of office for Members of the European Parliament is five years (Article 3).

On 20 September 1976 in Brussels, the representatives of the Member States of the European Communities sign the Act concerning the election of the representatives to the Assembly by direct universal suffrage.

Statement by the President of the European Parliament, Georges Spénale, to mark the signing of the Act concerning the election of the representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage (Brussels, 20 September 1976).

Speech by the President of the Council of the European Communities, Max van der Stoel, to mark the signing of the Act concerning the election of the representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage (20 September 1976).

Address given by the President of the Commission, François-Xavier Ortoli, on the occasion of the signing of the Act concerning the election of the representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage on 20 September 1976.

In an interview with the magazine Vision, Altiero Spinelli comments on the future European Parliament to be elected by direct universal suffrage, and the possible postponement of the first direct elections, initially planned for 1978.

On the occasion of the Copenhagen European Council meeting of 7–8 April 1978, the Heads of State or Government decide that the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage will take place from 7 to 10 June 1979.

On the occasion of the Copenhagen European Council meeting of 7–8 April 1978, Emilio Colombo, President of the European Parliament, expresses his satisfaction with the agreement reached on the date for the direct elections by universal suffrage to the European Parliament.

In the run-up to elections to the European Parliament in 1979, the political parties of the Nine get organised on a European scale.

On the 30th anniversary of the first direct elections to the European Parliament in June 1979, the European Parliament’s Archive and Documentation Centre (CARDOC) produces a paper on the initiatives taken by the European Parliament, and previously by the ECSC Common Assembly, to arrive at the first direct elections to Parliament.

In this interview, Jacques Santer, former Member of the European Parliament, recalls the nature of the debates, held during the 1970s, on the election of Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage.