The European Parliament has rejected a vote of no confidence in the European Commission, following a roll-call vote held on Thursday.
The proposal, formally submitted as a motion of censure by the political group Patriots for Europe, was defeated with 165 votes in favour, 309 against and 10 abstentions.
The vote followed a plenary debate on Monday, 19 January, with European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, during which concerns raised by the group were discussed.
Background to the vote
The vote of no confidence was initiated over opposition to the EU–Mercosur trade agreement, which was approved by EU member states on 9 January and formally signed on 17 January in Paraguay.
Parliamentary procedure
Under the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, a vote of no confidence in the Commission requires the backing of at least one tenth of Members of the European Parliament, currently 72 MEPs. Adoption requires a double majority: two thirds of the votes cast and an absolute majority of the Parliament’s total membership.
The rejection of the motion means that the European Commission remains in office.