End of mandate
A Member's mandate can end due to:
- resignation (Members' voluntary decision);
- withdrawal of the mandate (for national reasons);
- death;
- incompatibility of the Member's mandate, as defined in Article 7 of the Electoral Act.
If an MEP leaves the Parliament during the mandate, their country’s electoral rules govern how their replacement is assured.
Following the provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the Electoral Act of 1976, Members of the European Parliament cannot be removed from their office, unless a specific decision by competent national authorities notifies the European Parliament of the termination of their mandate.
It is up to each Member State to establish the rules to fill the vacancies for the rest of the mandate. When a vacancy is established by the Parliament, the Member State concerned should replace the vacant seat as soon as possible, but without there being an official deadline. The Member State informs the Parliament about the replacement, which is then announced in plenary. The new MEP can only take office after signing a declaration of non-incompatibility.
More information here