3/8/2021 Glossary of summaries - EUR-Lex

Glossary of summaries

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y

QUALIFIED MAJORITY

A qualified majority (QM) is the number of votes required in the Council

for a decision to be adopted when issues are being debated on the basis
of Article  16 of the Treaty on European Union and Article  238 of the
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Under the ordinary
legislative procedure, the Council acts by QM, in codecision with the
Parliament.

On 1  November 2014, a new procedure for QM voting, the ‘double

majority’ rule, was introduced. Here, when the Council votes on a
proposal by the Commission or the EU’s High Representative for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy, a QM is reached if two conditions are met:

55  % of EU countries vote in favour - i.e. 16 out of 28;

the proposal is supported by countries representing at least 65  %
of the total EU population.

When the Council votes on a proposal not made by the Commission or

the High Representative, a decision is adopted if:
there are 72  % of EU country votes in favour; and
they represent at least 65  % of the EU population.

Until 31 March 2017, any EU country may request that a decision be

taken in accordance with the rules in force before 1  November 2014
(i.e. in accordance with the rules as defined by the Treaty of Nice).

SEE ALSO

Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives)

Council of the European Union
Ioannina compromise
Ordinary legislative procedure
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