The European research platform EU Matrix has published the MEP Influence Index 2026, which measures the influence of Members of the European Parliament in the current term, from the 2024 European elections to the present day.
Among the seven MEPs from Estonia, Jana Toom (31.5 points) ranks first. Sven Mikser is in second place (31.4), Urmas Paet in third (28.6), whilst Marina Kaljurand (27.9) and Riho Terras (27.8) also feature in the top five.
The Index’s methodology is as follows: 70% is based on an MEP’s formal weight (leadership roles, reports, committee work); 15% is basedwith outside stakeholders, the representatives of socio-economic groups affected by EU policy; another 15% is based on voting behaviour that aligns with both the overall result and the result within the political group.
Jana Toom is the coordinator for her Renew Europe political group on two committees: the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and the Committee on the Housing Crisis (HOUS). She also serves on the Committee on Petitions (PETI), the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), and is Vice-Chair of the Delegation for Parliamentary Cooperation with Central Asia (DCAS). In addition, she serves on five intergroups covering topics such as trade unions and mental health.
Over the past two years, Jana Toom has served as lead rapporteur on Social Protection for Adults and the Just Transition Directive in the light of the labour market and as shadow rapporteur on nine topics, mainly relating to social protection and cross-border situations affecting the labour market (such as the harmonisation of insolvency). Over the past two years, she has held 27 consultations with 26 different socio-economic groups.
Yana Toom’s main focus is social policy. She ranks fifth in terms of influence in the field of employment and social policy among all Members of the European Parliament. The other Estonian MEPs tend to focus on foreign policy, defence and issues related to digitalisation. Sven Mikser ranks fifth in terms of influence within his field of activity, foreign policy.
EU Matrix is a leading platform for European research. The newspaper Politico Europe has included the platform’s founder and manager, Doru P. Frantescu, among the 40 most influential people in the field of European Union information, and has described the website eumatrix.eu as ‘a data-driven crystal ball to navigate systemic changes in the EU'.