This Council Decision (EU, Euratom 2023/2827) of 12 December 2023 amends the Council's Rules of Procedure, specifically Annex III, which pertains to the population figures used for qualified majority voting. The amendment updates the population data for each Member State, reflecting figures available from the Statistical Office of the European Union as of 30 September 2023, to be applied from 1 January 2024.
The decision updates the figures for the population of the Union and each Member State as follows:
* **Germany:** 84,311,244 (18.72%)
* **France:** 68,070,697 (15.11%)
* **Italy:** 59,691,110 (13.25%)
* **Spain:** 48,063,694 (10.67%)
* **Poland:** 37,723,532 (8.37%)
* **Romania:** 19,051,562 (4.23%)
* **Netherlands:** 17,956,453 (3.99%)
* **Belgium:** 11,754,004 (2.61%)
* **Czechia:** 10,833,385 (2.40%)
* **Sweden:** 10,541,000 (2.34%)
* **Portugal:** 10,516,621 (2.33%)
* **Greece:** 10,415,585 (2.31%)
* **Hungary:** 9,599,744 (2.13%)
* **Austria:** 9,087,000 (2.02%)
* **Bulgaria:** 6,498,567 (1.44%)
* **Denmark:** 5,921,952 (1.31%)
* **Finland:** 5,593,070 (1.24%)
* **Slovakia:** 5,454,629 (1.21%)
* **Ireland:** 5,194,336 (1.15%)
* **Croatia:** 3,850,894 (0.85%)
* **Lithuania:** 2,857,279 (0.63%)
* **Slovenia:** 2,116,972 (0.47%)
* **Latvia:** 1,883,008 (0.42%)
* **Estonia:** 1,365,884 (0.3%)
* **Cyprus:** 920,701 (0.2%)
* **Luxembourg:** 658,278 (0.15%)
* **Malta:** 542,051 (0.12%)
* **EU 27:** 450,473,252
* **Threshold 65%:** 292,807,614
The legal basis for this decision is the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Article 240(3)), and Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community. The decision was made in Brussels on 12 December 2023 and signed by the President of the Council, P. Navarro Ros. The decision entered into force upon publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on December 14, 2023.
Key Entities Referenced
Council of the European Union: The institution of the European Union, which is adopting the decision to amend its Rules of Procedure.
Treaty on European Union: A foundational treaty of the European Union.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: A foundational treaty of the European Union.
European Atomic Energy Community: An international organisation established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 with the purpose of creating a specialist market for nuclear power in Europe.
Statistical Office of the European Union: The EU body responsible for producing statistics on the European Union and promoting harmonisation of statistical methods across member states.
Council's Rules of Procedure: The internal rules governing the operation and decision-making processes of the Council of the European Union.
Germany: A member state of the European Union, its population is relevant for qualified majority voting.
France: A member state of the European Union, its population is relevant for qualified majority voting.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2023/2827 14.12.2023
COUNCIL DECISION (EU, Euratom) 2023/2827
of 12 December 2023
amending the Council’s Rules of Procedure
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 240(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) When an act is to be adopted by the Council acting by qualified majority, it has to be verified that the Member States
constituting the qualified majority represent at least 65 % of the population of the Union.
(2) That percentage is calculated according to the population figures set out in Annex III to the Council’s Rules of
Procedure (the ‘Rules of Procedure’)(1).
(3) Article 11(6) of the Rules of Procedure provides that, with effect from 1 January each year, the Council is to amend
the figures set out in that Annex, in accordance with the data available to the Statistical Office of the European
Union on 30 September of the preceding year.
(4) The Rules of Procedure should therefore be amended accordingly for the year 2024.
(5) In accordance with Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, Article 240 of
the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union applies to the European Atomic Energy Community,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Annex III to the Rules of Procedure is replaced by the following:
‘ANNEX III
Figures concerning the population of the Union and the population of each Member State for implementing the
provisions concerning qualified majority voting in the Council
Percentage of the population of the Union
Member State Population
(%)
Germany 84 311 244 18,72
France 68 070 697 15,11
Italy 59 691 110 13,25
Spain 48 063 694 10,67
Poland 37 723 532 8,37
Romania 19 051 562 4,23
Netherlands 17 956 453 3,99
Belgium 11 754 004 2,61
Czechia 10 833 385 2,40
(1) Council Decision 2009/937/EU of 1 December 2009 adopting the Council’s Rules of Procedure (OJ L 325, 11.12.2009, p. 35).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2827/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 14.12.2023
Percentage of the population of the Union
Member State Population
(%)
Sweden 10 541 000 2,34
Portugal 10 516 621 2,33
Greece 10 415 585 2,31
Hungary 9 599 744 2,13
Austria 9 087 000 2,02
Bulgaria 6 498 567 1,44
Denmark 5 921 952 1,31
Finland 5 593 070 1,24
Slovakia 5 454 629 1,21
Ireland 5 194 336 1,15
Croatia 3 850 894 0,85
Lithuania 2 857 279 0,63
Slovenia 2 116 972 0,47
Latvia 1 883 008 0,42
Estonia 1 365 884 0,3
Cyprus 920 701 0,2
Luxembourg 658 278 0,15
Malta 542 051 0,12’
EU 27 450 473 252
Threshold (65 %) 292 807 614’.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 January 2024.
Done at Brussels, 12 December 2023.
For the Council
The President
P. NAVARRO RÍOS
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2827/oj