European Parliament decides by majority of votes cast - Main contents

The European Parliament adopts a proposal when half plus one of all votes cast are in favour. It concerns only the number of votes cast in that particular vote; the number of MEPs that participate in the vote has no bearing on calculating the majority.

When deciding by majority of votes cast all votes on are legitimate, regardless of the total number of votes cast. However, forty or more MEPs may request a check on whether a quorom of at least one thirds of all MEPs are present for a voting session. If this is not the case a vote on a proposal will be moved to the next session of parliament.

This voting method is the method of voting used in the European Parliament, unless it stated otherwise in the European Treaties.

Voting by simple majority in the European Parliament is based on the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

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  application: sixth part TfEU title I chapter I section I art. 231
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  quorum: rules of prtocedure of the European Parliament