Censure

The EU Parliament can censure the EU Commission by a vote of no confidence (Photo: European Parliament)

The EU Parliament can censure the EU Commission by a vote of no confidence.

This requires a two-thirds majority of votes and an absolute majority of members - 367 of 732 after enlargement.  

Notes

• A motion of censure has never had a majority.
• It is also known as “the nuclear bomb” because the EU Parliament can get rid of the EU Commission, but has no right to appoint a new one.
• On 15^th March 1999, the Santer EU Commission resigned on its own initiative - not through an adopted motion of censure.
• Under the Treaty of Nice, the Commission President can sack a single member with the support of the majority in the Commission.
• In May 2004 a motion of censure for the Eurostat-affair received 88 votes in favour, 63 were undecided and 515 voted against the motion.

The future