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Library - an archive 
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Economists write 
 
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The Euroland Economy 
 
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Appendix 5 Evolution of votes in EU decision-making institutions

 

1958

1973

1981

1986

1995

Member states

6

9

10

12

15

 

Council votes

17

58

63

76

87

 

QMV threshold1

-12

-41

-45

-54

-62

652

blocking minority

-6

-18

-19

-23

-26

232

MEPs

142

198

434

518

626

 

Commissioners

9

13

14

17

20

 

1 Minimum number of votes necessary to adopt a decision.

2 Under the 'Ioannina Compromise' of 1994, if Council members representing 23 to 25 votes are opposed to a decision, the Council will do its utmost to reach 'within a reasonable time' a solution that can be adopted by at least 65 votes.

 
Notes

The composition of the basket was fixed in 1993. It does not include the currencies of the new EU member states (Austria, Finland and Sweden), but it does include the pound and the Danish krone, which will not participate immediately in the euro.

The euro will he exchangeable on a 1-for-1 basis with the ECU.

At March 31st 1998 the EGU was worth DM1.99, $1.07 and £0.64 (ie £1 = 1.56 ECUs)