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Absolute majority of members (EU Parliament)

European Parliament, Brussels (Photo: EUobserver.com)

Usually, the EU Parliament takes its decisions by a simple majority of those members taking part in a vote. In many cases, for example in co-decision, budget matters, and assent to the EU’s enlargement, it decides by an absolute majority. This is a majority of all its members, regardless of whether or not all are present.

After the 2004 enlargement (with ten new member states), the number of votes needed for an absolute majority was 367 out of 732 votes. Following the accession of Romania and Bulgaria the absolute majority requires 393 out of 785 votes.

If MEPs want to censure the Commission, a two-thirds majority of those voting, as well as an absolute majority of the members, is needed.

Notes

Both the rejected EU Constitution and Lisbon Treaty limit the maximum number of members of the EU Parliament to 750, making 376 the absolute majority.

Links

Supranational decision-making procedures http://www.europarl.eu.int/factsheets/1_4_1_en.htm  
The decision-making triangle http://europa.eu/abc/12lessons/lesson_4/index_en.htm 
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu/......guage=EN&reference=TOC#top