Political decision making occurs within the Council of the European Union, usually called the Council of Ministers. The council meets twice a year as a gathering of the prime ministers and other heads of government and decides on the most important policy directions for the EU. The council meets more often with lesser ministers (such as agriculture or finance ministers) in attendance to supplement the prime ministerial meetings. Most sessions are held in Brussels, Belgium. which is the principal site of the EU administrative element. Decisions are made by a weighted-vote plan (termed qualified majority timing). Under this plan, there are 345 votes, with four countries (France, Germany, Great Britain, and Italy) each having 29 votes. and the other 21 members having a number of votes ranging from 27 (Spain and Poland)
to 3 (Malta) Voting procedures are complex. but in some cases unanimity is required In other cases. passage of a measure requires both 245 votes and that these votes
represent at least 62% of the EU’s population.