Constructive abstention
Constructive abstention
A country can abstain from voting and then allow the others to take a decision on the basis of unanimity. This principle is inserted in the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
The Lisbon Treaty provides for constructive abstention in the Council of Ministers and the European Council in matters where these bodies decide by unanimity.
Links
http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/cig/g4000a.htm#a1
