The Member States 7 February 1992, Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union#TITLE III - PROVISIONS ON THE INSTITUTIONS#Article 15

The European Council shall adopt by unanimity, on the initiative of the European Parliament and with its consent, a decision establishing the composition of the European Parliament, respecting the principles referred to in the first subparagraph. 3. The members of the European Parliament shall be elected for a term of five years by direct universal suffrage in a free and secret ballot. 4.