Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T18:05:30.510Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Voting in the Councils: A Compromise, No Revolution

Article 4 EU; 250 EC; I-20(4) and I-22.3, I-24, et al. Draft Convention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 October 2004

Extract

The European Council actually, as a rule, takes decisions by consensus, as its major function is to bring a primary political impetus into the integration process through ‘conclusions’, ‘principles’, ‘guidelines’, and ‘joint strategies’ or ‘recommendations’ not having the force of a legal act. This is a customary rule; it is not stipulated in Article 4 EU. Consensus may be regarded as a ‘soft’ unanimity, reached without voting, in a silent way (no opposing statements), and allowing – within the framework of the common position – some divergences by individual Member States.

Type
Representation
Copyright
© T.M.C. Asser Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)