Council voting methods
The Council of the European Union, better known as the Council of Ministers or simply, the Council, takes votes on proposals submitted by the European Commission, the EU member states or the European Central Bank. The voting method used depends on the type of proposal submitted as well as the policy field it concerns.
The Treaties on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union stipulate which voting method is used for any given policy area.
Voting methods used by the Council:
- qualified majority voting; standard method, most frequently used1
- unanimity; method used for politically sensitive policy areas2
- simple majority voting; primarily used for technical issues and matter of limited importance3
- voting with a four-fifths majority; used when voting on the suspension of a member state4
Council voting in practice
The Council does not on proposals very often. Instead it aims to reach a concensus. Regardless, any member state can request the Council to vote on a proposal. Should a majority of member states support such a request an actual vote will be held.
It is common practice the Council does not take a decision, let alone votes on it, when a proposal touches upon eminent national vital interests of one or more member states.
Emergency procedures
Should the Council be unable to hold formal meetings (such as being unable to meet physically during the coronacrisis) formal decisions are made via the written procedure. The permanent representatives of the member states (Coreper) can then hold a formal vote.
- 1.The Council adopts a proposal when the following conditions are met:
- 2.For a proposal to be adopted no single member state can vote against the proposal. This voting method also requires that all member states cast their vote. Should a member state be absent, no vote may be called. Member states are allowed to abstain without blocking decision making. Should half the member states abstain the vote is considered invalid.
- 3.A vote in favour by more then half the member states means a proposal is adopted. It is not about votes cast in a particular vote; it means half of actual number of the member states of the EU plus one.
- 4.A vote in favour by at least four fifth of the EU member states means a proposal is adopted.