The qualified majority is the number of votes required in the Council for a decision to be adopted when issues are being debated on the basis of Article 148(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community. The threshold for the qualified majority is set at 62 votes out of 87 (71%). The votes are weighted as follows: France, Germany, Italy and United Kingdom 10 votes each; Spain 8 votes; Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands and Portugal 5 votes each; Austria and Sweden 4 votes each; Denmark, Ireland and Finland 3 votes each; Luxembourg 2 votes.