Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP1402
Authors: Annick Laruelle; Mika Widgren
Abstract: This paper assesses the current distribution of voting power in the EU Council of Ministers in terms of fairness. The aim of this paper is three-fold. First, we define fairness in the European context and discuss the potential definitions of the European Union; a state, an association of states or a federal state. Second, we look for a definition of the EU which, in terms of power allocation, corresponds best to the respective fairness criteria. Lastly, we suggest an empirical method to determine fair power allocations with a given definition of the EU.
Keywords: European Union; Voting Power
JEL Codes: C71; D70
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Definition of the EU (F55) | Representation of member states' power (F55) |
| Current distribution of power under qualified majority voting (D79) | Definition of the EU (79% a state, 21% an association of states) (F55) |
| Voting weight (D72) | Fair representation of small states (D72) |
| Definition of the EU (F55) | Fair allocation of voting power (D72) |
| Overrepresentation of small states (D72) | Underrepresentation of larger states (H73) |