Qualified majority

When the Council votes on a proposal by the Commission or the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the proposal is adopted if a qualified majority is reached.

A qualified majority is reached if two conditions are simultaneously met:

• 55% of member states vote in favour - in practice this means 15 out of 27
• the proposal is supported by member states representing at least 65% of the total EU population

This procedure is also known as the 'double majority rule'.

Blocking minority

The blocking minority must include at least four Council members.

When the blocking minority threshold of four Council members is not reached the qualified majority is deemed attained.

For example, when all but three member states vote in favour, the qualified majority is also deemed attained, even if the 24 member states voting in favour account for less than 65% of the total population. In other words, when there are less than four Council members voting against, the percentage of population which the member states voting in favour comprise is irrelevant for the definition of the qualified majority.

Reinforced qualified majority

When the Council votes on a proposal not coming from the Commission or the high representative, the proposal is adopted if the so-called 'reinforced qualified majority' is reached.

To reach a reinforced qualified majority if two conditions are simultaneously met:

• at least 72% of member states vote in favour - in practice this means at least 20 out of 27
• member states supporting the proposal represent at least 65% of the EU population

Special cases

When not all Council members participate in the vote, for example due to an opt-out in certain policy areas, the voting rules depend on the nature of the proposal.

When the Council votes on a proposal by the Commission or the high representative, a decision is adopted if 55% of the participating Council members, representing at least 65% of the population of the participating member states, vote in favour. In this case, a blocking minority must include at least the minimum number of member states representing more than 35% of the EU population, plus one member, failing which the qualified majority is deemed attained.

When the Council is not acting on a proposal by the Commission or the high representative, a decision is adopted if 72% of the participating Council members, representing at least 65% of the population of the participating member states, vote in favour.

Abstentions

An abstention under qualified majority voting counts as a vote against. Abstention is not the same as not participating in the vote. Any member can abstain at any time.

The 'standard' voting method in the Council

Qualified majority is the most widely used voting method in the Council. 

It is used when the Council takes decisions during the ordinary legislative procedure, also known as co-decision. About 80% of all EU legislation is adopted with this procedure.