Council of Ministers
| member state | Nice | Lisbon | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| votes | % | pop. in millions |
% | |
| Germany | 29 | 8.4% | 82 | 16.5% |
| France | 29 | 8.4% | 64 | 12.9% |
| United Kingdom | 29 | 8.4% | 62 | 12.4% |
| Italy | 29 | 8.4% | 60 | 12.0% |
| Spain | 27 | 7.8% | 46 | 9.0% |
| Poland | 27 | 7.8% | 38 | 7.6% |
| Romania | 14 | 4.1% | 21 | 4.3% |
| Netherlands | 13 | 3.8% | 17 | 3.3% |
| Greece | 12 | 3.5% | 11 | 2.2% |
| Portugal | 12 | 3.5% | 11 | 2.1% |
| Belgium | 12 | 3.5% | 11 | 2.1% |
| Czech Republic | 12 | 3.5% | 10 | 2.1% |
| Hungary | 12 | 3.5% | 10 | 2.0% |
| Sweden | 10 | 2.9% | 9.2 | 1.9% |
| Austria | 10 | 2.9% | 8.3 | 1.7% |
| Bulgaria | 10 | 2.9% | 7.6 | 1.5% |
| Denmark | 7 | 2.0% | 5.5 | 1.1% |
| Slovakia | 7 | 2.0% | 5.4 | 1.1% |
| Finland | 7 | 2.0% | 5.3 | 1.1% |
| Ireland | 7 | 2.0% | 4.5 | 0.9% |
| Lithuania | 7 | 2.0% | 3.3 | 0.7% |
| Latvia | 4 | 1.2% | 2.2 | 0.5% |
| Slovenia | 4 | 1.2% | 2.0 | 0.4% |
| Estonia | 4 | 1.2% | 1.3 | 0.3% |
| Cyprus | 4 | 1.2% | 0.87 | 0.2% |
| Luxembourg | 4 | 1.2% | 0.49 | 0.1% |
| Malta | 3 | 0.9% | 0.41 | 0.1% |
| total | 345 | 100% | 498 | 100% |
| required majority | 255 | 74% | 324 | 65% |
The treaty has expanded the use of qualified majority voting (QMV) in the Council of Ministers by having it replace unanimity as the standard voting procedure in almost every policy area outside taxation and foreign policy. Moreover, taking effect in 2014, the definition of a qualified majority will change: A qualified majority will be reached when at least 55% of all member states, who comprise at least 65% of EU citizens, vote in favour of a proposal. When the Council of Ministers is acting neither on a proposal of the Commission nor on one of the High Representative, QMV will require 72% of the member states while the population requirement remains the same. However, the "blocking minority" that corresponds to these figures must comprise at least 4 countries. Hence, the voting powers of the member states are based on their population, and are no longer dependent on a negotiable system of voting points. The reform of qualified majority voting (QMV) in the Council was one of the main issues in the negotiation of the Lisbon Treaty.
The current rules for QMV, set in the Treaty of Nice, which still apply until 2014, require a majority of countries (50% / 67%), voting weights (74%), and population (62%). This rule remains in place until 2014. Between 2014 and 2017 a transitional phase will take place where the new QMV rules apply, but where the old Nice treaty voting weights can be applied when a member state formally requests it. Moreover, from 2014 a new version of the 1994 "Ioannina Compromise" will take effect, which allows small minorities of EU states to call for re-examination of EU decisions.
The treaty instructs that Council deliberations on legislation (that include debate and voting) in the will be held in public (televised), as was already the case in the European Parliament..
The Presidency of the Council of Ministers, rotates among member states every six months, with a "Trio" formed by three consecutive Presidencies in order to provide more continuity to their conduct. However, the Foreign Affairs Council (one configuration of the Council of ministers), is no longer chaired by the representative of the member state holding the Presidency, but rather by the person holding the newly created post of High Representative.
Additionally the Euro Group sub-unit of ECOFIN Eurozone countries was formalized.
Read more about this topic: Treaty Of Lisbon, Amendments
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