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G6 members

European Union

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The G6 (Group of Six) in the European Union is an unofficial group of the interior ministers of the six European Union member states with the largest populations (and hence votes);

State	Population	Votes		Notes
Germany	82,314,906	29	8.4%
France	63,392,140	29	8.4%
United Kingdom	60,587,300	29	8.4%
Italy	59,131,287	29	8.4%
Spain	45,116,894	27	7.8%
Poland	38,116,000	27	7.8%	Joined in 2006
Total	348,658,527	170	49.2%

Being the largest states they have the greatest votes in the Council of the European Union under qualified majority voting. It was established in 2003 as G5 to deal with immigration, terrorism and law and order ¹². In 2006 the G5 has been expanded to Poland, effectively making it the G6.

Under the third pillar of the EU, Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters, powers are largely intergovernmental. Hence the council bypasses the Commission who would usually create balance between the states, for example it would have a monopoly over proposing law (this is the one area where there is no Commission monopoly³). In the absence of the supranational bodies this majority of states have a great deal of influence over the council in this area, but does not apply to other areas under the European Community.

Nicolas Sarkozy has called on the G6 to lead the Union following the dilution of the Franco-German motor after the 2004 Enlargement⁴. The lack of transparency and accountability of the G6 has been criticised by a number of figures, notably by a report by the UK's House of Lords.⁵

See also

• List of European Union member states by population
• Democratic deficit in the European Union
• Intergovernmentalism
• Voting in the Council of the European Union
• Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters

References

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