The 1994 election to the European Parliament was the first since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany. It was also the last before the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, who joined the EU in 1995

Results showed no meaningful change for the larger groups but there were notable changes for the smaller ones, with far-right MEPs doing very badly and Eurosceptic MEPs becoming significant for the first time. No majority was achieved.

The 1999 election to the European Parliament was the first since the enlargement of the European Union to include Austria, Finland and Sweden. The voter turn-out was generally low, except in Belgium and Luxembourg, where voting is compulsory and where national elections were held that same day.

Results showed a move to the right, with Conservative and Christian Democrat MEPs forming the biggest single group, although no majority was achieved.

The 2004 election to the European Parliament was the first since the enlargement of the European Union to include Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. At the time, it constituted the biggest transnational direct election ever.

Results showed a general defeat of governing parties and an increase in MEPs from Eurosceptic parties, although the balance of power was little changed, with no group having an overall majority.