# CE2004084EN.01022802.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/228 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/228

---

(2004/C 84 E/0274)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3267/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Council

(4 November 2003)

Subject:   Qualified majority voting

Subject:

Can the Council state on how many occasions each year for the last five years each Member State has been outvoted in the Council when a decision on a legislative proposal (directive, regulation, decision) has been taken by qualified majority voting?

Reply

(9 March 2004)

(9 March 2004)

The Council invites the Honourable Member to refer to the Council's reply to question E-3938/00 concerning the same subject and relating to the years 1995-2000.

The Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the fact that, since January 2001, the General Secretariat of the Council has published monthly records of the Council's activities, including voting results and explanations, on the Council's Internet site (http://ue.eu.int).

The Council would in any case invite the Honourable Member to consult the tables set out in the annex to this reply.

Annex

| | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Total number of final legislative acts | 219 | 199 | 191 | 187 | 195 |
| Abstentions on adoption of a final legislative act in 2002 | 56 | 31 | 21 | 31 | 37 |
| Abstentions | 60 | 30 | 22 | 27 | 26 |
| Abstentions | 34 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 31 |

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Total number of final legislative acts

219

199

191

187

195

Abstentions on adoption of a final legislative act in 2002

56

31

21

31

37

Abstentions

60

30

22

27

26

Abstentions

34

9

12

25

31

A.   VOTES AGAINST BY MEMBER STATE

Votes against on adoption of a final legislative act in 1998

| | AU | BE | DE | DA | Ë1 | ES | FR | FI | IT | IR | LU | NL | FT | SV | UK |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| February | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | 1 |
| March | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| April | | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| May | 1 | | 2 | 1 | | | | | 2 | 1 | | 1 | | 2 | 1 |
| June | 1 | 1 | 2 | | 1 | | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 2 | 1 | | |
| July | | | 1 | 2 | 1 | | 1 | | | | | 7 | | | |
| August | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| October | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| November | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | |
| December | | 1 | | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 3 | | | 1 | 1 | | |
| Total | 3 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 2 |

AU

BE

DE

DA

Ë1

ES

FR

FI

IT

IR

LU

NL

FT

SV

UK

January

February

1

1

1

1

1

March

1

1

1

April

1

2

May

1

2

1

2

1

1

2

1

June

1

1

2

1

1

1

1

2

1

July

1

2

1

1

7

August

September

1

1

October

2

November

2

December

1

1

1

1

3

1

1

Total

3

4

11

7

2

1

3

0

8

2

0

12

2

3

2

Votes against on adoption of a final legislative act in 1999

| | AU | BE | DE | DA | EL | ES | FR | FI | IT | IR | LU | NL | FT | SV | UK |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | |
| February | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| March | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| April | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| May | | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | | | | | |
| June | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | |
| July | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | 2 | | 1 | 1 | | | |
| August | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| October | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | |
| November | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December | | 1 | | 1 | | | 2 | | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | | |
| Total | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |

AU

BE

DE

DA

EL

ES

FR

FI

IT

IR

LU

NL

FT

SV

UK

January

1

1

1

February

March

1

1

1

1

April

1

May

1

1

June

1

1

July

1

1

1

1

2

1

1

August

September

October

1

1

1

November

December

1

1

2

1

1

1

Total

1

2

2

4

1

1

3

0

8

1

2

4

1

0

0

Votes against on adoption of a final legislative act in 2000

| | AU | BE | DE | DA | EL | ES | FR | FI | IT | IR | LU | NL | PT | SV | UK |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| February | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| March | 1 | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| April | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| May | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| June | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| July | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | |
| August | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| October | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| November | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| December | | | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |

AU

BE

DE

DA

EL

ES

FR

FI

IT

IR

LU

NL

PT

SV

UK

January

1

February

March

1

2

April

1

1

May

1

June

1

1

1

July

1

August

September

1

October

November

1

December

2

1

2

1

1

1

1

Total

2

1

4

3

3

0

1

1

1

0

0

2

0

2

2

Votes against on adoption of a final legislative act in 2001

| | AU | BE | DE | DA | EL | ES | FR | FI | IT | IR | LU | NL | FT | SV | UK |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| February | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| March | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| April | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| May | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| June | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | 1 | |
| July | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | |
| August | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| October | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| November | | | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | |
| December | 1 | 2 | | | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |

