The Socialist government, the European Constitution and the dual majority

Summary:

This study analyses the implications of the formula put forward by the new Socialist government and concludes that the thinking behind the 50-66 proposal is to maximise Spain's blocking power. By way of an alternative to the current position, the article suggests a strategy which is more in line with the government's pro-European stance and aims at an optimum reconciliation of national and European interests. It looks at formulas which, while distributing power in the Council as fairly as possible, also contribute to more agile decision-making. Applying them would enable Spain to equate its influence with that of the major states and strengthen EU institutions, an essential task if the enlarged Union is to prove governable.