Well, this our annual treat. Each year we point out that the Council amends its Rules of Procedure to set out the population figures of each member State and the 62% threshold figure laid down in Article 205 §4 EC. That provision states:
‘4. When a decision is to be adopted by the Council by a qualified majority, a member of the Council may request verification that the Member States constituting the qualified majority represent at least 62 % of the total population of the Union. If that condition is shown not to have been met, the decision in question shall not be adopted.’
The Council has adopted the new decision setting out the figures for 2009.
The 62% threshold figure is now increased from 306,964,400 to 308,445,700.
For last year's figures and amendment, see here.
Nice post. I think the EU Constitution was effectively dropped two years ago after French and Dutch voters rejected it.
Posted by: Free wills | December 23, 2008 at 01:03 AM
Interesting. 3/4 of the current biggest states were already present in the EEC...
Posted by: Frederik | December 27, 2008 at 10:00 AM