AU

BE

DE

DA

EL

ES

FR

FI

IT

IR

LU

NL

FT

SV

UK

January

1

February

1

March

1

April

1

1

May

1

1

June

1

1

1

1

July

1

August

September

October

1

1

November

1

2

1

December

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

Total

1

2

3

3

1

3

3

1

2

1

0

1

0

4

2

Votes against on adoption of a final legislative act in 2002

| | AU | BE | DE | DA | EL | ES | FR | FI | IT | IR | LU | NL | PT | SV | UK |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | |
| February | | | | | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | |
| March | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | |
| April | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| May | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | |
| June | 1 | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 1 |
| July | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| August | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | 1 | | 1 | |
| October | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | |
| November | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| December | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 |

AU

BE

DE

DA

EL

ES

FR

FI

IT

IR

LU

NL

PT

SV

UK

January

1

1

February

1

1

1

March

1

1

April

May

2

June

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

July

August

September

1

1

1

1

October

1

November

1

December

2

2

Total

1

0

2

2

2

1

0

2

2

0

1

5

1

6

1

Β.   ABSTENTIONS BY MEMBER STATE

Abstentions on adoption of a final legislative act in 1998

| | AU | BE | DE | DA | EL | ES | FR | FI | LT | IR | LU | NL | PT | SV | UK |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| February | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| March | | | | | | 2 | | | | | 1 | | | | |
| April | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | |
| May | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| June | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | 2 | | | 1 | | | |
| July | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | |
| August | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| October | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | 1 | | 1 | | |
| November | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December | | 1 | 2 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 2 | | | | 2 | | |
| Total | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |

AU

BE

DE

DA

EL

ES

FR

FI

LT

IR

LU

NL

PT

SV

UK

January

February

1

March

2

1

April

1

May

1

June

1

1

1

1

2

2

1

July

1

1

1

August

September

1

1

October

1

1

1

1

November

December

1

2

1

1

1

2

2

Total

0

3

7

1

2

7

2

0

5

0

2

1

4

0

0

Abstentions on adoption of a final legislative act in 1999

| | AU | BE | DE | DA | EL | ES | FR | FI | LT | IR | LU | NL | PT | SV | UK |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| February | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| March | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| April | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| May | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| June | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | |
| July | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| August | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| October | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| November | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 2 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |

AU

BE

DE

DA

EL

ES

FR

FI

LT

IR

LU

NL

PT

SV

UK

January

1

February

March

April

1

May

1

June

1

July

1

August

September

October

November

December

1

1

2

Total

0

0

1

0

0

2

0

0

1

0

0

1

1

0

3

Abstentions on adoption of a final legislative act in 2000

| | AU | BE | DE | DA | EL | ES | FR | FI | LT | IR | LU | NL | PT | SV | UK |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | |
| February | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| March | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | |
| April | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| May | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| June | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| July | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| August | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| October | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| November | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December | | 1 | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | |
| Total | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |

AU

BE

DE

DA

EL

ES

FR

FI

LT

IR

LU

NL

PT

SV

UK

January

1

1

February

March

1

1

1

April

1

1

1

May

June

July

1

August

September

1

October

November

December

1

1

Total

0

5

0

2

0

0

0

1

2

0

0

1

0

0

1

Abstentions on adoption of a final legislative act in 2001

| | AU | BE | DE | DA | EL | ES | FR | FI | LT | IR | LU | NL | PT | SV | UK |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | | | | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | |
| February | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | |
| March | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| April | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| May | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | |
| June | 1 | | 1 | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| July | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| August | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | |
| October | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| November | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| December | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Total | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |

AU

BE

DE

DA

EL

ES

FR

FI

LT

IR

LU

NL

PT

SV

UK

January

1

1

February

1

1

March

1

April

May

1

1

1

1

June

1

1

1

July

August

September

1

1

October

1

1

1

1

November

2

December

1

1

1

1

1

Total

4

1

5

1

0

2

3

0

3

0

2

1

1

0

2

Abstentions on adoption of a final legislative act in 2002

| | AU | BE | DE | DA | EL | ES | FR | FI | LT | IR | LU | NL | PT | SV | UK |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| January | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| February | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| March | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| April | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | |
| May | | | | 1 | | | | 1 | | | | | | | |
| June | | | 1 | | | | 3 | | | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| July | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | |
| August | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| October | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | |
| November | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | |
| December | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | 1 |
| Total | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 |

AU

BE

DE

DA

EL

ES

FR

FI

LT

IR

LU

NL

PT

SV

UK

January

2

February

1

1

1

1

1

1

March

1

1

1

April

1

May

1

1

June

1

3

1

1

July

1

1

August

September

October

1

1

November

1

1

1

1

December

1

1

1

Total

0

1

3

4

0

1

6

2

0

0

1

1

3

5

4

---