Select Committee on European Scrutiny First Special Report

ANNEX 2.5

Illustration of the "weighted" dual majority system

In this illustration the two conditions needed for a qualified majority are:

• a "weighted" majority of Member States on the basis of an extrapolation of the current weightings, and

• a minimum population threshold of 58.2%[7]

Union of 28 Member States

	Votes (Annex 2.2)		Population weight (Annex 2.3)	% of votes	Minimum number (and %) of Member States	Minimum % of the population
Qualified majority[8]	102	AND	582	70.83%	14 (50.00%)	58.2%
Blocking minority	43	OR	419	29.86%	4 (14.29%)	10.45%

Union of 27 Member States

	Votes (Annex 2.2)		Population weight (Annex 2.3)	% of votes	Minimum number (and %) of Member States	Minimum % of the population
Qualified majority	102	AND	582	70.83%	14 (50.00%)	58.2%
Blocking minority	43	OR	419	29.86%	4 (14.29%)	10.45%

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7  i.e. the minimum population currently represented by a qualified majority. Back
8  In both cases illustrated a qualified majority will always include a majority of Member States. Back

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Prepared 4 December 2000