Dates

Voters will go to the polls on different days between 4 and 7 June, reflecting diverse electoral traditions, but the results will not start to be known before the evening of 7 June.

4 June: UK and Netherlands

5 June: Ireland

5 and 6 June:Czech Republic

6 June: Cyprus, Latvia, Malta, Slovakia

6 and 7 June: Italy

7 June:Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden

Parallel national elections

Belgium:Regional elections

Denmark: Referendum on line of succession to the throne

Germany: Local elections in seven of 16 regional states

Ireland:Local elections

Latvia: Local elections

Lithuania:Possible second round of presidential elections

Luxembourg: General elections

Malta: One third of local councils

UK: Local elections in parts of England

Legislation

European elections are subject to certain common rules. They must be direct universal suffrage and be free and confidential. But the way they are organised is determined by national legislation and tradition. MEPs must be elected on the basis of proportional representation, but each member state decides what system to use.

In some countries, voters can indicate a preference for one or more candidates on the list. In others, the political parties establish the order of the candidates and votes are simply cast for the party. Voting is compulsory in Belgium, Cyprus, Greece and Luxembourg.

In most countries, the minimum age for voters and candidates is 18. However, in Austria, people can vote once they are 16 and in Italy candidates must be at least 25.

EU citizens living in another EU country can vote and stand in European elections in that member state, although they may have to comply with certain national procedures.