West could be set to lose MEP

Date Published: 30-Apr-2013

The Government needs to negotiate a strategy to ensure the West does not lose an MEP.

That's according to Fine Gael MEP for the North West, Jim Higgins.

He says that the inclusion of Croatia in the EU in July will reduce the number of MEPs for other member states.

Speaking to Galway Bay fm News, MEP Higgins says this will continue as other Balkan states also plan to join the European Union.

There were 15 Irish MEPS elected to the EU in 2004, but MEP Higgins says this could be halved by 2019.