How does the Council vote?
Three voting systems
The Council of the European Union exercises its functions using three distinct voting systems.
Qualified majority
This is the default voting system, by which decisions are taken using the 'double majority' rule.
Unanimity
This applies to a limited number of sensitive areas, where each member state has a veto.
Simple majority
This mainly applies to procedural decisions.
Specificities on how these voting rules operate are laid down in Article 238 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Qualified majority
The Council decides by qualified majority for about 80% of its legislative work, where legislation is jointly adopted with the European Parliament.
This voting system is based on a majority of member states representing a majority of the EU population. This is known as the 'double majority' rule, since two conditions must be simultaneously met:
- at least 55% of member states vote in favour (15 out of 27)
- those member states represent at least 65% of the total EU population
Unanimity
The Council has to vote unanimously on a number of matters which the member states consider to be sensitive. In these cases, each member state has a veto right. Under unanimous voting, abstention does not prevent a decision from being taken.
Unanimity applies, for instance, to:
- the common foreign and security policy
- the granting of new rights to EU citizens
- EU enlargement
- EU finances (own resources and the EU's long-term budget)
- harmonisation of indirect taxation
- certain measures in the field of justice and home affairs and social protection
Simple majority
A simple majority is reached if at least 14 of the 27 member states vote in favour.
The Council decides by simple majority:
- on procedural matters, such as adopting its own rules of procedure and organising its General Secretariat
- to request the Commission to undertake studies or submit proposals
Voting calculator
The voting calculator helps find out whether the Council can reach one of the three voting thresholds required to adopt a legislative act.
Follow these four simple steps to check the final result of a Council vote:
- choose a voting rule
- select the member states participating in the vote
- enter the votes
- verify the final result
Voting calculator
How does voting work?
Voting is a political and legal act and is therefore carried out only by ministers representing their respective member states in the Council.
Coreper (committee of permanent representatives) does not vote on legal acts, but permanent representatives may indicate in advance how their ministers intend to vote in the Council. This 'indicative vote' helps the Council presidency assess whether a decision is ready for adoption. Working parties do not vote.
The Council can vote only if a majority of its members is present. A member of the Council (representative of a member state at ministerial level) may act on behalf of one other member only.
Voting is initiated by the president of the Council, that is the country that holds the rotating presidency. A member of the Council or the Commission may also propose initiating a vote, but a majority of the Council's members must approve this initiative.
Publication of voting results
The results of Council votes are automatically made public when the Council acts to adopt EU laws.
The way each member state voted, along with explanations of votes, statements, and items recorded in the minutes, are published in the Council's public register.
See also
The Council's role in EU decision-making
What the Council does
How the work in the Council is organised
Last review: 23 February 2026